A Republican state senator from Mesa's personal experience with mental illness and homelessness derailed a bid by another GOP lawmaker, this one a former cop, to make sleeping on a sidewalk a state crime. Sen. David Farnsworth's extended comments about his struggles led the chairman of a Senate committee to pull Republican Fountain Hills Sen. John Kavanagh's proposal from consideration during a hearing this past week.
Read More »Farnsworth’s story of homelessness prompts Senate committee chair to pull Kavanagh’s proposal
House corporate income tax cut bill passes initial committee hearings 
The first bill to be heard by Arizona House of Representatives members, which is projected to reduce the state’s revenue by about $1.8 billion from corporate income tax breaks over four years, passed two committee meetings on Wednesday.
Read More »Fewer bills prefiled compared to previous years 
The Arizona Legislature’s deadline to prefile bills is just days away and the number of bills that have been prefiled is set to be far fewer than last year.
Read More »Dems pass liberal bills under GOP members’ names 
Democrats in Arizona are passing liberal legislation disguised under the names of cooperative Republican members in a hyper-partisan political climate. Sen. Martín Quezada, D-Glendale, told the chamber on the last day of session that Republicans supported him more than they ...
Read More »Lawmakers to tour state, push affordable housing 
A new legislative committee is planning to tackle the affordable housing crisis, saying zoning laws and community pushback are major barriers to building residences that meet local needs.
Read More »Legislature passes biggest ESA expansion in country 
The Arizona state Legislature pushed out a bill that greatly expands empowerment scholarship accounts that students can use to go into private schools in a historic move on Friday night that makes this the biggest “voucher” expansion in the country.
Read More »Lawmakers criticize department for failure to protect nursing home residents 
State lawmakers lashed out Thursday at the director of the Department of Health Services after a report said the agency has failed to ensure that patients in nursing homes are kept safe.
Read More »Residents push for GOP bill targeting drop in homelessness
A nonpartisan group of residents is pushing for a GOP bill aimed at decreasing homelessness across the state, saying now is the time to tackle the crisis.
Read More »Lawmakers aim to expand WIFA, not create new water agency 
The Legislature is preparing to release this year’s water budget likely expanding WIFA and not – as previously suggested – creating a new agency.
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