AZ Legislative Update 04-22-2022
Lawmakers’ pursuit of a budget was derailed this week when the House Appropriations Committee voted down a collection of bills that would have continued the current budget into the next fiscal year. The failure of the bills highlighted the factors that are complicating all budget negotiations: One Republican thought the proposal spent too much, another Republican thought it spent too little on tax cuts and new investments, and all Democrats on the panel thought it didn’t do enough to address their policy priorities.
The sponsor of the proposals, House Appropriations Chair Regina Cobb (R-Kingman), said they were just a placeholder intended to keep state government open while legislators tried to negotiate agreements on other spending details. The plan was an acknowledgment that Republican legislative leaders aren’t sure it’s possible to get agreement for a real budget plan. “We can’t come together,” Cobb observed, predicting that the stalled budget negotiations will make it difficult to find an agreement on a full budget proposal before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
Governor Ducey does not support the effort to reenact last year’s budget, and says he’ll continue to urge legislators to craft an agreement that includes his spending priorities.
House and Senate Republicans now must renew their attempts to broker a deal that can earn the support of the Governor and a majority of lawmakers. To do that, they may need to start trying to find common ground with Democrats.
Legislature Continues to Advance Bills
The House and Senate adjourned early again this week, but not before they moved a variety of policy priorities closer to the finish line.
The Senate approved business property tax cuts, banned government mandates on face masks for minors and COVID-19 vaccinations, expanded the state’s regulatory “sandbox” program, authorized parents to sue teachers over perceived infringements on their parental rights, and increased oversight of school library books. Senators revived and passed a bill to change regulations of electric utilities after pledging to study Arizona's energy systems this summer.
The House agreed to allow religious institutions to remain open during a state of emergency, expanded law enforcement focus on antisemitism, increased efforts to prevent the assault of a health care worker, and established a new safety assessment tool for Department of Child Safety investigators. House members revived two bills they had voted down last week, passing proposals that increase study on DUIs and alter regulations on out-of-state banks doing business in Arizona.
Legislators failed to pass proposals that would have required schools to post curriculum online, altered regulation of sports betting, expanded the use of the state’s online signature system for school board candidates and ballot initiatives, and extended the life of the Arizona Department of Corrections. (Another bill that includes additional oversight of the Department continues to advance).
What’s Next?
This week marked an important turning point in the legislative session. Under House and Senate rules, Saturday should be the end of the session. The House Speaker and Senate President extended the session an additional week, but after next week, both the House and Senate will have to vote to continue the legislature’s work. On May 9, the 120th day of the session, state law will automatically give lawmakers a pay cut.
While legislative leaders try to find a path forward for the budget and other big policy decisions, the House and Senate will continue to vote on remaining bills. There are more than 300 proposals still eligible for consideration, but many of those bills appropriate money and will be addressed through budget discussions.
Arizona’s New Laws
Governor Ducey signed 28 bills this week. He has signed 163 bills this year and has not vetoed any.
In the Elections
House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R-Mesa) won a national award for defending the legitimacy of the 2020 election. The Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) is suing Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) over their longstanding disagreement about the Elections Procedures Manual. The 2022 candidate debate season has begun – you can follow upcoming debates and videos of debates that have already occurred.
In the Courts
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that voters cannot challenge legislation on taxes through a citizen initiative, blocking an effort to refer recent income tax cuts to the November ballot. A new task force will evaluate Arizona courts’ approach to competency and mental health examinations. A federal appeals court ruling could allow landlords to sue for revenue they lost under eviction moratoriums during the pandemic.
In the News
The federal government warned it might assume responsibility over Arizona’s workplace safety program. Governor Ducey is leading a multi-state effort to create a Border Strike Force. Arizona’s unemployment rate dropped last month. The state’s bioscience industry is growing. Policymakers are watching Arizona’s water supply system and marijuana regulations. This program helps Arizona moms and babies. Arizona’s wildfire season started.
On the Bright Side…
Science has answers to life’s big questions.