Legislative schedule - week starting 12/22/2024

It's a holiday week, so nothing is on the schedule right now.

However, that's subject to change.  It's best to keep an eye out for changes

Also, things will change as we get closer to the new session of the legislature.

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/15/2024

 Well, the election is over, so activity at the Capitol is picking up.

Admittedly, there's only three meetings scheduled at this point, and they're all scheduled for Wednesday, but that's three more than are on the schedule for Christmas week.

However, that's subject to change.  It's best to keep an eye out for changes.

On Monday 12/16, Tuesday, 12/17, and Thursday, 12/19 - nada.

On Wednesday, 12/18 -

Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) meets at 9:30 a.m. in SHR109. On the agenda: 12 items, eight of will be considered en masse as part of consent agenda item.  The four items that they will actually consider: reviews of items involving the AZ SOS and AZ AG.  As both offices are headed by Democrats and the "reviews" will take place in executive session (fewer witnesses that way), I'm guessing that there will be less considering and more "raking over the coals" going on. The other two item will be public and involve DEQ and AHCCCS/DES.  As John Kavanagh chairs this committee, he will probably focus making sure no trans people are helped by these agencies.

Joint Committee on Capital Review (JCCR) meets at 9:45 a.m. or upon adjournment of the JLBC meeting in SHR109.  On the agenda:  six items, five and half of which will be considered en masse as part of consent agenda item.  What will be considered in public are a couple buildings under construction as U of A.  Kavanagh chairs this one too, so trans people will probably be mentioned here, too.

House Committee on International Trade meets at 10:30 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: this looks to be a pro forma meeting.

If it's December, it must be vehicle bill time at the AZ legislature

In lege-speak, a "vehicle bill" that exists basically to serve a shell for a strike-everything amendment ("striker") that's usually far more insidious and detrimental to society than the underlying bill.

Normally, such bills have "technical correction" in the working title, but this year, they've gotten creative.  So far, none have that in the title.

Thus far, 14 actual bills have been introduced; of those, eight look to be vehicles for strikers.

Of the 14, nine were introduced by Ol' Reliable, John Kavanagh (R - CAP's Lapdog) (and he is listed as a co-sponsor of another); seven look to be strikers.

Some of the bills are about things like balloons, fair juries, and eyeglasses; not the sort of things that Republicans are known for giving a damn about.

One prediction: SB1007, working title "public school tax credit; purposes" will be turned into something to expand private school vouchers.

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/8/2024

 Well, the election is over, so activity at the Capitol is picking up.

Admittedly, there's only two meetings scheduled at this point, but that's two more than happens during most weeks between legislative sessions.

However, that's subject to change.  It may be best to keep an eye out for changes.

On Monday, 12/9 and Thursday, 12/12 - Nada.

On Tuesday, 12/10 -

Joint Legislative Audit Committee meets at 9 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: Six items, including some about certain audits of certain schools/programs.

On Wednesday, 12/11-

Senate Government meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: no bills, but is this was a hockey blog, I'd say the committee chairman Jake Hoffman is dropping his gloves and facing off with AZAG Kris Mayes,  Except that unlike a hockey fight between two participants looking each other in the eye, Hoffman will be launching his haymakers from behind a shield made up of Phoenix firefighters.

The committee will be looking into allegations of discriminatory practices by the Phoenix Fire Department and seeking the blame Mayes.  

One of the presenters: an attorney from the Goldwater Institute, a conservative lobbying group.

 

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/1/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at the legislature at this point.  

However, that's subject to change.  It may be best to keep an eye out for changes.

And the first ones out of the gate are...

The 2025 legislative session has started; sitting legislators are "pre-filing" before the session starts (there are limits on the number of measures that any legislator can introduce *during* the session.  Before the session?  No limits.

Anyway, I digress.

Next year's HB2001 was introduced by Republican Rep. Matt Gress and is about the temporary licensing of college graduates in behavioral health.  I'm not going to take a position on this one (there may be a problematic clause or two in it) but this is the sort of topic our legislators should be discussing.

Om the other hand, next year's SB1001, introduced by Republican Sen J.D. Mesnard is a bunch of proposed restrictions on voters, particularly on early voters.  Its clauses amend 17 pages of AZ law, and most of the clauses are garbage.

IMO, a couple of the sections stand out in terms of  his express of hatred of voters -

From the bill (the blue text indicates Mesnard's proposed changes):

As is, this section would encourage county recorders and/or elections directors to decline to do their jobs and to impose restrictions on others (early voters) if they don't do their jobs.

Maybe this clause would be more palatable if it was amended to include a provision where county recorders and election directors who did such a thing (or, more to the point, *failed* to do such a thing) were deemed to have committed malfeasance in office and were removed from that office and permanently barred from any sort of public employment.

Of course, that wouldn't make another part more palatable.

Also from the bill:

With this language, Mesnard proposes to end both dropping off an early ballot at a voting location other than in the voter's own precinct and that early ballots that were dropped off per Mesnard's language would have to be delivered to the county recorder by 7 p.m. on election day.

As polling place don't close until 7 p.m., that could be a problem.

Well, at least Mesnard has demonstrated his giving spirit, perhaps in commemoration of Thanksgiving.

Of course, he's demonstrating that spirit by delivering a turkey to the people of Arizona.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/24/2024

There's one meeting scheduled for Thanksgiving week.

Joint Ad Hoc Study Committee on Water Security meets Monday at 1 p.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: presentations, mostly from industry representatives, about water department (Arizona Department of Water Resources) rules regarding water in AZ.  Since industry loyalists Sine Kerr and Gail Griffin are co-chairs of this committee, the people of Arizona should expect to be stuffed, cooked, and served up on a platter.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/17/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at the legislature at this point.  

However, that's subject to change.  Last week, I reported that no meetings were on the schedule.  And at the time, that was true.  

However, the Joint Committee on Capital Review (JCCR) met on Wednesday, so keep an eye out - right now, there's nothing scheduled, but something could be placed there at a moment's notice.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/10/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at the legislature at this point.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/3/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at the legilature at this point.   

Election Day is Tuesday.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/27/2024

As of this writing, there's only one meeting at the legislature scheduled for this week

On Monday, 10/28 and Wednesday, 10/30 and Thursday 10/31 - Nada.

On Tuesday, 10/29 -

Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Study Committee on Water Security meets at 1 p.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: presentations and a discussion about active management areas (for water) and the assured water supply program.  Given that certain members of the committee are industry apologists (hey, it's nicer than referring to them as employees of industry lobbyists), I expect this committee, and the legislature as a whole, to protect industry interests.  Water for people?  Not as important as water for industry.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/20/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point. 

There *is* something scheduled for the 29th, but that will be covered in next week's post.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/13/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point. 

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/6/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point. 

Arizona's ballot questions

With early ballots soon coming to a mailbox near you, I thought it was time to do a post like this.

During some election years, the state legislature refers some measures to the ballot that are worth voting for.

This isn't such a year.

Some of the schemes referred to the ballot by the lege are thing they *have* to refer to ballot; some were referred to get around a veto by Governor Hobbs; but all are bad for the people of Arizona.

Every measure referred by the legislature falls into one of two categories:

1. Shameless power grabs by the lege.

2. Shameless espousing of propaganda.

As such, *all* such measures (those referred by the Rs in the legislature) should be opposed by voters.

The list of state-level ballot measures, from the Arizona Secretary of State, is here.

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission has a list here. (select "2024 - General" and "All Counties " and click on "See All".)

Note: neither of these espouses a position on any measure.

The guide from the group Civic Engagement Beyond Voting is here.

Note: this one takes a position on each measure.

The list of analyses of the ballot measures from the Legislative Council's office is here.

Note: officially, they don't take a position on any of the measures.  Practically, Lege Council is a bunch of lawyers who work for the Republicans in the state legislature.  Anything they produce regarding ballot measures (and many other topics) should simply be viewed as partisan garbage.

Note2:  When I write about a similar bill in the other chamber, I only looked for a CR introduced in the same year.

On to the questions themselves -

Prop 133 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2023.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to allow the legislature to override all municipal laws regarding primary elections.  Started life as HCR2033, sponsored by Austin Smith (a similar measure was introduced in the Senate, SCR1036. It was introduced by Justine Wadsack and Anthony Kern.). NO.

Prop 134 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2023.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to limit the ability of voters to put questions on the ballot by requiring that a certain number of signatures be gathered from each legislative district.  Started life as SCR1015, proposed by JD Mesnard, Ken Bennett, Steve Kaiser, Sine Kerr Warren Petersen, Timothy Dunn, Travis Grantham, and Ben Toma. (a similar measure was introduced in the House, HCR2041, proposed by David Marshall, Sr., Lupe Diaz, John Gillette, Liz Harris, Laurin Hendrix, Rachel Jones, and Austin Smith

The one that made the ballot was supported by the Republican leaders in both chambers. NO.

Prop 135 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2023.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to limit the governor's emergency powers.  This looks to be a two-fer - it's both a push-back against Covid mitigation efforts and the election of Democrat Katie Hobbs to the job of governor.  Started life as HCR2039, introduced by Joe Chaplik and Alexander Kolodin (no similar Senate bill).  NO.

Prop 136 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to allow anyone to sue to make a voter-proposed ballot go away.  Another attempt to limit the ability of voters to propose laws. Started life as SCR1041, sponsored by JD Mesnard (a similar measure was introduced in the House, HCR2049, proposed by Neal Carter).  NO

Prop 137 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to eliminate judicial retention elections.  There's a sneaky clause in it to exempt the anti-choice justices on the Arizona Supreme Court who are up for retention this year (and face a campaign to remove them from the bench) from this year's election.  Started life as SCR1044, proposed by David Gowan and Janae Shamp (no similar House bill).  Hell NO.

Prop 138 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution to pay tipped employees 25% less than minimum wage.  Supported by industry; opposed by decent human beings.  Started life as SCR1040, sponsored by JD Mesnard (no similar House bill).  Hell NO.

Prop 139 - referred to the ballot by the public.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution.  Would create a constitutional right to an abortion.

Hell YES.  The only measure worthy of support.

Prop 140 - referred to the ballot by the public.  A proposal to amend the state's constitution.  Would create a jungle primary where all candidates would run in a single primary, regardless of partisan affiliation, and twice the number of candidates as offices to be elected would go on to the general election.  Do I believe that AZ's primary needs fixing? Yes.  Do I believe that a jungle primary will do it?  No.

Like ineffective term limits, this is just a lazy way to address a problem.

NO.

Prop 311 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2023.  A proposal to amend the state's laws to create a cash death benefit for the spouses or children of first responders killed in the line of duty.  The measure would pay for the death benefit by imposing an additional fee on people convicted of crimes.  It also characterizes police officers/sheriff's deputies/etc. as "first responders".  Started life as SCR1006, proposed by David Gowan (a similar measure was introduced in the House, HCR2025, proposed by Kevin Payne).  As defendants convicted of crimes already have many fees imposed on them and firefighters/EMTs/etc. aren't known for killing unarmed civilians and don't deserve to be equated to police officers of any sort, NO.

Prop 312 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's laws to create an ability of people with homes to apply for a property tax refunds if they feel that their municipalities don't do enough to hide homeless people.  Started life as HCR2023, proposed by Ben Toma (a similar measure was introduced in the Senate, SCR1006, proposed by veritable rogues' gallery of sponsors - Warren Petersen, Shawnna Bolick, Frank Carroll, John Kavanagh, Sine Kerr, Wendy Rogers, TJ Shope, and Justine Wadsack).  NO.

Prop 313 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's laws to require that someone convicted of child sex trafficking receive a punishment of life in prison without the possibility of parole.  Started life as SCR1021, sponsored by many members - Bolick, Bennett, Borrelli, Carroll, Farnsworth, Gowan, Hoffman, Kavanagh, Kern, Kerr, Mesnard, Petersen, Rogers, Shamp, Shope, Wadsack, Biasiucci, Bliss, Carbone, Carter, Chaplik, Cook, Diaz, Dunn, Gillette, Grantham, Gress, Griffin, Heap, Hendrix, Jones, Livingston, Marshall, Martinez, McGarr, Montenegro, Nguyen, Parker B, Parker J, Payne, Peña, Pingerelli, Smith, Toma, Willoughby, and Wilmeth (a similar measure was introduced in the House, HCR2042, proposed by Bliss, Biasiucci, Carbone, Carter, Chaplik, Cook, Diaz, Dunn, Gillette, Grantham, Gress, Griffin, Heap, Hendrix, Jones, Livingston, Marshall, Martinez, McGarr, Montenegro, Nguyen, Parker B, Parker J, Payne, Peña, Pingerelli, Smith, Toma, Willoughby, and Wilmeth).  As the legislature thinks this is a good idea, so NO.

Note3: I had to use copy-and-paste for lists this long.

Prop 314 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's laws to enshrine bigotry.  If passed by the voters, it would make undocumented immigration into the U.S. a locally-enforced crime.  There are other clauses in the measure, but all are about the R mantra of "fear the other".  Started life as HCR2060, proposed by Ben Toma (no similar Senate bill).  Oh, Hell NO.

Prop 315 - referred to the ballot by the legislature in 2024.  A proposal to amend the state's laws to all but eliminate rulemaking by state agencies. Would mandate that the legislature approve any rule created by a state agency that would increase regulatory costs by $500K over five years.  Started life as SCR1012, proposed by Anthony Kern, Jake Hoffman, Wendy Rogers, Justine Wadsack, Laurin Hendrix, Rachel Jones, and Alexander Kolodin (a similar measure was introduced in the House, HCR2052, proposed by Cory McGarr, John Gillette, Gail Griffin, Justin Heap, Rachel Jones, Alexander Kolodin, Barbara Parker, and Austin Smith).  NO.

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/29/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point. 

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/22/2024

With only one meeting scheduled, it's shaping up to be another relatively quiet week at the Capitol.

On Thursday, 9/26

  -

Vulnerable Adult Study Committee meets at 10 a.m. in SHR1. There's no bills on the agenda, so they're hearing and discussing a presentation from the state's Auditor General (an entity of the Rs in the legislature) on "Examining the Delivery of Services to Vulnerable Adults in the Arizona Adult Protective Services System,"

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/15/2024

There's actually some legislative activity this week (maybe not much, but it's still activity) -

I'm as shocked as you.

On Wednesday, 9/18 -

Joint Legislative Audit Committee meets at 9 a.m. in SHR109.  No bills on the agenda, but of the six items, two involve the Arizona Department of Child Safety, one involves the Arizona Adult Protective Services System, and one involves federal money to schools.  I expect this meeting to be an anti-society propaganda-fest.

Arizona's legislative Rs attempt to influence another body

[Begin sarcasm]

I know, you're as shocked as I am that they've overstepped their bounds. Or tried to use their positions to put their fingers on the scale.

[/end sarcasm]

:)

From KTAR -

Arizona Senate Committee accuses Clean Elections of unlawful debate rule change

The Arizona Senate Committee claimed on Thursday that the Clean Elections Commission has illegally barred the Green Party’s U.S. Senate candidate from participating in upcoming general election debates.

Eduardo Quintana, 2024 Arizona Senate candidate and chair of the Green Party in Pima County, won his side of the primary as a write-in candidate but is not featured in the Oct. 9 debate to be broadcasted across several platforms by Arizona Media Association. As is, the scheduled debate will feature Republican Kari Lake and Democrat U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego.

The accusation was submitted via letter by Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman in response to Clean Elections’ recent rule change that requires a candidate to have received at least 1% of total ballots counted in their primary election. According to Arizona Media Association, that 1% minimum threshold was 12,400 votes for Quintana, who only garnered 282.

I presume that the "committee" in question is Senate Government; Hoffman is chair of two Senate Government and Senate Executive Nominations aka Senate Inquisitions Committee.  And this isn't about a nomination.

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/8/2024

Nada, as in there is nothing scheduled at this point.