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Grand Canyon Chapter Arizona Bill Tracker

"The ultimate authority . . . resides in the people alone." - James Madison 

May 22, 2013


We the people

The Senate debated and passed a budget package last week, including the Medicaid expansion, the key sticking point. Meanwhile, however, the House is doing nothing, so the end of the session is not in sight. The budget in the Senate contained nothing of note for environmental protection, but at least there was nothing egregiously awful either.

Last week, the House made sure that we would have another blatantly unconstitutional measure on the ballot in 2014 when it passed
SCR1016 rejection of unconstitutional federal actions (Crandell, Burges: Melvin, et al.) It refers to the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that allows the Arizona Legislature or voters to determine if a federal action or law violates the U.S Constitution and then to not spend any dollars or use any state resources implementing it. So, if the Arizona Legislature decides the Clean Air Act is unconstitutional, it could vote not to implement it in Arizona. Apparently, legislators missed the part of civics class that talked about checks and balances and separation of powers. 

Along with the budget package, the Senate also introduced SB1493 elections; omnibus (Biggs, Driggs, McComish, et al.) It combines many of the worst elections bills in one package. It shifts the review standard for initiatives from substantial to strict compliance, meaning that it would be next to impossible to get a measure on the ballot as it could be thrown out for any number of minor reasons. This bill requires that petitions filed for an initiative be organized by county, circulator, and notary. If they are not, the signatures can be thrown out. SB1493 would also make it more difficult for people to be included on the Permanent Early Voting List and more difficult to stay on that list once they are added. Why are they trying to discourage voting? To read about the hearing on this bill, go to GOP Lawmakers weaken the people's power.


Please ask your state Senator to oppose SB1493 and to protect our constitutional rights.

 

HB2551 NOW: off-highway vehicles; use; authority; enforcement (Gowan) passed out of the House on 34-25-1 and the Senate 19-10-1. It still needs a Final Read in the Senate, however, so contact your state senator right away on this important issue. HB2551 is an attempt by Arizona Game and Fish to sanction lawlessness by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on our public lands -- just to make a point and to the detriment of wildlife and wildlife habitat.

HB2551 says that law enforcement can ignore damage to wildlife habitat from OHVs and do no enforcement on federal public lands that have been closed to off-road vehicles. Unmanaged OHV use significantly harms wildlife, wildlife habitat, and cultural sites.



Please thank legislators who voted no on HB2551.

Phoenix Convention Center with light rail

HB2404 NOW: building codes; energy efficiency (Carter) did not come to the House Floor again this week, which means they do not currently have the votes. Please continue to let legislators know that you oppose this bill. HB2404 prohibits local government from adopting more energy efficient building codes, which is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy use and save ratepayers money.

Please make a phone call to your representatives as well as sending an email via the take action link below. To find your representatives' phone numbers, go to Arizona Representatives. If you are not sure who your representatives are, just use the take action link below and it will give it to you automatically.


Contact your representatives right away and ask them to vote NO on HB2404!


      

 


 

 

Name Bill Issue Status Our Position
NOW: building codes; energy efficiency HB2404 Energy 05/17/2013 - It awaits a Final Read in the House. oppose
  action needed on HB2404: Please ask representatives to vote no on HB2404! Find out more.
NOW: off-highway vehicle; closures HB2551 Off-road Vehicles 05/22/2013 - It passed out of the Senate 19-10-1. oppose
  action needed on HB2551: Please thank senators and representatives who voted no on HB2551. Find out more.
initiative; referendum; signature allocation SCR1019 Ballot Measures 05/26/2013 - It awaits action in House Rules. oppose
  action needed on SCR1019: Ask your representatives to oppose SCR1019. See link below. Find out more.
pool pump energy standards; repeal HB2334 Energy 05/03/2013 - It is likely dead, but could be amended on to another bill. oppose
  action needed on HB2334: Please contact your representatives and ask them to vote no. Please see below. Find out more.
health and safety audit privilege HB2485 Other Legislation 05/01/2013 - Governor Brewer signed it yesterday. oppose
  action needed on HB2485: There is currently no action to take on this, unfortunately. Find out more.
rejection of unconstitutional federal actions SCR1016 Other Legislation 05/13/2013 - It is scheduled for House Committee of the Whole action tomorrow. oppose
  action needed on SCR1016: Please ask representatives on the committee to oppose it. See link below. Find out more.
prohibited governmental compliance; 2012 NDAA HB2573 Other Legislation 04/05/2013 - It passed out of the House 34-24-2. oppose
  action needed on HB2573: Please thank those in the House who voted no on HB2573. Find out more.
initiative petitions; filing date SCR1006 Ballot Measures 04/05/2013 - It awaits action by the Rules Committee. oppose
  action needed on SCR1006: Please ask House members to oppose SCR1006 and other measures to undermine the initiative process. Find out more.
ballot measures; proposition 105 disclosure HB2007 Ballot Measures 05/10/2013 - It awaits action on the Floor of the Senate. oppose
  action needed on HB2007: Please ask your senator to vote no HB2007. Find out more.
applying aquatic poisons SB1469 Wildlife 04/19/2013 - It was signed by the Governor. oppose
  action needed on SB1469: The Governor signed the bill, so there is no further action on it. Find out more.
EPA actions; haze SCR1012 Air Quality 04/17/2013 - It passed out of the House 38-22 and had passed out of the Senate 17-11. oppose
  action needed on SCR1012: This passed out of both houses, unfortunately. Find out more.
fund; state parks; roads; fee HB2621 Parks 04/23/2013 - It still awaits action in Senate Committee of the Whole. support
  action needed on HB2621: Please ask senators to support HB2621. Find out more.
endangered species act SCR1013 Wildlife 04/12/2013 - It passed out of the House. oppose
  action needed on SCR1013: No action is required as this passed out of both Houses. Find out more.
United National Rio Declaration; prohibition SB1403 Anti-Environmental Policies 04/05/2013 - This bill is dead in this form. See HB2573. oppose
  action needed on SB1403: No action is needed on this bill as it is dead under this bill number. Find out more.
Regional Water Augmentation Authorities HB2338 Water 03/04/2013 - It was held in the House Agriculture & Water Committee last week, so is likely dead for the session. oppose
  action needed on HB2338: No action is needed currently on this bill. Find out more.
local transportation assistance fund; restoration HB2594 Parks 03/25/2013 - While it passed out of its primary committee, Rep Kavanagh would not hear it in Appropriations. support
  action needed on HB2594: The bill is dead for the session. Find out more.

Other Sessions

If you are not sure who your legislators are, please click on Legislative Districts or call the House or Senate information desks.  To email legislators click here.  If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404.  In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House).  Correspondence goes to 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ85007-2890.  For more information on legislation go to Arizona Legislature 
   
   

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