AZ Legislative Update 08-19-2022

Election officials have finished counting votes from the Primary Election, and the winning candidates have turned their focus to the November General Election. There were no unexpected changes in legislative races, though several lawmakers who lost their re-election bids may still pursue legal action against Pinal County for its many problems on Election Day. Fourteen current lawmakers lost their race for another term at the Capitol, and another seven legislators lost their quest for a statewide or Congressional office.

While legislative candidates work toward the November election, some are also jockeying for leadership roles in the 2023 legislative session. Since both the House Speaker and Senate President leave office this year, there are new opportunities for lawmakers to select who will set the political goals and governance for each legislative chamber. These behind-the-scenes competitions reflect the same dynamics that are playing out in this election cycle: Members of each political party must decide between candidates who represent very conservative or progressive values and those who will pursue a more moderate approach to governance and policymaking.

There’s a lot at stake in this election cycle. You can help shape the outcome by checking to be sure you’re registered to vote.

Important Dates

October 11  Last day to register to vote in November

October 28  Last day to request an early ballot for the General Election

November 8  General Election

Voters Will Decide Big Policies in November

In addition to the candidates on the November ballot, voters will decide on as many as 11 proposals to change state laws or the Arizona Constitution. (There may also be additional propositions from local governments for some voters.)

The legislature referred eight of the measures to the ballot:

• Proposition 128 would allow the legislature to alter voter-approved laws if the Arizona Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the laws were unconstitutional or invalid.
• Proposition 129 would require citizen initiatives to include just one subject, included in the title of the proposal.
• Proposition 130 would allow the legislature to set the amount for property tax exemptions outlined in the Arizona Constitution and would consolidate existing constitutional provisions on property taxes.
• Proposition 131 would create a Lieutenant Governor position in Arizona, to be elected on a joint ticket with the Governor and to take over the role of Governor in case of a vacancy.
• Proposition 132 would require ballot measures that enact a tax to pass with at least 60% support to go into law.
• Proposition 308 would repeal provisions of existing state law to allow in-state college tuition for Arizona high school students, regardless of lawful immigration status.
• Proposition 309 would increase voter identification requirements for mail-in ballots and tighten the identification requirements for in-person voting.
• Proposition 310 would create a 0.1% sales tax for 20 years to increase funding for Arizona fire districts.

Three other measures originated as citizen initiatives:

• The Voters’ Right to Know Act would increase reporting and disclosure requirements for campaign contributions.
• The Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act would increase the amount of property and belongings that are exempt from debt collections and reduce the maximum interest rate on medical debt.
• The Arizonans for Free and Fair Elections initiative would amend a wide range of laws on elections, voting, campaign finance, and lobbying.

The citizen initiatives advanced after months of collecting signatures from voters, and all three face legal challenges to the validity of those signatures or the procedures associated with getting the proposals to the ballot. Judges rejected the challenges to two initiatives this week, but those decisions will be appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court. Supporters of the measures say they’re confident the proposals will survive the legal action and go to voters.

In the News

The debate about Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program continues as supporters celebrate the legislature’s recent expansion of ESAs and opponents try to put the new law before voters. There are differing opinions about the success of Arizona’s OnTrack Summer Camp. Arizona’s suicide rate. A constitutional cap on school spending is still in place. Arizona students fell behind during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the Bright Side…

The sky’s the limit for this mother-daughter duo.