State budget problems are prompting lawmakers to reconsider a lot of things, but the issue of crime and punishment has been too hot to touch, even if doing so would save money.

Arizona's budget troubles could prompt lawmakers to seriously consider changing criminal sentencing laws to reduce or slow the costly growth of the state's prison population, two legislators said Tuesday.

A full list of the 50th Legislature membership

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce released its list of Arizona House and Senate candidate endorsements on July 6.

The House today gave preliminary approval to a bill that will require presidential candidates to prove their citizenship before their names can appear on an Arizona ballot. The provision, which came in the form of a floor amendment to a ...

A proposal at the Arizona Legislature that would draw local authorities deeper into the fight against illegal immigration has been met with skepticism by a pair of lawmakers who questioned whether it would violate freedom of association rights.

A pair of measures designed to gut the Clean Elections campaign finance system were held in the House Judiciary Committee after it became apparent the legislation would have been defeated.

Next year, the Arizona Legislature will decide whether to eliminate payday lending in the state, which presents a dilemma for Republican lawmakers who will have to decide between their free-enterprise beliefs and a moral objection to the large fees on short-term loans.

In 1990, a 31-year old man went into a Fry's grocery store. When no one was looking, he picked up a carton of cigarettes and walked quickly to the exit. All of this was captured on the store video, and he was apprehended in the parking lot with the carton of cigarettes and no receipt. This offense could have been prosecuted as a misdemeanor, given the value of the cigarettes ($16.95). A misdemeanor may carry up to six months in jail. However, the prosecutor at the time elected to charge it as a felony

Fewer lawmakers are likely to be present for the special session July 20. About a third of senators and representatives planned to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures summit in Philadelphia City this week, according to the Senate and the House.