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‘Sine die’ – a sunset, a flip-flop and money for business and the needy
The Legislature adjourned sine die just before sunset May 10, capping a final week in which one Republican’s flip-flop prevented a prolonged session and lawmakers expanded tax breaks for businesses and benefits for poor Arizona families.
Yuma lawmaker plans e-cigarette taxation legislation
In light of devastating projections of a $1.5 billion budget shortfall in the current and next fiscal years, a Democratic lawmaker is proposing a tax on e-cigarettes, saying that the modest revenues the new tax could bring in would be a small start to bridging the deficit.
Ableser attributes low attendance to family responsibilities
Democratic Sen. Ed Ableser of Tempe regained his title of most absentee lawmaker this year, showing up for only 62 percent of Senate floor sessions, though he voted on 70 percent of all the bills put before the chamber.
A massacre narrowly averted: Lawmaker can’t stop talking about life-changing weekend at Nevada ranch
Republican Rep. David Livingston of Peoria frustrated his fellow representatives on Tuesday when, during voting on a half-dozen bills, he stood to “explain his vote” but actually described his experiences over the weekend at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada.
Arizona House breaks deadlock, begins debate on state budget
The Arizona House has begun debating a state budget plan that adds spending to the plan passed by the Senate.
AG’s office wants to indemnify AZ against wildfire damage, deaths
State lawmakers took the first steps Tuesday to immunize the Land Department from mistakes and negligence that result in forest fires -- even if that means destroyed homes and dead firefighters.
AZ lawmakers hint at what’s in store for 2014
One lawmaker will be targeting aggressive panhandling and “vexatious’’ litigants. Another has his sights set on people who aim lasers at airplanes. Two legislators hope to make the roads a safer... […]
Livingston scores a perfect legislative batting average
The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.
Print v. online: Public notice bill sparks debate
A bill to remove the requirement that cities and counties publish public notices in a newspaper – and instead allow them to publish the notice only on the municipality’s website – was voted down in the House on Wednesday. But the battle over is far from over.
Bill allowing struggling schools to implement 200-day school year passes House
Arguing that struggling schools and students need more class time and less summer vacation, state representatives approved a bill to allow such schools to increase their calendar year to 200 days, and pull in some extra state money in the process.
House panel OKs bills on newspaper public notices
A divided Arizona House committee on Thursday gave initial approval to a pair of bills that change the way public notices are required to be published, pushing the bills forward despite strong opposition from the newspaper industry.
