Arizona Corporation Commission and Public Health Part VI: ACC Blows Huge Loophole in Utility Environmental Review Requirements
Last week the Arizona Corporation Commission exempted a 200-megawatt power plant expansion in Mohave County from environmental review. The exemption, granted to UniSource Energy Services (associated with Tucson Electric Power), allows the company to avoid the usual environmental scrutiny. How did they do it? They split their 200MW project into four 50-megawatt units. The Commission bought their argument that, because each individual building (on the same parcel) is less than the
Hobbs Vetoes Arizona’s Magic Mushroom Bill; Signs Bill Allowing Ecstasy (Molly) if FDA Approves its Use
Governor Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1570 this week, a proposal that would have directed ADHS to create a system to regulate & license psilocybin-assisted therapy centers. SB1570 would have allowed persons who wanted to try mushrooms as a therapy for things like PTSD, depression, and hospice care to get it in a regulated environment. Right now, they can’t because the DEA has classified it as a Schedule I substance. Had Hobbs signed
Webinar: Arizona’s 2024 Legislative Session – The Bills, the Budget & the Ballot Measures
Friday, July 12, 2024 9-10am Arizona’s 2024 legislative session saw the passage of about a dozen laws that will be good for public health and state government accountability – especially in the areas of behavioral health and licensing of care facilities. There were also many missed opportunities – mostly in the areas of behavioral healthcare and care home assurance accountability. Some detrimental bills were successfully vetoed or blocked. The
Legislative Session Hotwash: The Bills, the Budget & the Ballot Measures
Arizona’s 2024 legislative session officially ended last week with the passage and signing of a FY2025 fiscal year budget. The session saw the passage of about a dozen laws that will be good for public health and state government accountability – especially in the areas of behavioral health and licensing of care facilities. There were also many missed opportunities – mostly in the areas of behavioral healthcare and care home
AZPHA Considering Opposing Two Additional Ballot Propositions
Our public health policy committee met last week and recommended that our Board (who meets next Friday) oppose both the “Secure the Border Act” (HCR 2060) and the “Arizona Legislative Ratification of Rules that Increase Regulatory Costs Measure” (SCR1012). You can review the measures (which will be on the November ballot) above. Below you’ll see some draft language that the Board will review next Friday. If approved by the Board,
State Budget Update
The State House and Senate were uncharacteristically in session last Friday and yesterday mulling over a budget proposal reached by the senate president Petersen, speaker Toma and the Hobbs team. A lot of the discussion among members appeared to be behind closed doors and in caucus meetings. As I write this on Saturday afternoon there was not yet a final vote on the bills. The bottom line is that our