Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

The Arizona state Legislature pushed out a bill that greatly expands empowerment scholarship accounts that students can use to go into private schools in a historic move on Friday night that makes this the biggest “voucher” expansion in the country. 

A bipartisan water plan to expand the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority passed through the Legislature on Friday evening after months of grueling negotiation. 

After more than 15 hours of debate and delays and a deal late Wednesday to boost education funding to get Democratic support, the Arizona Legislature has passed a $18 billion budget with a week left in the fiscal year. 

The Fiscal Year 2023 budget is finally on the move with at least one House Democrat in favor and one Republican opposed to it. 

The Legislature is preparing to release this year’s water budget likely expanding WIFA and not – as previously suggested – creating a new agency.  

Democrats want voters to know that Republican gains in the midterms could mean an end to legal abortion in Arizona, and possibly nationwide. 

Arizona is facing the possibility of a total ban on abortions this year if states get back the power to enforce their own abortion regulations. 

Ten former lawmakers, many of whom have personal or political baggage, are on the ballot for legislative seats this year.

While some state Senate candidates can relax – nine are unopposed both in the August primary and the general, and a few others are facing only token opposition in districts that are safe for their parties – other would-be legislators have tough races ahead of them. 

Ukranian consul general Dmytro Kushneruk asked a joint session of the House and Senate to send weapons and funds to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion.