Our 7th year, week 11
This was a record-setting week in terms of activity involving the bills we are tracking, and the previous week was a close second. The reason for all this activity was the March 27 deadline for holding committee hearings on bills.
This deadline does not apply to four committees, which are the Appropriations and Rules committees in both chambers. These committees have an additional week to conduct hearings, and they are taking full advantage by scheduling a large number of hearings for next week. After that, only the budget bills can be heard in committees.
Major players this week were bills dealing with the high cost of motor fuel. They did not do very well, mostly because of opposition by Democrats to any kind of relief in this area.
An effort to force legislators to take care of the budget in a timely manner, by withholding salaries if they did not, failed when two Republicans joined the Democrats in their NO votes.
The rampant proliferation and increase of taxes and fees at the municipal and county levels experienced some potential relief in the form of a Strike Everything amendment.
What started out as a strong bill to prohibit state participation in light rail expansions was advanced in a much weaker version calling only for a study of the issue.
Here are some highlights:
HB2145 – petition; waiver; fuel formulations Failed 3-4 in committee. This bill would have allowed both the Speaker of the house and the president of the Senate to petition the EPA for waivers aimed at increasing the number of gasoline blends allowable, thus reducing the cost of gasoline.
HB2400 – motor fuel tax holiday HELD This late in the session, when a bill is held it usually means that it is dead. This bill would have provided some gasoline cost relief during the time when the expensive blend is required.
HB2955 – gasoline formulations; air quality Not heard as scheduled in the Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, but sent to the Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology, where it is scheduled for a hearing next week.
SB1655 – juror summons; election worker option Failed 4-5 in committee. A significant number of people will do almost anything to get out of jury duty. This bill was an attempt to capitalize on that sentiment help fill vacancies in the elections workers ranks.
HCR2048 – elected officials; salary; prohibition Failed 2-4 in committee. The only duty that the AZ constitution specifically requires the legislature to do is to hammer out a budget for the next fiscal year. In recent years there have been numerous instances of this can being kicked down the road, leading to last minute, hastily put together budgets. This bill was an effort to allow voters to encourage politicians to take care of this issue early in the session.
SB1016 – employers; medical products; religious exemption Passed with a Strike Everything amendment. As amended, this bill outlines requirements and procedures for a municipality to pass an ordinance for an improvement district. These improvement districts are often convenient vehicles for tax increases and corporate welfare. As amended, this bill places some common sense restrictions on the formation of improvement districts.
HCR2016 – voting centers; precinct voting Passed as amended via a Strike Everything amendment. Now, subject to voter approval, statutorily prohibits, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, a municipality or county from increasing a tax, fee or utility rate or imposing a new tax classification or expanding the tax base.
SB1332 – (NOW: light rail expansion; feasibility review) This bill started out as a prohibition against participation in any light rail expansion. It was weakened to just a study. It passed committee further weakened an amendment to exclude from the review important information like rate of ridership.
Links to some significant bill lists
Bills that are the target of strike everything amendments can be found HERE
Bills sent to the governor can be found HERE
Bills vetoed by the governor can be found HERE
Full list of what happened this week with the bills we are tracking
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