The House and Senate came in for some brief business on Wednesday, May 3 and then adjourned again until tomorrow. The House now has its full contingent of members, while the Senate is still down one member until the MC Coard of Supervisors names a replacement for Sen. Teran.
Floor votes have been scheduled in both the House and Senate for Monday and I expect that to continue throughout the week. So far none of the bills that we’ve taken positions on are up for votes next week – but that could change quickly.
There are rumors of a budget deal between the Governor and House & Senate leadership – but word is that the Appropriations chairs haven’t been involved – which is unusual.
Two good things happened last week. Both chambers passed a bill to give AHCCCS expenditure authority to draw down federal dollars. The Governor signed it quickly.
Without that authority, AHCCCS wouldnt have been able to make May payments to their contracted health plans, which could have delayed payment to providers.
In another development, we avoided a potential trainwreck in Arizona’s emergency management system last Wednesday. HCR2039 governor; state of emergency, which would have dismantled the Recovery phase of emergencies in Arizona (had the voters approved it) was derailed.
Last-minute questions by Senator Bennett in last Wednesday’s (R) caucus meeting about that ballot referral got the attention of other Republican members. It appeared after the Caucus meeting that the Resolution won’t be going to the Senate floor after all.
Ballot Referral Could Dismantle Arizona’s Emergency Management System
If voters ended up approving it, it would have ended Governor-proclaimed states of emergency after 30 days (including public health emergencies) unless extended by the Legislature in 30-day increments. It would impact all declared emergencies like floods, fires, chemical spills, and other kinds of disasters – not just public health emergencies.
Had it not been stopped last week it would have gone directly to the ballot in November 2024 (Governor Hobbs is unable to veto ballot referrals).