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From wine to amusement gambling: New laws you might not have noticed
Of the hundreds of bills passed by the Legislature in 2015 and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, most avoided the public spotlight. Here is a sampling of new laws worth noting that attracted little or no attention.
Bump in state revenues could be offset by new law
The state’s ending balance in fiscal 2016 could be better than the Legislature predicted when it adopted a budget in March, unless Gov. Doug Ducey signs a bill conforming state business taxes to the federal standards.
Negotiations between Clean Elections, House leadership fell short
Disagreements over the Citizens Clean Elections Commission’s authority over nonparticipating candidates and independent expenditure committees derailed a possible last-minute deal with House Republican leadership over the future of Arizona’s system of public funding for political campaigns.
Senate fails to enact ‘revenge porn’ law fixes before final adjournment
Arizona is headed back to federal court to defend a possibly unconstitutional law designed to protect people from their former lovers.
New law clarifies medical marijuana insurance requirements
Workers' compensation carriers and self-insurers will not be required to pay for a patient's medical marijuana under a new bill Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law Monday.
Arizona law helps tribal members get birth certificates
A state health policy that made getting a delayed birth certificate easier for American Indians now is law. Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Monday sought by Arizona tribes to reduce the number of documents needed to obtain a birth certificate later in life.
Ducey signs legislation to allow lab testing without a doctor’s order
Arizonans who want to want to run their own lab tests will soon be able to do so without first visiting a doctor. But your insurance company won’t pick up the tab.
Pro-Ducey group shifts advocacy from campaign to policy
After spending $1.5 million to help Doug Ducey get to the Governor’s Office, Republican consultant Sean Noble and his American Encore are now doing what they can to make sure... […]
On second thought: playing the reconsideration game
Democrats were smitten when the House voted down Democratic Sen. Carlyle Begay’s bill to expand Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to all students on Native American reservations.
Dept. of Ed: State won’t lose federal funds over Common Core changes
A top official at the Arizona Department of Education said the state can make changes to Common Core without jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, thanks to an agreement it reached with a national group that helped craft the K-12 academic standards.
Legislature rejects Ducey’s call for inspector general
State lawmakers wrapped up the 2015 session early Friday -- but not before refusing to approve one of the pet projects of Gov. Doug Ducey, a defeat gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato blamed on “special interests and lobbyists doing shady business with the state.”
Lawmakers bow to feds on ID issue amid travel restrictions
Arizonans will still be able to board domestic airline flights without a passport come 2016 after Arizona lawmakers in the waning hours of the legislative session approved a measure allowing state transportation officials to issue federally approved identification cards known as REAL ID.
