Author
Juvenile offenders given a leg up by bipartisan-approved House measure
Kids in juvie might see their financial load lightened, thanks to new legislation approved by the state House of Representatives that would eliminate the rollover of court fees on them and their families. The legislation would scrap the court’s ability to charge juvenile delinquents or their parents fees related to their trial and conviction. “This […]
Senate approves plan for $150m in tax credits to film movies in Arizona
Arizona landscapes would have a better chance of ending up on the silver screen under a legislative proposal to lure production companies to the Grand Canyon State with $150 million in tax credits that the Senate has approved. Proponents argue it will foster jobs, infrastructure and tourism. They say the benefits include construction of filming […]
9/11 education would be mandated under proposal that cleared state House
“Never forget” will not only be enshrined in American vernacular but also Arizona curriculum, if a new proposal establishing 9/11 Education Day approved this week passes into law. Public school teachers will be directed to craft lesson plans about the terrorist attacks every September 11, or the school day closest to it. The bill makes […]
GOP ‘smart’ ballot drop boxes would come with a hefty price tag, if they’re ever created
Republicans hope to replace outside ballot drop boxes with “smart” boxes that don’t yet exist and will cost 500% more than the ones that Arizona counties already use, based on the unfounded claim that ballot-box stuffing helped steal the election from former President Trump. While current drop boxes have safety features to prevent people from […]
House passes sharp limits on states of emergency, as COVID-19 emergency status continues
House Republicans approved severe limits on states of emergency, in a clear move against proclamations made during the pandemic. Arizona has been in a state of emergency because of COVID-19 since March of 2020, which has allowed Gov. Doug Ducey to mobilize efforts to support vaccination and monitoring of the virus, as well as receive […]
Schools dodge massive spending cuts as Senate raises public school spending cap for this year
The Arizona Senate voted to raise the aggregate expenditure limit for K-12 schools, heading off a school funding crisis and allowing schools to use nearly nearly $1.2 billion that would have otherwise gone to waste. With a week to go before a March 1 deadline set in the Arizona Constitution, the Senate on Monday voted […]
There’s no such thing as ‘smart’ ballot drop boxes. A GOP proposal would require their use.
Early voters in Arizona would be barred from putting their ballots in mailboxes and would instead be required to put them in ballot drop boxes that would take a picture of every voter if under a Republican proposal that won preliminary approval last week. Under the legislation, drop boxes would be outfitted with 24-hour photo […]
Senate Republicans approve Mississippi-style abortion restrictions
Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled legislature have made restricting abortion a priority this year, and are likely to emulate a Mississippi law that the U.S. Supreme Court is widely expected to uphold rather than a far more restrictive law in Texas. Several legislative measures have been introduced in both the House and Senate that would make […]
Voting machines have been used in Arizona since 1881, but a GOP bill would bar them
Voting would return to 19th Century methods — with their glacial pace and flawed accuracy -– and reduce voter access under legislation Republicans approved in a legislative committee that would ban machines from counting votes, critics said. The proposal is rooted in the Big Lie, a belief that the 2020 election was “stolen” from Donald […]
Defeated anti-trans bill revived to bar gender conforming surgeries for trans youth
A week after a move to ban all gender-affirming care for transgender youth in Arizona was rejected, GOP lawmakers passed a measure barring gender confirmation surgery for minors. “This bill mirrors the international standards that have been implemented in other countries such as Finland, which is one of the most transgender friendly countries,” Sen. Tyler […]
Bipartisan measures aim to increase school spending cap, avoid $1.2B in education cuts
Bipartisan proposals to fend off the threat of nearly $1.2 billion in mid-year funding cuts for Arizona schools were introduced Monday in the state Senate and House of Representatives, just two weeks ahead of the March 1 deadline to act before schools are forced to layoff staff and face shutting down. House Speaker Russell Bowers […]
Proposal adds ‘teeth’ to parents’ bill of rights, paving the way for lawsuits against teachers
Teachers could face lawsuits from parents and potential criminal charges under proposed legislation that adds penalties to violations of Arizona’s parents’ bill of rights. State law already protects the rights of parents to raise their children, but it doesn’t include recourse for parents who feel their rights have been violated. That would change if Senate […]