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

Freshman Democratic Rep. Alma Hernandez of Tucson credits – or blames – her brother, Democratic Rep. Daniel Hernandez of Tucson, with “dragging” her into politics.

Depending on who you ask, a final vote by the House of Representatives was either a sign that weary lawmakers were ready to go home, a shot across the bow at Senate Democrats or a vengeful act by Republicans against a member of their own party.

Tucked into the nearly 300 measures that will become law are some items that are more likely to affect the day-to-day lives of typical Arizonans.

Rep. Lorenzo Sierra’s end goal is clear–if not a tad bleak.

Arizona taxpayers won't be funding a special program designed to help groups that urge women not to terminate their pregnancies.

Arizonans who are 18, 19 and 20 will continue to be able to smoke and vape, at least for the time being.

A key House lawmaker is demanding an apology from Sen. Paul Boyer over the tactics the Phoenix Republican has used to push his legislation giving victims of child sex abuse more time to sue their assailants.

Saying the budget agreement crafted by GOP legislative leaders and Gov. Doug Ducey is “not a conservative budget,” Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, vowed to vote against it Thursday unless his colleagues agreed to several significant changes.

Sen. Paul Boyer extended an olive branch to Republican legislative leaders, offering his vote for an $11.8 billion budget in exchange for their support of his effort to give child sex abuse survivors more time to sue their assailants.

If state lawmakers get their way, Arizonans will be spending an extra $6.2 million a year to support the folks who make our laws.