Legislative Updates for 4/22/2022
Legislative Update Friday April 22, 2022
I hope everyone had a happy Easter, Ramadan and Passover! I hope all are safe from fires!
Budget Projections:
5.27 Billion surplus this year (we are being overtaxed)
1.57 Billion in ongoing funds (we are being overtaxed)
3.7 Billion for one-time expenditures (we are being overtaxed)
HB2481 was introduced in an attempt by the HOUSE to pass a “skinny budget”. This would include all base-line spending and then the “shadow budget” could be enacted to fund all the other bills that legislators want but the public doesn’t want to pay for. This was a sneaky attempt by Moderate Republicans in the House to circumvent the normal budgeting process.
Due to lobbying by the AZ Free Enterprise Club, this FAILED!!!
Now, conservatives in the Legislature are in good shape for the election; many without primary challengers. Moderates are in trouble! They have challengers and they need to get out of the budgeting process so they can raise money and campaign. Please email your representatives to tell them you want a responsible budget. They are spending too much money! Let them know you and your friends are watching!!
TAKE NOTE: AZ SUPREME COURT DECISION FINDS FOR THE AZ FREE ENTERPRISE CLUB IN THEIR LAWSUIT AND AGAINST THE CHALLENGERS TO LAST YEARS DULY PASSED TAX CUT WHO WANTED A BALLOT INITIATIVE IN NOVEMBER TO OVERTURN THE TAX CUT. THE RULING FINDS IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO PUT TAX ISSUES ON A BALLOT INITIATIVE AND FINDS THE SIGNATURES COLLECTED FLAWED AND UNACCEPTABLE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED ON THIS TO KEEP TAXES LOW IN AZ!!
TAKE NOTE: The Arizona Fair Election Act petitioners are really ramping up out there! This is the attempt to get signatures for a ballot initiative aimed at removing all requirements for voting in Arizona. The Arizona Free Enterprise Club is taking a proactive stance against this effort. If you are out-and-about and see paid circulators with these ballot initiatives, you are asked to email to grassroots@azfree.org and report their whereabouts. Please also engage them, ask them to read the entire thing to you, ask questions and verbally oppose the initiative.
All remaining ballot initiatives are not ones which conservatives support so please do NOT sign!
THANK YOU!!
News from This Week at the Legislature:
HB2498 — Covid-19; vaccination requirements; prohibition
Passed 16-12 in the Senate and now on Governor Ducey’s desk to be signed
HB2116 — mask mandates; minors; parental consent
Passed 16-12 in the Senate and now on Governor Ducey’s desk to be signed
SB1211 — materials; activities; review; posting; schools
Failed 28-30 but Motion to reconsider-passed
Still, club leadership thinks this is unlikely to get to the Governors desk
HB2101 — Electric energy; reliability; public policy
Passed 16-12 in the Senate and now on Governor Ducey’s desk to be signed
This bill repeals all competition statutes passed in the 90’s to make it the policy of the state to be competitive in energy. APS hired 107 lobbyists and pushed this through. It is likely that Governor Ducey will sign this bill so get ready for green energy NO MATTER THE COST!
HB2587 — Public records; point of contact
Signed by the Governor this week
These are the Items for This Week on RTS (Request To Speak)
HB2161 — Parental rights; schools; educational records
Comment by Monday 9AM
House Final Reading — Monday 4-25-2022
This is necessary for the parents bill of rights. Please comment! We need transparency in educational records. Parents need full disclosure with regards to what is happening to their children at school. This bill provides an avenue to sue for parents and outlines specific penalties for employees of a public school or charter school who break the law.
HB2238 — Ballot drop boxes; prohibition
Comment by Monday 1PM
Senate Rules — Monday 4-25-2022
This bill has been amended so it does NOT prohibit ballot drop boxes. It does mandate that all drop boxes be monitored via human or video and that the records be kept for future audits. Please support this bill!
HB2439 — School library books; parental review (NOW: school library; review; policy)
Comment by Monday 9AM
The Pace amendment really “guts’ this bill but we need to support it anyway because it is at least a start! Parents need an avenue to discover what books their children have access to in the school library. Please put in your comments that you are unhappy with the amendments but are supporting the bill!
These are the EMAIL CAMPAIGN ITEMS FOR THIS WEEK
HB2495 — Schools; sexually explicit materials; prohibition
This has been put on the agenda and taken off many times. Please email your Senators to get this on the calendar, voted on, passed and put on the Governors desk. We must protect our children from early sexualization. Please take a moment to make a phone call or send an email before TUESDAY MORNING!
HB2161 — Parental rights; schools; educational records
This passed the Senate but was amended so has to go back to the House for a final vote. Please email your House Representatives by MONDAY. Tell them to support this bill! We need transparency in educational records. Parents need full disclosure with regards to what is happening to their children at school. This bill provides an avenue to sue for parents and outlines specific penalties for employees of a public school or charter school who break the law.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO CAN HELP IN OUR CAUSE
