AZ Legislative Update 05-05-2023
Arizona legislators spent just a few hours in floor sessions this week before adjourning until Monday.
The Senate gave broad bipartisan support to a bill that allows AHCCCS to spend its federal funding through June, ensuring continued operations of the agency after partisan budget disputes suspended funding authority last month. Governor Hobbs signed the bill on Thursday, calling on the legislature to also confirm her nominee to lead AHCCCS and pass a bill that continues the agency in state statute.
The session has slowed to a crawl, and lawmakers are unlikely to spend much time at the Capitol until Republican leaders reach a budget agreement with the Governor.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will meet today to appoint a new legislator to fill the seat vacated by former Representative Liz Harris (R-Chandler). The Board is expected to meet next week to appoint someone to fill former Senator Raquel Terán’s (D-Phoenix) seat.
Priority Bill Update
Governor Hobbs signed a four-year extension of the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind into law this week. The Governor criticized the limited extension of the School, accusing legislative Republicans of treating the School’s community with “a lack of respect,” and pledged to support an eight-year continuation of the School in the next legislative session.
The Governor has signed 113 bills and vetoed 64.
SB 1205 (foster children; education; best interest) and SB 1315 (emergency response; students with disabilities) are also on her desk for consideration. They both passed the legislature last week and were transmitted to the Governor on Wednesday.
In the Elections
Representative Jennifer Pawlik (D-Chandler) won’t run for her highly competitive seat in the House next year.
In the Courts
Republican leaders hired an attorney to defend the state’s law on gender in school sports after the Attorney General announced she wouldn’t defend it.
In the News
Several House Republicans filed an ethics complaint against Representative Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D-Tucson), who apologized for hiding Bibles at the Capitol last week.
On the Bright Side…
Dogs and veterans are saving each other.