OOPS!

Many bills hit the floor in both chambers last week for final votes. A few, surprisingly, failed when they did not garner the required votes while others passed and may keep the governor’s veto stamp busy.

The failure of HB2724 is not making Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point faction very happy.

HB2724 would have allowed all patriotic youth groups entry to public schools by allowing them direct access to students and allowing distribution of literature (propaganda). All three LD3 lawmakers voted YES on the bill as it traveled through the legislative process. The bill passed out of the House but was then stopped when it got to a Floor vote in the senate.

A few bills meeting up with Governor Hobbs’ veto stamp last week are given below. The governor must send a letter explaining reasons for her veto action. Excerpts from her veto letters are given with each bill description.

Senate Bill 1534 

This bill would directed the Legislative Council to create titles for ballot measures instead of the Secretary of State and Attorney General. 

Gov. Hobbs said she vetoed this bill because the "Responsibilities for descriptive titles and ballot language are appropriately placed with the officer in charge of elections—the Secretary of State—with the approval of the Attorney General. I see no compelling reason to alter this arrangement."

Senate Bill 1610

This bill would direct county jails to provide identifying information for people arrested for certain crimes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and would have required the jails to comply with any requests made by ICE, with some exceptions.

Gov. Hobbs said she vetoed this bill because "Existing state law already bans sanctuary localities. I expect state and local governments to uphold the law and work with the federal government to secure the border."

Senate Bill 1694 

If passed, community colleges, colleges and universities in Arizona would lose state funding if they offered courses on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Gov. Hobbs said she vetoed this bill because "Our state universities and community colleges play a vital role in developing Arizona's workforce, improving our economy, and strengthening our quality of life through transformational research. Jeopardizing their state funding with a bill that lacks clarity attacks their future stability and would lead to negative effects on the state's workforce and economy."

What’s in store for Prop 123?

Rumor has it we will see a resolution to bring an extension to Prop 123 to voters.

Prop 123 was part of the settlement to a long-standing K-12 funding lawsuit. Prop 123 provided additional funding to the K-12 education Basic State Aid formula by increasing the distribution from the state land trust. Since the $300 million funding was voter approved, it must go back to the ballot to be renewed. The legislature must pass a bill to renew funding in the form of a ballot referral. The state is required to backfill the loss, at a reduced level, if a ballot referral is not made in time.

The problem

The GOP legislative majority wants to limit how Prop 123 funds are used, restricting them to go toward raises for classroom teachers only. The governor and democratic caucus have faith that school districts can decide where money is best spent as all school staff are vital to successful public schools.

Plus, and this is a biggie, included in the GOP ballot referral would be language to safeguard the unrestrained private school voucher program in our state constitution. Since this piece of legislation is passed as a resolution it bypasses the governor. If it receives a simple majority vote in both chambers it goes to the Secretary of State who is obliged to put it on the ballot for voters to decide.

Combining a continuation of funding for public schools with enshrining vouchers in the state constitution is nothing short of bribery.

There should be more to this story next week.