Cocktails to go for restaurants may be back
Lawmakers say they’re close to reaching an agreement that would let restaurants resume selling cocktails to go without costing bar owners who paid dearly for the privilege to sell alcohol to go.
Candidates can start gathering signatures for state, federal office
Candidates for Congress and the state Legislature can now collect signatures for office using the current redistricting lines for the 2022 election.
Ducey talks disdain for new education tax, vows fast fix
A new voter-approved tax on high-earning Arizonans that will boost education spending is firmly in Gov. Doug Ducey's crosshairs, with the Republican vowing Friday to see Proposition 208's new tax cancelled either through the courts or the GOP-controlled Legislature.
House panel advances bill to restrict short-term rentals
Rejecting claims the measure amounts to little more than window dressing, a House panel voted Tuesday to give local governments more power to regulate short-term vacation rentals. But just a bit.
Senate panel moves to block private funds for elections
Raising the specter of Mark Zuckerberg influencing who holds office in Arizona, Republican lawmakers moved Monday to block counties from taking money from any private source to help run future elections.
Redistricting panel narrows field for executive director
A former staffer of Gov. Doug Ducey, a former chief of staff of the Arizona House Democrats and a former Independent Redistricting Commission employee are among the final list of five candidates vying to be the commission’s executive director.
Dems claim bill gives churches immunity from lawsuits
It's promoted as a measure to ensure that no future governor shuts down religious services during an emergency, but some legislators worry that the actual wording of the legislation would potentially immunize churches from lawsuits over child abuse.
Senate moves to restrict early voting
Republican senators are moving on two fronts to erect new hurdles in the path of those who want to vote early.
Let’s forge sensible short-term rental solutions
A recent poll commissioned by Airbnb found 89% of Arizona voters support the state’s tourism industry and the economic benefits it generates. The positive sentiment extends to short-term rentals: six in 10 voters support allowing Arizonans to share their homes to supplement their income and spread tourism benefits to communities across the state. In the past year, as many Arizonans faced economi[...]
Motive behind ‘ballot harvest’ law crux of SCOTUS debate
The question of whether Arizona gets to keep its ban on "ballot harvesting'' could turn on what was in the mind of a now-ejected state legislator who first proposed the law and how that affected his colleagues.
Bill helps taxpayers avoid Prop. 208 surcharge
A veteran lawmaker is proposing what amounts to an end-run to allow some business owners to avoid paying the just-approved income tax surcharge for education.
Senate votes to add county supervisors in Maricopa, Pima
Residents of the state's two largest counties could find themselves with more people to call when something goes wrong. But it will cost them.