Hobbs, GOP lawmakers tout wins in budget as battle to define spending ahead
Two media events on Monday highlighted the coming political battle to define the $17.8 billion budget that lawmakers passed, and the governor signed last week.
Senate considers measure to ask voters to approve constitutional change tied to emergencies
The state Senate was likely just a few minutes away from approving a measure last week that would ask Arizona voters to OK a constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to reauthorize any state of emergency called by the governor every 30 days.
Bill keeps home addresses secret, impact unclear
Citing death threats, lawmakers passed a bill May 3 meant to seal their home addresses from the public if a judge agrees, but it’s not clear how the new legislation will work in practice or if anyone will still be able to check that lawmakers live in the districts they represent.
Vetoes define first 100 days of Hobbs’ term
A few weeks into her tenure as Arizona’s top public official, Gov. Katie Hobbs took heat from critics over a handful of executive orders she’d issued – efforts to tackle discriminatory hiring practices and create new task forces to address her policy priorities, like prison reform.
I-10 expansion bill survives latest hurdle in saga
One senator’s last-minute amendment saved I-10 expansion funding from making it through the Legislature as a bill this session.
School for the Deaf and Blind can continue, may face extra scrutiny
The Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind is facing a shorter continuation timeline because Republicans in the Senate say there are issues with the agency that need to be scrutinized but would not clarify what those may be.
Constitutional change would impact how state manages disaster declarations
A proposed constitutional amendment that is one vote away from being sent to the 2024 ballot for voter approval will have far-reaching impacts on how the state oversees disaster declarations and potentially impact millions of dollars in federal funding.
New DPS director says different approach should be used for protesters
Nearly nine months after Department of Public Safety officers used tear gas on protesters without warning, the department’s new director said officers should take a different approach before dispersing the chemical agent.
House agrees to let HOA residents fly Betsy Ross flag
State lawmakers have decided that some flags matter than other flags.
Senators vote to require new elections when voters claim disenfranchisement
State senators voted Tuesday to require new elections any time a certain number of voters claim they were "disenfranchised.''
Measure to outlaw diversity, equity, inclusion programs in governments, universities advances
Saying he was doing what the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. would have wanted, a Queen Creek senator got Republican colleagues to vote to outlaw diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state and local governments and the university system.
Senate panel unanimously approves two Hobbs’ nominees
A Senate panel took a cordial tone today - after some fractious prior meetings – and voted unanimously to approve two of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ department nominees.