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Pima County transportation plan falling short on cash, but largely meeting its goals
An audit of Pima County’s Regional Transportation Authority Plan found it falls short by $149 million, putting 11 projects at risk. The plan was enacted in 2006, after voters passed a one half cent sales tax dedicated to a spate of projects to improve roads and public transit. Initially, costs were estimated to be around […]
New law shields religious foster, adoption agencies from discrimination lawsuits
Faith-based adoption and foster care agencies in the state who make decisions based on their religious views are now free to do so without any threat of lawsuits thanks to a new law signed this week, and opponents say that could hurt foster kids across the state. The new law, which Gov. Doug Ducey signed […]
Ducey has final say on legislation to protect religious adoption, foster agencies from discrimination claims
Foster kids in Arizona overwhelmingly outnumber licensed foster families, and a bill on Gov. Doug Ducey’s desk could shrink their options even further by allowing agencies to deny applicants based on religious beliefs. The bill would shield foster and adoption providers from discrimination on the basis of religion, though it’s not clear what problem the […]
DOJ warns Arizona it will sue to void new anti-trans laws
Arizona could find itself the target of lawsuits from the U.S. Department of Justice over recent anti-trans legislation. Yesterday, the department’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to all state attorneys general warning of legal action against laws that potentially violate constitutional and federal non-discrimination protections. “All persons should be free to access the services, […]
State superintendent, activists condemn Arizona governor signing anti-trans legislation
Activists and educators on Thursday condemned the Arizona governor for supporting bills targeting trans youth in sports and medical care.
15-week abortion ban will become Arizona law
With the stroke of a pen Wednesday, Gov. Doug Ducey made it illegal for Arizona women to seek an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy — even if they became pregnant because they were raped. The legislation, which will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, was modeled after a Mississippi law […]
Ducey signs anti-trans laws barring medical treatment, sports participation
In a move against transgender youth in Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey signed new laws barring them from participating in girls’ and womens’ sports, and from obtaining gender reassignment surgery. Senate Bill 1138 prohibits doctors from providing genital reassignment surgery to minors, including mastectomies or mammoplasties to feminize and masculinize a patient’s chest to be more […]
Constitutional ban on ‘critical race theory’ in AZ schools, universities is one vote away from the November ballot
Republican legislators want voters to make it unconstitutional for Arizona public schools, colleges and universities to teach so-called “critical race theory,” a move that will come at the detriment of quality education, critics say. The proposed constitutional amendment would capitalize on a nationwide GOP movement to demonize critical race theory — a high-level field of […]
Last-minute K-12 funding overhaul clears House committee
An eleventh-hour proposal that would make sweeping changes to how Arizona schools are funded won Republican approval on a legislative panel Monday, despite the devastating budget cuts that critics say many schools will face if it becomes law. The amendment attached to Senate Bill 1269 increases total K-12 funding by as much as $215 million, […]
GOP lawmakers send Ducey bills banning gender surgery, girls’ sports for trans kids
Republicans in the House pushed through legislative proposals that restrict transgender children’s access to girls sports and gender-affirming surgeries. Republican legislators defended the proposals as necessary legislative protections. Senate Bill 1138, in particular, elicited heated rhetoric. The bill would ban surgeries for minors performed for the purpose of a gender transition. That includes everything from […]
House approves 15-week abortion ban, Ducey will have final say
A ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy was approved by a Republican majority in the House, and is on its way to Gov. Doug Ducey’s desk. Under Senate Bill 1164, a doctor who performs an abortion on a woman who is more than 15 weeks pregnant will face a class 6 felony and […]
Bill lets any Arizonan request an election recount — if they can pay up
Elections across the state could be open to court-ordered recounts under a new legislative proposal that allows Arizonans to file actions in superior court if they also provide the funding, and critics say that could open the door to wealthy special interest groups. “Not to get too conspiratorial but what if a George Soros or […]