COCONINO COUNTY DEMOCRATS ARIZONA LEGISLATIVE ALERT
January 30, 2023
Below is our Arizona Legislature Alert for this week. Our representatives continue to be busy – mostly suppressing the vote, imposing restrictions on public schools, arbitrary constraints on cities and counties, etc.
Please take whatever time you can to use RTS (Request to Speak) to voice your position on the bills outlined in the attached. Better yet, end and email or make a phone call to your representative to really let them know how you feel.
Remember that Civic Engagement Beyond Voting holds a hour long “Happy Hour” every Sunday at 4:00 PM to review what the legislature is up to. It is well worth your time. You can find a link to CEBV registration form to attend these zoom sessions here.
WENDY ROGERS BILLS
SB 1108 – OPPOSE – Would penalize cities such as Flagstaff and Tucson for voting to set a higher minimum wage than the state’s. Individuals and corporations could compute a tax credit that would be the difference in cost associated with the city’s minimum wage and the state’s wage rate and deduct that from their taxes. The State would then deduct that amount from the portion of state revenues shared with the city. Unused credits could be rolled over for 5 years. There was no financial impact information provided with this bill. USE RTS
ABILITY OF CITES/COUNTIES TO MANAGE FUNDS
SB 1138 – OPPOSE – Prohibits any financial institution from doing business in Arizona if they “discriminate” based on social credit, environmental, social governance or similar value based or impact criteria. Organizations opposed include the AZ National Organization for Women and the State Conference NAACP. USE RTS
SB 1139 – OPPOSE – Creates definition of “nonpecuniary factor” to mean consideration of corporate governance, social or environmental “nonpecuniary factors”. In short, it would prohibit looking at risk from the sense of good governance, social responsibility, and environmental goals. Organizations against this bill include AZ National Organization for
Women and the State Conference NAACP. USE RTS
SB 1096 – OPPOSE – This bill would prohibit any public entity from entering into a contract of over $100,000 with a company that “discriminates’ against the firearm industry. Also would prohibit public entities from adopting policies that have the “effect of inducing discrimination” against the firearms industry. USE RTS
SB 1063 – (companion bill HB 2061 as well) – OPPOSE – Would ban cities from charging sales tax on food items. There are 65 cities in Arizona who currently charge such tax and it represents about $150 million per year. Legislature has no right to force cities to make blanket changes to their revenue streams where there is little alternative source of critical
funds. The cities need to decide these kinds of things for themselves. USE RTS
SB 1184 – (also companion bill HB 2067) – OPPOSE – Would ban cities from charging sales tax on rent. Another Legislature attempt to make blanket changes to city revenue sources. About 71 of Arizona’s 91 cities use these taxes to help fund police, fire, libraries, parks and other services. The impact on these cities if eliminated is estimated at $202 million per year. USE RTS
HB 2394 – OPPOSE – Would ban Arizona and its cities and counties from enforcing any tax on firearms or ammo since it “might create a chilling effect on the purchase or ownership of those items by law-abiding citizens.” Too bad!! USE RTS
EDUCATION
HB 2458 – OPPOSE – This is an “anti-CRT” bill fueled by anti-public school culture wars. This would ban teaching “controversial topics” in schools and drive further distrust of educators. Students need to know both the good and the bad of our history so they can learn from the mistakes of the past. USE RTS
HCR 2001 – SUPPORT – Would waive Arizona’s archaic school spending cap for one year, averting teacher layoffs, program cuts and school closures. Without this waiver, the public schools which serve 70% of the state’s school children will be legally unable to spend $1.4 Billion in funds the Legislature has already allocated to them, and would have to cut spending for this school year by nearly 20% across the board. USE RTS
SB 1266 – SUPPORT – Would require schools that accept ESA voucher funding to run fingerprint clearance checks on their staff, similar to what already happens in public schools. A positive step that would keep Arizona kids who use ERA vouchers safer. USE RTS!!
DEMOCRACY
SCR 1015 – OPPOSE – Would ask voters to restrict Arizona’s initiative and referendum process by requiring ballot measures to collect signatures from a percentage of voters in each of Arizona’s 30 legislative districts: 10% for initiatives and 15% for a constitutional amendment. This would almost certainly end any citizen initiatives in Arizona!! USE RTS
HB 2213 – OPPOSE – Would allow ANY Arizona voter to contest an election for any statewide office or ballot measure for election inconsistencies like ballot chain of custody or mismatched signatures. These challengers would be allowed to paw through ballots looking for inconsistencies. This is just ridiculous!! USE RTS
VOTING SUPPRESSION
SB 1105 – OPPOSE – Would require election officials to immediately tabulate early ballots brought to the polls one election day. Such an action is both unnecessary and would compromise the already highly effective and accurate ballot recounting process.
SB 1135 – OPPOSE – Would force voters who try to return early ballots at the polls on Election Day to complete an in-person ballot instead! The bill would also end “emergency voting” as in-person voting the weekend before Election Day is called. USE RTS
SB 1141 – OPPOSE – Would require anyone who turns in an early ballot at the polls to show ID and if they turn in more than one ballot (say for a spouse or other relative) to sign an affidavit. Clearly an attempt to intimidate voters! USE RTS
SB 1170 – OPPOSE – Would ban unmonitored drop boxes. These are accessible, convenient, reliable and secure and HUGELY POPULAR!! USE RTS
HB 2304 – OPPOSE – Would ban county-based voting centers and mandate that counties return to precinct-style voting. The voting center concept is very beneficial – it provides voter convenience, financial savings and increased turnout. USE RTS
HB 2307 – OPPOSE – Would require all county and city elections to tabulate votes by hand!!!!! Ridiculous!! USE RTS
HB 2415 – OPPOSE – Would further restrict the state’s early voting list (AEVL) by stripping voters if they fail to vote their early ballots in all elections within a given election cycle. USE RTS
PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 2474 – OPPOSE – Would ban immunizations that have been approved by the FDA emergency use authorization process from being required for school attendance. No scientific ground to justify this bill! USE RTS
SB 1159 – SUPPORT – Would legalize drug testing equipment that is used to identify or analyze the strength, effectiveness or purity of drugs. Currently having such equipment is a felony. This bill would provide another tool to increase public safety and protect against an inadvertent ingestion of dangerous drugs like fentanyl. USE RTS
GOVERNANCE
HB 2309 – OPPOSE – Would ban Arizona and all its counties and cities from complying with US law if it’s inconsistent with Arizona law regarding the authority of the state and local law enforcement agencies. Guess the sponsor of this bill
didn’t read the Constitution!! USE RTS
TRANSPORTATION
SB 1122 – OPPOSE – Would extend the longtime Maricopa County half-cent sales tax that funds crucial freeways, roads and public transportation across Metro Phoenix. Unfortunately, the bill prevents spending on any commuter rail, light
rail or streetcars – hence prevents the County from addressing real transportation needs. USE RTS
SOCIAL SAFETY NET
HB 2108 – OPPOSE – Would add additional requirements and hurdles to those seeking unemployment insurance. Arizona pays the SECOND LOWEST benefit of any state already and the amount hasn’t been raised since 2004!! People who are out of work need help not hinderance! USE RTS
HB 2161 – SUPPORT – Would cap yearly rent increases at 10% or 5% over inflation, whichever is less. An exception is made if the unit is substantially remodeled. USE RTS
HB 2222 – SUPPORT – Would waive fees for driver licenses and state ID’s for people experiencing homelessness. USE RTS
HB 2379 – OPPOSE – Would ban cities and counties from requiring any hotel or motel to participate in housing voucher programs that house homeless individuals or families in unoccupied guest rooms. Blanket bans like this are mean spirited and do nothing to deal with Arizona’s serious homelessness crises. USE RTS
ACCOUNTABILITY
HB 2472 – OPPOSE – Would ban the state from requiring banks to use a “social credit score” when evaluating loan worthiness. The goal is clearly to stop “discrimination” based on political affiliation or social or environmental values. Political opinion is not covered by fair lending laws. USE RTS
STATE REVENUE
SB 1087 – OPPOSE – Would force state regulatory boards and agencies to waive or reduce license fees if their bank balance hits a certain amount. This is the result of lobbying from the Goldwater Institute, Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity and other large national think tanks. Such a measure would not only reduce state revenue but harm public
safety by limiting regulatory agency resources. USE RTS
WOMEN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE
HB 2502 – OPPOSE – Would force courts to retroactively apply child support for pregnancies. Sounds good BUT it is really a “fetal personhood” bill and attempts to give fetuses the same legal rights as people. Driven by anti-abortion
crusaders who want to use a constitutional ban on reproductive freedoms. This measure would also criminalize IVF and many forms of contraception. Incredible! USE RTS
LGBTQ RIGHTS
SB 1028 – OPPOSE – Would classify drag performances as “adult cabaret” – similar to strip show categorization – and ban them from public property or anywhere else a minor may be able to see them. Since Arizona does not define “drag performances” this could ban everything from drag story hours for kids or performances of Cabaret, Rent and even Peter Pan. USE RTS
Here is the contact information for our Legislators:
AZ SENATE:
LD 1 – Ken Bennett 602-926-5874
LD 7 – Wendy Rogers 602-926-3042
LD 6 – Theresa Hatathlie 602-926-5160
President Warren Petersen 602-926-4136
Majority Ldr Sonny Borrelli 602-926-5031
Minority Ldr Raquel Teran 602-926-3308
AZ HOUSE:
LD 1 – Selina Bliss 602-926-4018
LD 1 – Quang Nguyen 602-926-3258
LD 7 – David Cook 602-926-5162
LD 7 – David Marshall 602-926-3579
LD 6 – Mae Peshlakai 602-926-3708
LD 6 – Myron Tsosie 602-926-3157
Speaker Ben Toma 602-926-3298
Majority Ldr Leo Biasiucci 602-926-3018
Minority Ldr Andres Cano 602-926-3027
E-Mail Contact for Governor Katie Hobbs:
https://azgovernor.gov/contact/form/contact-governor-hobbs