Kaiser pitches ban on political signs at street corners, medians, other public rights of way
Sen. Steve Kaiser has introduced legislation that could make him a hero of Arizona motorists -- assuming it gets approved and survives a likely court challenge. The Phoenix Republican wants to ban political signs from street corners, medians and other public rights of way.
Committee takes initial steps towards denying students right to use preferred pronoun
State lawmakers took the first steps Wednesday to denying students the right to be referred to by a pronoun that matches their preferred gender. SB 1001, approved by the Senate Education Committee on a 4-3 party line vote, also would put into law that teachers and other school employees may refer to a student by only his or her given name or a nickname "commonly associated with the student's name [...]
Gress proposes lowering age required to serve in legislature
Arizona voters could decide next year how they feel about having people who aren't yet old enough to drink making state laws.
Senators mull penalizing absent state officials
Senators are considering legislation that would tighten absence rules for several state entities, including the Legislature.
Arizona Freedom Caucus says will file lawsuit challenging Hobbs’ first executive order
The Arizona Freedom Caucus announced it would be filing a lawsuit challenging Gov. Katie Hobbs’ first executive order barring discrimination in hiring practices. Caucus leaders claim Hobbs is illegally legislating to, “advance her woke agenda,” by issuing executive orders.
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.
Native Americans want input in State Fair rodeo
At the annual Arizona State Fair an event called the All-Indian Rodeo features Native American competitors but isn’t organized by Native Americans – and some indigenous Arizonans want to change that.
Husband, wife lawmakers will attend after long absences
Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, and her husband Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, will return to in-person meetings at the Legislature next session, according to Mendez. Salman and Mendez have avoided coming to the Capitol in-person since the onslaught of the Covid pandemic in March of 2020, but the other 88 lawmakers came back to work in person last year.
Ducey: no special session to address education unless lawmakers tackle other issues
Lame duck Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday he won't call a special legislative session to deal with problems with school funding before his term ends this month until he gets a promise that lawmakers will deal with some issues on his own agenda.
Arizona lawmakers vote to impose contract on rail workers, fend off strike
Most members of Arizona’s congressional delegation joined the rest of the House Wednesday to give overwhelming bipartisan approval to a bill that would head off a national rail strike by imposing contract terms on rail workers’ unions.
Democrats kept the Senate this year, but 2024 may be harder
Democrats celebrating a successful effort to keep control of the U.S. Senate this year will soon confront a 2024 campaign that could prove more challenging.
Governor, House, Senate: three political parties?
Arizona’s Legislature and Governor’s Office will go from mainstream Republican control to three separate ideologies.