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Getting a bill passed takes ‘compromise’ and persistence
After a record number of vetoes from a governor during the 2023 legislative session, Republicans saw a fewer volume of the amount of bills signed than in recent years.
Hobbs vetoes record 143 GOP bills
Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a record number of bills this year – all from Republican lawmakers.
Under Hobbs, Dems struggle to get bills advanced, signed
The 2023 legislative session was comprised similarly to the previous two, with all three having narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate.
Longest session didn’t yield much – lawmakers eye 2024
Arizona lawmakers wrapped up the longest session in state history last month, but little changed by way of new legislation.
Legislative leaders increase intervening in court
On Aug. 1, legislative leaders filed an emergency motion in federal court to defend a law Republicans passed last year – one of many moves they’ve made in ongoing court cases this year.
Why proposed rural groundwater control bills are bad
There has been a lot of talk recently about rural groundwater bills not getting a hearing at the Arizona Legislature. Over the years, proposed legislation has gone by many names, including “Groundwater Conservation Areas,” “Special Management Areas,” “Rural Management Areas,” and “Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas.” Regardless of the name, the concept is the same, and all are bad[...]
Legislature moves to expand its powers, limit governor’s
A resolution that would limit the governor’s ability to declare a state of emergency moved through the Senate on Monday on party lines. Unlike typical bills, this Republican-sponsored resolution doesn’t have to get by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs – it goes to the voters.
Final housing reform effort dies
After two years of effort, the last in a series of attempts to reform housing laws has failed in the Legislature. Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, started the session with a substantive housing bill, which was killed in the Senate, but revived in three other pieces of legislation – all of which died on Monday afternoon.
Arizona housing affordability reform is about to have its moment
Sometimes a political logjam that hasn’t budged for years suddenly bursts open. Change that seemed impossible suddenly seems inevitable. On the issue of housing costs, that time is upon us.
Hobbs vetoes 8 more bills, headed for record number
Proposals to cut food and rental taxes; a bill banning some messages on highway billboards; a measure to stop unhoused people from camping on streets and sidewalks. They’ve all died on the desk of Gov. Katie Hobbs, who reached a new veto milestone on Thursday morning when she rejected eight bills, bringing her total number of vetoes this year to 37.
Rural healthcare at risk if we don’t hold health plans accountable
Commercial health insurance routinely downgrades and denies payment to healthcare providers, which means providers are left taking care of patients and not getting paid, which is not a good business model. That is why my bill, HB2290 currently up for consideration in the Senate, is important for hospitals, physicians and patients.
Independent healthcare providers believe health plans should pay their bills
It is not controversial to ask companies to pay their bills on time, talk to their partners when there is a dispute and provide a reason if they are not going to pay their bills. This is what HB2290 asks the commercial health insurers to do.
