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

Arizona is on the verge of authorizing its farmers to start growing hemp. But how quickly fields of the relative of the better-known marijuana plant will start springing up around the state remains unclear.

While the big ticket and politically charged budget items get most of the attention, there are hundreds of items that get little to no fanfare. Following are a few of those items.

Two former politicians are moving to overturn the decision by the Republican-controlled legislature to make it more difficult for voters to propose their own laws.

The proposed state budget strips the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office of $1.6 million in anti-gang and illegal immigration funding, and Republican Sen. John Kavanagh took no issue saying it was because of the Democratic sheriff’s immigration policies.

Republican legislative leaders are using a provision buried in the state budget in their latest attempt to defund Planned Parenthood.

Teachers in Arizona are getting second jobs not because they’re struggling to survive on their low pay, but because they want to enjoy the finer things in life, like boats, according to House Majority Leader John Allen.

House Republican leaders outmaneuvered a bid by Democrats to finally get the legislature to vote whether to approve the federal Equal Rights Amendment.

The Arizona House has a new Republican lawmaker after the Maricopa County Supervisors chose from three nominees to replace Peoria Rep. Phil Lovas.

Two bills to increase workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters who contract cancer in the line of duty have the votes they need to pass a final read in the Senate, yet they have so far been blocked from the floor, supporters said.

Republican Speaker J.D. Mesnard said he called off the "Thank You to the Legislators" luncheon because it was ill-timed and emotions are still running high at the Capitol.