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Recent Articles from Jakob Thorington Arizona Capitol Times
Consultant: data hard to find on ESA program
The first of several planned legislative hearings to study Arizona’s growing Empowerment Scholarship Account program ended Wednesday with many unanswered questions.
AG: Phoenix donation of firearms unlawful, but …
The state’s Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a report Sept. 20 finding a recent Phoenix ordinance authorizing the donation of unclaimed firearms to Ukraine is unlawful, despite “commendable” intent from the city.
Scottsdale officials defend hotel shelter program
A Republican on the House Appropriations Committee promised on Sept. 13 that next year’s state budget would include provisions preventing municipalities from enacting hotel shelter programs similar to ones established in California and New York using state funds.
Scottsdale and Rio Verde both approve water agreement
More than 700 residences in the Rio Verde Foothills area that have been seeking a water supply since January will finally soon see government action after Scottsdale City Council approved an agreement that brings water to the area Tuesday.
House panel considers policy to stop elected officials requesting social media post takedowns
A House panel discussed potential legislative reform that would keep state officials from compelling social media companies to remove posts they disagree with.
Scottsdale will no longer house people from ‘The Zone’ with hotel housing program
The City of Scottsdale is walking back a provision that would have sheltered people residing in a large homeless encampment in Phoenix after a Republican lawmaker’s intervention.
Report: Nearly 20% of audited third-party MVD transactions conducted with error
A recent report from Arizona’s watchdog agency over governmental agencies found nearly 20% of reviewed third-party Motor Vehicle Division transactions lacked documentation confirming individuals or entities were qualified to obtain MVD forms.
Educators discuss future of CTE programs in Arizona
One of the rapidly growing areas of education in Arizona over recent decades has been in career and technical education and teachers in the field say districts that specialize in that topic have never been in a better position.
Q&A with House Minority Leader Lupe Contreras
House Minority Leader Lupe Contreras talked about the biggest accomplishments, as well as challenges in the 2023 legislative session.
Cook becomes Freedom Caucus spoiler
House and Senate Freedom Caucus members started the legislative session with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs as their prime nemesis, but soon found a new foe in a rural Republican.
Getting a bill passed takes ‘compromise’ and persistence
After a record number of vetoes from a governor during the 2023 legislative session, Republicans saw a fewer volume of the amount of bills signed than in recent years.
Lawmakers pool resources to craft budget projects
Legislative Republicans and Democrats pooled their resources this session to craft major expenses in the state budget, including a $300 million boost to K-12 education and a $260 million tax rebate to Arizona families, plus many smaller projects also were negotiated into the budget.
