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Legislators’ complaints of lawbreaking by cities on the upswing
Bisbee is one of eight municipalities or counties in the state whose laws have been targeted by state legislators under SB1487, a 2016 law that allows any state legislator to ask the attorney general to investigate an ordinance.
AG finds Tempe might have violated state law in lease deal
The Attorney General’s Office has found that while a lease agreement the city of Tempe signed with a hotel developer does not violate state law, another agreement signed with a regional bank branch might.
Leach sics AG on Tempe over allegation of illegal tax breaks
Rep. Vince Leach has followed through on a threat to ask the Attorney General’s Office to investigate whether Tempe broke the law in signing two lease agreements with developers he alleges received illegal tax breaks.
GOP Lawmaker to Tempe: Do as I say or tell it to the AG
A Tucson Republican is threatening to sic the Attorney General’s Office on Tempe if the city doesn’t update two lease agreements with developers he alleges received illegal tax breaks.
Attorney General finds police open records policy legal
The Attorney General’s Office has found that a Phoenix Police Department policy that provides guidelines for the release of information following critical incidents does not violate officers’ privacy rights.
GOP lawmaker asks AG to probe legality of Phoenix police policy
Rep. Jay Lawrence, R-Scottsdale, filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office asking for an investigation into whether a Phoenix Police Department policy on the release of information about critical incidents conflicts with state law that protects an officer’s privacy.
Agencies make case for new spending, but most requests likely doomed
Gov. Doug Ducey is looking for good policies and savings. But requests for money from the general fund, the state’s all-purpose kitty, are tougher to justify than those that come from other sources, like grants and fees.
Law to force AG investigation of cities ‘rung’ again, complaint withdrawn quickly
A Yuma lawmaker on Friday started the short-lived process of initiating an attorney general investigation into whether the City of Somerton violated state law by charging a local church a fee for a building permit.
Supreme Court rules state has say on gun laws, not cities
In an extensive ruling, the justices voided a 2005 Tucson ordinance that says that the police department, after it seizes a hand gun, "shall dispose of such firearm by destroying the firearm.'' They said it runs afoul of several state laws.
Senator wants to broadly expand law designed to punish wayward cities
A law that allows the state to withhold the revenues from communities that don’t do as Arizona lawmakers please has been called illegal coercion. Sen. Steve Smith wants to expand it.
Ken Strobeck: Fighting for cities’ rights – and riding a motorcycle
For the past 11 years, Ken Strobeck has fought for cities’ rights at the Legislature as the director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns. Strobeck spoke to the Arizona Capitol Times about the tension between states and cities, his time in the Oregon Legislature and motorcycles.
Lawrence attempting to file complaint against Phoenix over ID cards
Republican Rep. Jay Lawrence of Scottsdale told readers of the blog that he had filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office under a new state law that allows lawmakers to request that the attorney general investigate a city any lawmaker believes may have broken state law or violated the state Constitution.
