Republicans and Democrats joined forces early Thursday morning to pass a $15.8 billion budget that significantly increases K-12 funding as state lawmakers scrambled to approve a spending plan and avert a state government shutdown on July 1.... Read more»
A bill that would prohibit the Arizona Board on Geographic and Historic Names from naming any geographic feature, place of historical significance, or specified road using the derogatory term “sq***” has passed the Arizona Senate and is headed to the House.... Read more»
Discussions are underway at the Arizona Senate about possibly censuring Sen. Wendy Rogers over her recent inflammatory comments and her speech to a white nationalist conference over the weekend, according to the chamber’s second-ranking Republican. ... Read more»
The state Senate voted Monday to raise the aggregate expenditure limit for K-12 schools, heading off a funding crisis and allowing Arizona schools to use nearly nearly $1.2 billion that would have otherwise gone to waste.... Read more»
To allow parents to scour lessons for elements of "critical race theory," Arizona teachers would be required to upload a list of every book and worksheet they use in their classrooms online for parental review if a Republican-backed bill becomes law.... Read more»
The Arizona Corporation Commission is defending its efforts to show independence from utilities, despite lawmakers' complaints. ... Read more»
Legislative attorneys believe a Corporation Commission policy intended to restrict campaign contributions by utilities violates the Arizona Constitution, and the lawmaker who requested that opinion is hoping it will persuade the commission to change course for next year’s election.... Read more»
An effort to eliminate clergy privilege and force religious leaders to report child abuse to legal authorities was unable to get enough votes to make it out of committee Tuesday after days of backroom drama. In Arizona, clergy are not mandated reporters and suspected child abuse or neglect isn’t exempted from that, even if it is ongoing. And religious leaders cannot be forced to testify in court about abuse a parishioner confessed to committing.... Read more»
Amid false claims of election fraud spread by President Donald Trump and Arizona Republican leaders, the Arizona Senate will issue subpoenas to inspect and audit ballot counting machines in Maricopa County, a top Republican senator announced Monday at the conclusion of a six-hour-long legislative hearing into the November election.... Read more»
Several Republican lawmakers from Arizona are urging the federal government not to provide funding to states and cities that are coping with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as Arizona faces a projected budget deficit of more than a billion dollars.... Read more»
Senate President Karen Fann announced Thursday morning that her chamber will end the 2020 legislative session on Friday. But the House of Representatives won't do the same, House Speaker Rusty Bowers announced Thursday evening, after Republicans in that chamber rejected the idea.... Read more»
While attempts to bar minors from riding unrestrained in pickup truck beds have failed for years at the Legislature, state leaders have three new reasons to act: Three teenagers killed in recent months after being thrown for pickups, a lawmaker said.... Read more»
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