AZ Legislative Update 05-06-2022
House and Senate leaders had to schedule votes around legislators’ absences this week because some lawmakers were not at the Capitol for the limited floor sessions. The House met Monday and Thursday to vote on several proposals, including a limited driving license for someone who lost driving privileges because of a DUI and continued traumatic event counseling for first responders and public safety employees.
The Senate met Monday and Tuesday, then convened for just seven minutes on Wednesday before adjourning until next week. During its limited floor sessions, the Senate voted to allow someone to kill a wolf if it is threatening or attacking a person or pet, exempted the Department of Child Safety from reporting requirements for some alleged abuse in a foreign country, and approved new options for preventing and penalizing theft of catalytic converters. Senators failed to pass a bill that bans any government in Arizona from requiring someone under 18 to get a COVID-19 vaccine without parental consent, but the bill is likely to get another vote next week when all Republicans are present.
The Senate Education Committee held a lengthy hearing to consider Governor Ducey’s nominees to a variety of education oversight boards.
Lawmakers of both parties rallied around a bill that allocates $400 million to finish widening I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. A looming federal deadline required legislators to consider the funding separate from ongoing budget negotiations. The bill was one of Governor Ducey’s priorities this year; he joined legislators for a celebratory signing of the legislation.
What’s Next?
The legislative session will continue to drag on while budget negotiations occur in private. It is unclear how much progress Republican leaders are making in their discussions – there’s no sign of an agreement and no scheduled hearings of the Appropriations Committees. The House and Senate will continue to limit the number of days they convene for floor sessions and will focus on non-budget bills. There are approximately 290 bills still waiting to advance, but many of those allocate funding for specific priorities and will only be considered in the context of budget negotiations.
Arizona’s New Laws
Governor Ducey has signed 218 bills into law this year and has not vetoed any.
In the Elections
Maricopa County criticized the Arizona Attorney General’s report on the 2020 election. He says he’s disappointed by their reaction. The Senate is still paying legal fees for its efforts to limit access to records about its ballot recount.
In the Courts
A Yavapai County Superior Court judge said the Attorney General has more work to do in his lawsuit against the Secretary of State’s Election Procedures Manual. A Yuma County Superior Court judge threw out Republican lawmakers’ defamation lawsuit against former Representative Charlene Fernandez. The Democratic National Committee plans to sue over Arizona’s new voting law.
In the News
The Arizona Department of Education directed $1.7 million toward services to students with disabilities. Though legislators focused on the COVID-19 vaccine this year, they’re not talking about decreases in other childhood immunization rates. The House unanimously voted to designate May as Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month in Arizona. The renewed debate on abortion is shaking up this election cycle and drawing attention to states’ laws on Medicaid and other support programs. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is keeping water in Lake Powell. There’s a new deadline for Arizonans to get their travel ID. Arizonans care about water policy. Airbnb will add some restrictions to rentals during summer holidays. The state IT officials are focused on cloud-based technology. The Arizona Department of Health Services wants to know what you think about its new tobacco control program.
On the Bright Side…
Music matters to Michael.