AZ Legislative Update 03-11-2022
This week was dominated by finger-pointing and regret over a highly controversial change to the selection of precinct committee leaders around the state. Precinct committeemen (a statutory label for anyone holding the office) are political party officials within each legislative district, responsible for various administrative and political duties. A bill fast-tracked through the legislative process last week removed the elections of those officials, immediately changing state law to temporarily require political party leaders to appoint them instead of voters electing them. A perfect storm of unintended consequences and unusual circumstances created the situation; concerns about the changes were not identified before it became law, because the legislature skipped committee hearings and public discussion on the proposal.
House and Senate Republicans, burdened by angry calls from precinct officials in their districts, quickly introduced bills to repeal that provision and restore elections for precinct committeemen before an election deadline in April. Democrats, however, are not hearing the same concerns from precinct officials in their party and aren’t in a hurry to repeal the new law without replacing it with a more permanent fix to this year’s complications with precinct committeemen elections. Without bipartisan support, the fix to the law won’t be enacted before next month’s election deadline.
Both legislative chambers are expected to vote on the Republicans’ proposed repeal of the new law next
week, and negotiations with legislative Democrats are likely to continue through the weekend.
Committee, Floor Votes Move Bills Closer to Governor’s Desk
Policy committees approved a variety of controversial proposals this week, often on party-line votes. They advanced bills to direct $1.1 million to the state’s Border Security Fund, penalize doctors who performirreversible gender reassignment surgeries to most minors, define gender in school sports, limit abortions after 15 weeks, and curb investors’ ability to take control of condo complexes.
Other bills found broad bipartisan support in committee hearings – including proposals to create a State Broadband Office, set up a commission to plan a 250th birthday party for the United States, tell HOAs they can’t ban artificial grass, and expand AHCCCS coverage to include chiropractic care and diabetes management services.
The House and Senate held lengthy floor sessions throughout the week. During floor votes, senators approved bills to create an Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot Program, increase funding for providers who serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and set up a task force to prevent sexual misconduct on college campuses. House members supported limits on the use of fireworks at night and expanded the allowable uses of money from the Tribal College Dual Enrollment Program Fund.
An unusual number of bills failed this week, in large part due to bipartisan opposition to several election- related proposals. Senators voted down proposals to expand the Arizona Attorney General’s ability to investigate elections, ban counties from requiring Sharpies on ballots, change the way counties organize ballots, mandate an audit of some elections, and put ballot images online. Legislators also failed to pass bills that reduced local governments’ ability to lobby legislators, changed regulations on Arizona’s energy market, and prohibited banks from considering specific affiliations or values in loan decisions.
What’s Next?
There are just two weeks for most policy committees to consider bills, and more than 400 bills are still waiting for their final committee hearings.
In the Elections
Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff) and Senator Kelly Townsend (R-Apache Junction) will take their disagreements on the campaign trail. Arizonans will see a lot of political ads this year because candidates will be competing for attention. Candidates for Arizona Secretary of State have raised more money this year. Cyber Ninjas wants the Arizona Supreme Court to waive penalties for its failure to release public records.
In the Courts
Today is the deadline for a Superior Court Judge to rule on the question of whether Proposition 208, Arizona’s new education funding mechanism, violates the school expenditure limit. Arizona’s judges have unusually large workloads. Arizona’s Attorney General wants to apply antitrust laws to financial institutions pursuing sustainability initiatives.
In the News
Arizona OnTrack Summer Camp started enrolling participants. Arizona’s community workers help mothers and babies. The First Lady came to town. Arizona drivers are angry. A member of the Navajo Nation is the new nominee for Director of Indian Health Services. Arizonans are spending millions on sports betting. Congress is still discussing state COVID-19 aid funds. Legislators still block people on Twitter. The 2020 U.S. Census had accuracy problems. A long time ago, Arizona opted not to join Daylight Savings Time.
On the Bright Side…
Letters last and these students have a pep talk for you.