AZ Legislature Week In Review – Week Ending May 10, 2024

As we get closer to the end of the current legislative session, it appears that three issues will be top priorities for the legislature:

• Border Security
• Election Integrity
• Budget

The legislature continues on a limited-schedule mode, although this week it went up from one day a week to two days. It appears that next week it will also meet two days instead of one. Here are some of the highlights:

HCR2060 – border; benefits; fentanyl; illegal entry This bill advanced this week and is expected to be ready for submission to the voters by the end of next week. It contains three key provisions:

• An immigration laws enforcement provision fashioned after Texas’ SB4. This provision will be contingent upon the Texas law being approved by the U. S. Supreme Court.
• An enhancement of the laws dealing with fentanyl. A lot of the fentanyl that enters our country does so via illegal border crossings.
• A lawful presence requirement to obtain tax-payer funded benefits. This provision is already in statutes, but it is frequently circumvented and will be repealed if the legislature flips to Democrat control.

Another important issue that was taken up by the legislature has to do with the ability of municipalities to control zoning and other zoning-related matters. This week there was action on three bills dealing with this subject:

HB2584 – residential building materials; requirements; prohibition Failed 14-14-2. There was no particular pattern here. Both Republicans and Democrats voted for and against.

HB2720 – accessory dwelling units; requirements. Passed 17-11-2, with bi-partisan support.

HB2721 – municipal zoning; middle housing Passed 17-11-2, with strong bi-partisan support.

Next week, we are likely to see a favorable final disposition of HCR2060, the Border Security Act. In addition to that, two bills have been scheduled for consideration in the Senate Elections Committee:

HCR2056 – preferential treatment; discrimination; prohibition Will be heard in committee Thursday, May 16.

HCR2032 – voting centers; precinct voting Was scheduled for a committee hearing May 15, but that hearing has been cancelled. A major, controversial portion of this bill is that it eliminates voting by mail on demand, and replaces it with extremely limited absentee voting.

In the governor’s front, it is business as usual. Her veto count is now 56 of the 243 bills that have been sent to her.

For a list of all the bills that Hobbs has vetoed, go here.

To find out what bills have been sent to the governor, click on this link.

Then click on “Select Bills to Display” and choose “Sent to Governor”

Those folks who wish to contact the governor regarding these and other bills may do so by using this contact information:

CONTACT GOVERNOR VIA EMAIL:

https://azgovernor.gov/contact/form/contact-governor-hobbs

CONTACT GOVERNOR VIA TELEPHONE:

Phoenix: 602.542.4331 Tucson: 520.628.6580