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Fontana sworn in as Legislature prepares to end session
Nicholas Fontana was sworn in today as the newest member of the House of Representatives, just in time to do the one thing the Constitution requires of the Legislature: approve a budget.
Lawmakers expected to pass budget Tuesday, then tackle Brewer’s personnel agenda
The Republican-led Legislature plans to approve an $8.6 billion spending plan for the state on Tuesday, shortly after Gov. Jan Brewer and GOP leaders sealed a budget agreement last week.
House to hold vote on Ariz. anti-stalking bill
Lawmakers will consider a revised Arizona anti-stalking bill that had riled social media users for making it criminal to annoy or offend someone online. The Arizona House is scheduled Monday to hold a final vote on a proposal updating state harassment and stalking laws to include smartphones and cyber communication.
Bills caught in the logjam
Here’s a list of some of the most controversial, substantive or prominent measures that are awaiting a vote, struggling to get support or are simply caught in the moratorium and are ready to be sent to the governor’s desk.
Bills stacking up after Brewer threatens mass vetoes
The 2012 session appears to be in its final days, but some of the biggest pieces of legislation this year — including Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to make it easier to fire state employees — remain stuck at the state Capitol.
The glut of measures yet to be passed — or in some cases held by legislative leaders — is at least partially a result of an embargo on sending bills to the[...]
Pearce would consider accepting state reimbursement for recall
Former Senate President Russell Pearce says he would consider accepting a $260,000 reimbursement from the state for the expenses of his recall election if his allies in the Legislature are successful in securing the money for him.
Pearce allies: Cut him $250K check for recall costs
Former Senate President Russell Pearce is facing a wealthy opponent in this year’s elections, but his campaign could receive a six-figure windfall from the state treasury if some Republican lawmakers have their way.
GOP compromise budget gives $450M to rainy day fund, $7M to tourism
As Republican lawmakers begin to receive briefings on the budget deal that GOP leaders and the Governor’s Office agreed to in principle April 25, details are beginning to emerge.
The major sticking point between the two sides has been revenue projections — not just for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, but also for the following two years. Though Gov. Jan Brewer had bee[...]
House OKs revamped ‘intersection’ definition over safety concerns
The House on Wednesday passed a bill that aims to redefine what constitutes an intersection, despite warnings by police that the change will lead to more traffic fatalities.
The new definition would give would-be red-light runners extra time to get through an intersection without breaking the law.
Contraception bill now ready for governor
The Senate today gave final approval to a scaled-back proposal to allow religiously motivated employers to deny contraception coverage to their workers. The measure, which now only needs the governor’s signature to become law, sailed through after a passionate debate on the floor.
Ariz. House to hear bill on Colorado City police
The Arizona House is scheduled to consider a bill Wednesday to allow the state to abolish the police department in the northern Arizona community of Colorado City.
Arizona Legislature reverses public pension change
Arizona legislators have voted to reverse a cost-cutting decision that made thousands of state and local government employees pay a bigger share of the costs of the state's main public retirement system. Workers and their employers had each paid 50 percent of the Arizona State Retirement System's costs.
