By Daniel Stefanski |

A bill to govern settlement agreements in Arizona was recently vetoed by the state’s governor.

Last month, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2275, which would have “require[d] a city, town or county to submit a settlement agreement report to outlined parties for review before entering into a settlement agreement,” according to the purpose statement from the state Senate.

The proposed terms of settlement agreements that are over $500,000 would have to be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Attorney General. Settlement agreements over one million dollars would have to be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

In her veto letter to Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs wrote, “This legislation is unnecessary and undermines the separation of powers doctrine in state government, ultimately harming the best interests of Arizona’s taxpayers.”

State Representative David Marshall, a Republican who sponsored this bill, testified in favor of his proposal in front of the House Government Committee. He said that “the reason this bill was brought [was] because the DOJ has gone across our country into 23 of our police departments…and taken control of these police departments.” He referenced the DOJ’s ten-years-and-counting involvement with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, costing taxpayers over 200 million dollars – and he noted that the DOJ may be close to a settlement with the City of Phoenix. Marshall added that “this bill is to protect our police departments.”

When the bill was being considered in the state House, it passed in February with a 31-27 vote (with one member not voting and one seat vacant). After being transmitted to the state Senate, it was amended and given the green light with a 16-13 vote (with one member not voting). The House concurred with the changes, approving the legislation with a 31-26 vote (with three members not voting).

On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, City of Avondale, City of Glendale, Town of Gilbert, City of Goodyear, City of Peoria, City of Sedona, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, County Supervisors Association of Arizona, Town of Florence, Arizona Association of Counties, City of Flagstaff, City of Eloy, City of Litchfield Park, League of Arizona Cities & Towns, Pima County, Town of Oro Valley, City of Tolleson, City of Surprise, Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, and City of Apache Junction signed in to oppose the bill.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.