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.
Kaiser cites putting ‘family first’ for resignation
Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, is resigning at the end of the week, as first reported by ABC15’s Dennis Welch. He said Wednesday that he’s made this decision to spend time with his family, and he would have resigned regardless of whether his housing bills passed this week.
House censures Democrat who hid Capitol Bibles
A Democratic representative who hid state House Bibles was censured without the traditional majority standard the chamber has historically used to pass legislation.
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.
One Rio Verde plan dies, another advances
House members approved a new measure to get water to the Rio Verde community Monday that Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, is offering as an alternative to appease Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, and the Senate killed an alternative plan.
Hobbs, GOP lawmakers clash over new Prop 400 proposal
Gov. Katie Hobbs claims to have a deal backed by a majority of lawmakers from both parties to let Maricopa County voters decide whether to extend a half-cent sales tax for road and transit issues.
Ethics panel rules Stahl-Hamilton engaged in disorderly behavior by hiding Bibles
A House ethics panel determined that a Democratic representative who hid Capitol Bibles engaged in disorderly behavior.
Hobbs stops attempt to block transgender students’ rights to use preferred restrooms
Arizona won't block transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms that do not match their biological sex.
Senate passes 11th-hour debt ceiling bill, heading off threat of default
The U.S. Senate gave final approval to a bill to suspend the debt ceiling, just days before today’s “X-date” when Treasury officials said the government would run out of money and default on its debts.
Supervisor Bill Gates says he’s not running for re-election
Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, who worked to bat down election misinformation and a hostile political landscape in 2020 and 2022, announced Thursday that he's not running for re-election.
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.
Ranchers hail, environmentalists fear Supreme Court clean water ruling
Ranchers and Republican lawmakers are welcoming a Supreme Court ruling that narrows the range of waters subject to federal regulation, calling it a win for private property rights that reins in overeager regulators.