Hobbs, Salman, reproductive rights group announce effort to protect rights to contraceptives
Gov. Katie Hobbs joined a state lawmaker and the leader of a reproductive rights advocacy group Thursday to announce an effort to enact a law protecting the rights of all women to access contraceptives.
House, Senate diverge on per diem issue
Following Arizona Capitol Times coverage on the amount lawmakers collect in per diem, the Senate reminded members they can opt out of payments for the rest of this session, but the House instituted a new policy that members who opt out can never get per diem again.
As the legislature adjourns again, much has been accomplished
The 2023 legislative session has recessed and is expected to come back again July 31. Much has been accomplished focused on keeping the Arizona economy moving forward with investments.
Prop 400 gridlock spurs possibility of initiative
Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Legislature are gridlocked over a half-cent sales tax extension in Maricopa County, and regional leaders are saying they want to bring an initiative to voters statewide to bypass lawmakers.
Legislature passes Rio Verde solution, Hobbs voices support
The Legislature passed a bipartisan bill with an emergency clause on Tuesday that would get water back to Rio Verde, and which Gov. Katie Hobbs said she plans to sign into law.
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.
Simple solution to Rio Verde Foothills water issue
Water is the lifeblood of Arizona’s future. Conserving this precious resource and all it provides is one of the most important issues facing the city of Scottsdale and all of Arizona. But Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega continues to waste time and city resources fighting a deal that will not cost Scottsdale anything to be good neighbors to the people of Rio Verde Foothills.
Six cities, one county have plans to use state funds to help homeless
Six Arizona cities and one county that have immediate plans to house the homeless are going to be dividing up $20 million in state funds.
Supreme Court tossed out heart of Voting Rights Act, next ruling could go further
Within hours of a U.S. Supreme Court decision dismantling a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, Texas lawmakers announced plans to implement a strict voter ID law that had been blocked by a federal court. Lawmakers in Alabama said they would press forward with a similar law that had been on hold, while the Supreme Court weakened another section of the Voting Rights Act with a ruling from Arizo[...]
Some lesser-known budget items you’ll love
As House and Senate minority leaders, Andrés Cano and I convened our caucuses to develop our shared priorities for the budget, with perspectives from across the state. Housing and schools have topped our list consistently this year.
Rumor of late legislative session floats through capitol
Could the legislature stay in session into the fall, or until the end of the year? The rumor that lawmakers won’t adjourn sine die anytime soon has been spreading through the state capitol for weeks, even if nobody is ready to publicly endorse the idea.