Panel OKs cuts on zoning regulations for housing
A Senate committee passed legislation on Feb. 8 to drastically reduce zoning regulations on housing, despite opposition from municipalities that want to retain the power to make zoning decisions themselves.
Senate follows House, OKs waiving AEL
After the House passed a resolution to waive the aggregate expenditure limit, the Senate followed suit.
How an Arizona official is making Cochise County a “laboratory” for election skepticism
David Stevens had never supervised a ballot count. He didn’t know how he would count nearly 50,000 ballots by hand, who would help, or where he would find enough space to do it. But that didn’t dissuade him.
Panel moves to force Scottsdale to give Rio Verde water
A House panel passed a bill that would force Scottsdale to temporarily resume service providing water to the unincorporated Rio Verde community, but Democrats withheld the support needed for immediate relief.
House votes to waive AEL with bipartisan support
The House voted to waive the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL) today with bipartisan support, clearing the two-thirds majority necessary to send it forward. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, needed 40 votes to pass and received 46.
Republican budget proposal fails in House after Harris votes against caucus
It seemed nearly inevitable that legislative Republicans would send their continuation budget proposal to Gov. Katie Hobbs this week for a quick veto, starting the negotiation process between the Republican majority Legislature and the ninth floor. Plans have now changed after one stray vote from a Republican lawmaker who promised she wouldn’t vote on any bills to protest a “fraudulent” elec[...]
Kavanagh’s bill would merge hand and machine counting of ballots
A veteran state lawmaker thinks he's found a way to finally end the debate over whether humans are better or worse than machines at counting ballots. Put them both to the test.
After running on 2020 fraud claims, Lake shifts to 2022
Kari Lake has made a pivot. Sort of. If the central theme of her campaign for governor last year was the 2020 election – which she argued was fraudulent, rigged and generally stolen from former President Donald Trump – then the principal pillar of her post-election campaigning is the 2022 election.
Senate Republicans target ‘drag story hour,’ other drag performances
Republicans in the Arizona Senate are targeting "drag story hour'' and other drag performances that have drawn the ire of conservatives, with the sponsor of a proposal banning certain shows before children or in government buildings calling it a case of "good versus evil.''
Senate alters governor nominee review process
Republicans in the Senate deviated from past precedent on Thursday, creating a new committee to review Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ nominations to various offices.
Senate denies records request after limiting retention
After changing rules around public records retention last week, legislators are now free to delete vast swaths of electronic records, and they’re turning down requests to get those records before they can be destroyed.
Budget bills advance through the Senate and House
Republicans in the state Legislature are closing in on sending a budget that is likely dead on arrival to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs next week.