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Prosecutors, some GOP lawmakers join Dems to kill forfeiture bill
Sen. Eddie Farnsworth is blaming Attorney General Mark Brnovich for the failure of his legislation to preclude prosecutors from seizing property without first getting a criminal conviction.
House adjourns, bringing session to uneasy close
The state House of Representatives has finished its work and notified the Senate of its intent to adjourn sine die today, bringing one of the strangest legislative sessions in recent... […]
House’s business immunity bill likely DOA in Senate
The tort reform measure House Republicans tout as the main reason for continuing legislative work likely doesn't have the votes it would need in the Senate.
Masks become symbol of person’s politics, virtue
The Senate served as a microcosm of the nation, where wearing a mask — or not wearing one — has become a political symbol for many.
A majority under pressure reveals legislative fissures
Early the morning of May 7, a Thursday, a motley crew of senior Senate Republicans and their Democratic counterparts, disregarding a chorus of conflicting desires from the membership as a whole, pulled the plug on the 2020 legislative session.
Lawmaker: Virus makes need for change to sentencing laws greater than ever
This is all frustrating for Rep. Walt Blackman,R-Snowflake, one of many Arizona lawmakers who over the years have sought to amend the state’s sentencing laws -- some of the strictest in the country -- and improve prison conditions, mostly to no avail.
Ducey-backed gun restriction stuck in Senate
Gov. Doug Ducey’s attempt to pass a law allowing a judge to order people deemed a potential threat to themselves or others to forfeit their weapons and submit to mental health evaluations is effectively dead in the Legislature.
Players in movement to remake Arizona’s criminal justice system
Since conservatives got on board with revamping Arizona’s sentencing laws, bills to do that no longer lay unheard, not considered. And as the movement has taken hold over the past few years, a host of groups and people have made their presence known at the Legislature. Following are some of them.
Townsend files ethics complaints over squabble against two Dem lawmakers
A Republican lawmaker is filing a pair of ethics complaints against two Democrats after conflict erupted in a committee Tuesday night between lawmakers and activists there to protest proposed legislation that would overhaul the state’s ballot initiative system.
House committee passes earned release bill
Long-awaited legislation that would create an early release program for people convicted of non-violent crimes passed through the House Judiciary committee Wednesday, offering relief to lawmakers who have fought for broad changes to sentencing laws to no avail for the better part of two years.
Group booted from legislative panel files ethics complaint
Protesters escorted out of a Senate hearing last week announced on Tuesday they will be filing an ethics complaint against the committee chair who ordered their removal.
Chairman tosses objectors to ‘sanctuary city’ referral from hearing
Department of Public Safety officers escorted several people out of a Senate hearing room Feb. 13 during a heated debate over legislation that would bar cities from embracing “sanctuary” policies.
