Recent Articles from Nick Phillips Arizona Capitol Times
Fondomonte well rejection will have limited impact
The Arizona Department of Water Resources has revoked a pair of well-drilling permits it issued last year to a controversial Saudi-owned farming company that operates in western Arizona.
Feds apply pressure for water deal
The federal government is prodding Colorado River basin states, particularly Arizona and California, to come to a deal for shared cuts in water use.
Hobbs tops Napolitano’s veto record – 63 so far
Gov. Katie Hobbs shattered a state record for the largest number of bills vetoed in one year on April 18 – the Democratic governor rejected 11 bills, bringing her to a total of 63 for the year.
Lawmakers frustrated over food bill veto, but will it lead to override?
Will Democrats in the Legislature vote to override a veto by a Democratic governor?
Vetoes define first 100 days of Hobbs’ term
A few weeks into her tenure as Arizona’s top public official, Gov. Katie Hobbs took heat from critics over a handful of executive orders she’d issued – efforts to tackle discriminatory hiring practices and create new task forces to address her policy priorities, like prison reform.
Hobbs hires new communications director from out of state
Christian Slater, a veteran Democratic communications strategist, will be Gov. Katie Hobbs’ next communications director, the governor announced on Monday.
Feds to pay $233 million for Gila River water conservation, infrastructure
The federal government will pay the Gila River Indian Community to leave some of its share of Colorado River water in Lake Mead, as well as funding infrastructure projects to increase wastewater reuse in irrigation.
Hobbs vetoes 8 more bills, headed for record number
Proposals to cut food and rental taxes; a bill banning some messages on highway billboards; a measure to stop unhoused people from camping on streets and sidewalks. They’ve all died on the desk of Gov. Katie Hobbs, who reached a new veto milestone on Thursday morning when she rejected eight bills, bringing her total number of vetoes this year to 37.
Hobbs bans TikTok from state work devices
Popular social media app TikTok has to go from devices used for official state business, Gov. Katie Hobbs said in an executive order announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Hobbs shakes up staff
Two top staff members in the governor’s office departed this week amid a larger “reorganization” announced late on Friday afternoon.
Mobile home owners forced out of parks to get larger payouts under new law
Residents of three mobile home parks facing imminent eviction could get bigger payouts from the state for leaving or moving their homes following a new law.
Partial fix for build-to-rent loophole in the works, but more groundwater legislation stalled
Lawmakers are advancing bills that would tighten up some aspects of groundwater management in the state, but more ambitious groundwater proposals have stalled in the legislature so far this year.