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Supreme Court: ‘All parts’ of marijuana plant protected by medical marijuana law
The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that marijuana extracts sold by dispensaries and used by medical marijuana patients are legal and are covered by Arizona’s voter-approved medical marijuana law.
Budget impasse continues in Senate after day of negotiating
The Arizona Senate stalled on passing the state budget Saturday as a split among Republicans left leaders scrambling, and so far failing, to find the needed votes to pass the $11.8 billion spending plan that has already been approved by the House of Representatives. “We’re sorry we didn’t get more done today,” Senate President Karen […]
AZ House approves budget to force Senate action, despite holdouts
Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives voted on a state budget deep into the night Friday, approving an $11.8 billion spending plan and sending it to the Senate, where several Republican continue to hold out in search of various policy changes.
Deal to expand rights of sexual abuse survivors in the works
Sen. Paul Boyer, R-Glendale, and Rep. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, may have been able to come to an agreement on a bill to expand the ability of survivors of child sexual abuse to take their abusers to court that has been threatening to stall budget talks.
Arizona Housing Trust Fund to get $10 million in budget
For the first time since 2012, Arizona’s Housing Trust fund, which helps low-income families with their housing needs, will receive new money to the tune of $10 million. The fund receives money from the sales of unclaimed property belonging to the state, like buildings and safe-deposit boxes. But like many other dedicated funds operated by […]
Budget lacking funds for medical residencies, despite statewide doctor shortage
Healthcare advocates are becoming increasingly concerned after learning that the budget deal that Gov. Doug Ducey struck with Republican legislative leaders does not contain money for graduate medical education funding, commonly referred to as GME.
Critics call GOP sexual abuse bill ‘a sham’ that protects institutions, not victims
A Republican state senator says his GOP colleagues are pushing “a sham” proposal that purports to expand the rights of victims of child sexual abuse, but instead protects the predators and the institutions that enable them.
Speaker preparing sexual abuse statute of limitations bill to break budget impasse
The top Republican in the Arizona House of Representatives appears to be attempting to break a legislative logjam by introducing a measure to increase the statute of limitations for victims of childhood sexual crimes that several GOP senators have said is key if leaders want them to vote on the budget.
Bill to regulate Airbnb heads to Ducey’s desk
A bill with broad bipartisan support that would add new regulations to short-term and vacation rental properties, such as those on Airbnb and VRBO, is heading to the governor’s desk for final approval. House Bill 2672 prohibits such properties from being used for non-residential purposes, such as making a home an event space. “The industry […]
Why there was no mandatory recall on DPS pistols
Once the Arizona Department of Public Safety notified Fabrique Nationale of the issue it discovered with company’s premier line of striker pistols, it took four months for the firearms manufacturer to publicly acknowledge the issue.
Ducey signs bill to study murders of Native women
Gov. Doug Ducey has signed into law a bill that will create a study committee to examine cases of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls.
DPS tech who oversaw testing of pistols charged with theft, forgery
A Department of Public Safety employee who oversaw the Firearms Unit and oversaw the lab which discovered an issue with the department’s service pistol was arrested for stealing from DPS. Todd Whittard, 52, was arrested at his Chandler home last week after an internal audit and investigation, according to a press release from DPS. In […]