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Bill would fund programs discouraging recreational pot use
The Senate gave preliminary approval on March 5 to a bill that would use Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Fund to discourage the recreational use of the drug.
Bill expanding scope of state trespassing laws revived
A bill expanding the scope of Arizona’s trespassing laws is drawing comparison to efforts in 2010 to make illegal immigrants’ presence in Arizona a violation of state law as a part of SB1070.
Reversing course, Senate votes to spare Common Core standards
Five Republican senators helped to kill an anti-Common Core bill Wednesday, a day after giving their approval in a preliminary floor vote.
Senate approves CPS audit despite concerns it could slow child welfare reforms
The Arizona Senate approved a measure that calls for an external audit of the beleaguered Child Protective Services agency, despite concerns that the measure could impede efforts by Gov. Jan Brewer and a coalition of lawmakers and stakeholders working to create a new child safety division.
Panel approves dark money bill, but questions remain
A bill aimed at requiring more disclosure of the anonymous and unlimited campaign funds known as “dark money” received a unanimous vote but not exactly a vote of confidence from a Senate committee.
Senate bills barring federal law efforts stall
Arizona Senate bills requiring federal agents to register with a local sheriff and barring federal officials from making arrests without the sheriff's permission have stalled over constitutional concerns.
Senate president calls for external CPS audit
Senate President Andy Biggs is pushing for an external audit of Arizona’s beleaguered Child Protective Services agency.
As AIMS test ends, lawmakers differ over what to do next
Sen. Kelli Ward hopes to give Arizona students a reprieve from tests like AIMS, which for years prevented high school students from graduating without a passing grade.
Capitol Quotes: January 24, 2014
This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene
Governor plans to focus on education, public safety and economic development
The 2013 legislative session ended with a bang, and Gov. Jan Brewer is hoping the bad blood and raw feelings won’t carry over to this year. The fireworks from last year’s Medicaid expansion fight are over, but there’s still work to do. As the governor enters her final legislative session – Brewer insists she can and might run again, though election law experts disagree and would-be succ[...]
Biggs looks ahead to a calmer legislative session
Having been rolled by Gov. Jan Brewer and a coalition of Democrats and Republicans who voted for Medicaid expansion in 2013, Senate President Andy Biggs looks ahead for a hopefully calmer legislative session in 2014, one that will allow the president to take a larger role in budget negotiations and the course of the Senate than during his first year as the head of the chamber.
Tovar’s challenge: Uniting a divided Democratic caucus
Sen. Anna Tovar enters her first session as minority leader, having ousted Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor from the post during the interim. Tovar is tasked with uniting a now divided Democratic Caucus – some lawmakers are still bitter over Landrum Taylor’s ouster – and continuing to make Democrats’ presence felt at the Capitol, perhaps as an ongoing part of a coalition of Democrats and some Repu[...]
