Running the numbers
All the numbers fit to print … A serial bill killer strikes again … And anything involving Cricket Wireless is inherently funny.
The Legislative session is grinding to a standstill, offering us an opportunity to look back at all the madness our state lawmakers have wrought this year.
But a simple recap isn’t enough. We wanted to quantify it all for you. So today, we’re pulling some stats.
Most of the numbers here came from Skywolf, the professional bill-tracking service we built. If you’re a professional bill tracker who could use some artificially intelligent assistance, check it out. It’s pretty freaking awesome!
Anyway, let’s get to the numbers…
Number of bills, memorials and resolutions filed so far: 1,761
Bills signed: 187
Bills vetoed: 56
Questions sent to the ballot: Six
How that compares to last year: 1,674 bills, memorials and resolutions introduced in 2023 (with 205 signed and 143 vetoed).
Number of strike-everything amendments adopted so far this year: 97
Sponsor of most bills signed into law: Republican Sen. T.J. Shope, with 17 bills signed so far — the highest by a long stretch (the next most prolific is Republican Rep. Laurin Hendrix, with 10).
Sponsor of most bills vetoed: Republican Sen. Gail Griffin, with seven vetoes so far.
Number of motions required to get the abortion ban repeal bill to votes in the House and Senate: 14
Number of days this session: 129 (and counting)
Longest session on record: 204 days, set just last year.1
Days left until the end of the fiscal year: 47 (including today)
Number of vacancies since the start of the session: Six (Reps. Jevin Hodge, Jennifer Longdon, Athena Salman, Amish Shah, Leezah Sun and Marcelino Quiñonez — all of whom are Democrats)
Number of vacancies since the last election: 11 (including the previously mentioned lawmakers plus Reps. Andrés Cano, Flavio Bravo and Liz Harris and Sens. Raquel Terán and Steve Kaiser)
Number of lawmakers not running for reelection (or the opposing chamber): 13 (Republican Sens. Sonny Borrelli and Anthony Kern; Republican Reps. Justin Heap, Barbara Parker, Jacqueline Parker, Travis Grantham, Austin Smith and Ben Toma; Democratic Reps. Laura Terech, Melody Hernandez, Deborah Nardozzi and Jennifer Pawlik; and Democratic Sen. Anna Hernandez)
Number of lawmakers or recently resigned lawmakers running for Congress: Four (House Speaker Ben Toma, Sen. Anthony Kern and former lawmakers Raquel Terán and Amish Shah)
Number of former lawmakers hoping to get elected in November: Nine (Former lawmakers Mark Finchem, Vince Leach, Leezah Sun, Walt Blackman, John Fillmore, Justin Olson, Jeff Weninger, Kelli Butler and Tony Rivero)
Number of lawmakers running against each other in primaries: Two (Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers and Republican Rep. David Cook. Unless you count former lawmakers as well, in which case throw in former Democratic Rep. Leezah Sun versus Democratic Sen. Eva Diaz.)
It’s still Bennett’s Senate: Arizona senators paused a vote Tuesday on HCR2060 — a voter referral to make it a state crime to cross the border illegally — over concerns that Sen. Ken Bennett could tank the measure, Capitol Media Services’ Howie Fischer reports. Bennett doesn’t like the recently added provision subjecting DACA recipients to arrest and deportation and doesn’t think some of the penalties should be felony offenses. Meanwhile, Arizona’s Department of Corrections Director Ryan Thornell warns of a huge strain on staffing and services if local law enforcement has to arrest people who cross the border illegally under HCR2060, 12News’ Brahm Resnik writes. An amendment to the bill requires state prisons to house those arrested under the law and a fiscal analysis estimates that will cost $250 million over five years.
Holy cannoli: Donald Trump’s former attorney Rudy Giuliani has yet to be served with his notice of indictment in Arizona’s fake electors case after multiple attempts to give him the summons, per the Washington Posts’ Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Holly Bailey. The front desk of Giuliani’s New York apartment wouldn’t take the summons from two agents for the Arizona attorney general, who traveled there the day after the indictment. Giuliani has been active on social media and live-streamed from an Italian restaurant while waving around a cannoli and quoting the Godfather — just minutes after the indictment was issued. He could be held in contempt if he doesn’t show up for his initial appearance at Maricopa County Superior Court.
A mom-umental task: Democratic moms in the state Legislature are asking Attorney General Kris Mayes if they can use campaign funds to pay for child care, the Arizona Mirror’s Caitlin Sievers reports. The lawmakers are working with the Vote Mama Foundation, which is trying to codify using campaign contributions for child care into law. Federal candidates are allowed to do it, but it's unclear what’s permissible in Arizona.
High hopes, low returns: As the Biden administration considers reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, declaring it less dangerous than its current Schedule I status, the change may not reap financial benefits for Arizona’s dispensaries, Axios’ Jessica Boehm writes. Weed would still be illegal federally, likely leaving dispensaries without the services from federally regulated banks for loans and credit card transactions.
Weed is expensive, so we’re trying to reap the financial benefits of our hard work instead. For $12 a month, you can help us do that!
The purge: Robin Mitchell, who was once the top attorney at the Arizona Corporation Commission, alleged three Republican commissioners methodically organized to keep non-white staff members from leadership positions, KJZZ’s Wayne Schutsky reports. Mitchell’s attorney described in a notice of claim “a purge of the Commission staff” under Republican Chairman Jim O’Connor that left only one non-white director among seven divisions. Mitchell said her own reassignment was part of a pattern of discrimination, but the commission has denied the allegations.
Flamin’ hot takes: Actress Eva Longoria didn’t show up to a planned Phoenix visit to rally for President Joe Biden Monday due to “unspecified travel issues.” Republic columnist Phil Boas blamed the no-show on an “enthusiasm gap” and suggested Longoria isn’t the activist she claims to be, citing a movie she directed that told an untrue story about a Latino man who invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.
Pima procrastinator: Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz filed a campaign finance report 100 days late, per the Green Valley News’ Dan Shearer. While fines for late filings are often waived, Heinz should owe $2,275, while the tardy report shows $600 in campaign contributions.
The Hispanic Community Centers that Republicans touted to court Latino voters were open for only a few months in 2022, the Copper Courier’s Camaron Stevenson found. In March this year, Republican National Committee Chair Lara Trump said the outreach centers are operational.
It turns out, the Phoenix center was turned into a Cricket Wireless store. And the Tucson location is a construction site.
CORRECTION: We previously declared the record was 173 days (during the impeachment of Gov. Evan Mecham in 1988), which was true until last year’s record-breaking session.
How about an arrest warrant for "Americas Mayor"? Serve it with the cannoli.
Very interesting data on numbers of bills sponsored, etc., from this current Legislative Session. I would be interested to see the breakdown by political party as to bills sponsored, bills accepted by Committees, passed by Committees, Floor debate, etc.