Ducey signs bill to protect businesses from Covid-related lawsuits
Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill that would shield businesses from Covid-related lawsuits – one of his top legislative priorities of the year that would also apply to hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
‘Strikers’ propose abortion ban, money for lawmakers
Vaccine passports, abortion bans and an oft-thwarted plan to get more money in lawmakers’ pockets were among the bills that made a late introduction as strike-everything amendments this week.
Senate panel approves measure to give lawmakers raise
With only one lawmaker dissenting, a Senate panel voted Wednesday to give themselves and their colleagues a big increase in their allowance -- and do it as soon as possible.
Gambling bill stalls in senate as politics take shape
A top legislative priority for Gov. Doug Ducey to expand off-reservation gaming is stalled in the Senate after the House voted 48-12 to approve a mirror bill on March 4.
Loss of moderate GOP lawmakers in Senate no boon for Dems
Democrats picked up one new seat in the state Senate, but are headed into the 2021 legislative session with potentially less power to stop Republican legislation.
Bowers, Fann retain leadership posts; Dems choose Bolding, Rios
Legislative Republican and Democratic caucuses met separately this and last week to select leadership following a topsy-turvy election that saw statewide Democrats succeed but the party’s legislative candidates flounder under... […]
Rosy state revenues belie need for recovery package
Rosy state revenues belie ongoing economic turmoil, particularly for lower-income Arizonans who have been disproportionately affected by job losses and wage cuts.
Decade of Dem gains sets stage for nail-biter legislative races
House and Senate seats have only flipped when fewer than 10 percentage points separate voter registration numbers for the two major parties. This year, that holds true in nine districts.
Democrats discouraged despite getting more bills passed
Senate President Karen Fann can boast a 333 percent increase in the number of bills sponsored by Democrats that passed out of her chamber in 2019 compared to last year.
Committee chairs seek balance between gatekeeper and ‘God’
The first major hurdle every piece of legislation faces in the House or Senate is a committee leader with the ability to unilaterally kill bills, and some chairs are more willing to do it than others.
Bill requires lawmakers to live in districts they serve
Rep. Bob Thorpe wants to ensure candidates for the Arizona Legislature are established residents of the districts they hope to serve.
Senate to consider school district consolidation proposal
Saying too much money is wasted on duplication, state lawmakers took the first steps April 2 to force consolidation of the more than 200 school districts in the state.