by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 23, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help young entrepreneurs throughout Arizona is advancing through the state legislature.
Last week, the Arizona Senate approved SB 1370, which was sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick. According to the purpose provided by the chamber, the proposal would “prohibit a municipality or county from requiring a license or permit for a business that operates occasionally by a minor or a person who has not graduated from high school, [and] creates a transaction privilege tax (TPT) exemption.”
In a statement, Bolick said, “Asking kids to obtain a food handlers card to set up a lemonade stand is absurd, yet cities across Arizona are requiring this. I don’t agree with saddling our budding innovators with red tape, so I’ve sponsored SB 1370, which would prohibit a municipality or county from requiring a license or permit for a business that operates occasionally by a minor or a person who has not graduated from high school.”
Bolick encouraged Arizonans to listen to the testimony of Aiden, a young entrepreneur who appeared before the Senate Government Committee when the bill was being heard earlier this month. She revealed that “despite his impressive request for support from legislators, all Democrats voted no to helping him and other child entrepreneurs like him.”
The bill passed the Senate with a 16-10 tally, with four members not voting. Senator Brian Fernandez, the lone Democrat co-sponsor of the legislation, did not vote on the measure.
Continuing with her supportive comments for her legislation, Bolick stated, “It’s important that we allow kids to learn how to succeed in life, instead of creating unnecessary barriers against them. Several other states, including liberal Colorado, have passed similar laws.”
Republican State Representatives Michael Carbone and Justin Wilmeth are also co-sponsors of the bill.
On the Request to Speak system for the Arizona Legislature, representatives from the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity Arizona indicated their support for the proposal. A representative from Save Our Schools Arizona signed in opposition to the bill.
SB 1370 now awaits action in the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Aug 7, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Republican Legislators continue to share their concerns about the progression of the latest Election Procedure Manual (EPM).
On Friday, Arizona State Representatives Michael Carbone and Steve Montenegro issued a press release, “criticizing an extremely short public comment period set by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes for his 2023 EPM.” They demanded that Fontes “extend the deadline for public comment” after the state’s election chief set the deadline for August 15.
In a statement, Carbone said, “Requiring public comments to be submitted by August 15th is simply too restrictive and does not provide adequate time for interested stakeholders to review the draft 2023 EPM for compliance with state law. It is our understanding that several provisions have already been identified that appear to run afoul of state law. We urge Secretary Fontes to extend the public comment deadline to at least September 1, 2023, to give the public an adequate opportunity to review and provide input on the most important elections manual that will guide county officials in administering their duties in the 2024 elections.”
Montenegro added, “The Elections Procedures Manual is of paramount importance to ensuring the integrity and security of election administration in Arizona. Secretary Fontes should have given the public more than 15 days to review his extensive 259-page draft of the EPM and submit comments. A longer comment period is particularly necessary and reasonable this year because Arizona has not had a legally compliant EPM since 2019.”
Carbone and Montenegro encouraged “Arizona voters to participate in the process to keep both elected and unelected election officers transparent and accountable” by submitting public comments to the draft EPM.
On Tuesday, August 1, Secretary Fontes commenced the 15-day public comment period for the 2023 EPM. Fontes wrote, “As a former County Recorder, I understand how important this manual is for the dedicated Arizonans who are entrusted with one of the toughest and most important jobs in our democracy. In an atmosphere of heightened scrutiny of our elections, local and county officials need clear guidance based on law. Now that we are at the start of our public comment period, I look forward to continuing this important conversation about a document that is essential to the running of safe, secure, and accurate elections in every corner of our state.”
Fontes emphasized the input that had already gone into the drafting of the EPM, assuring readers “It is important that the people who administer Arizona’s elections – the statutorily required stakeholders – be given the first opportunity to suggest changes. He revealed that his office had initiated “a series of monthly meetings with local and county election officials to suggest changes and garner feedback.”
The warning from Carbone and Montenegro follows a recent letter that was transmitted to Secretary Fontes by Representatives Jacqueline Parker and Alexander Kolodin, who highlighted certain issues with the initial copy of the EPM that they had seen from his office. That letter from the two legislators, written just days before Fontes allowed the public to view the document, identified eight possible violations of Arizona statutes in four chapters of the draft EPM. The legislators commented that they “are looking forward to seeing these provisions addressed prior to the EPM’s submittal to the Governor and the Attorney General on October 1, 2023.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jul 1, 2023 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One of Arizona’s freshmen Republican representatives is pleased after his bill survived the Governor’s Office.
On Tuesday, Representative Michael Carbone announced that HB 2809, which he sponsored had been signed into law by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs.
According to Carbone, HB 2809 “helps communities build public improvements to attract manufacturing investment by doubling the lifetime cap of construction tax dollars that a city, town, or county can get back from the state.”
In a statement, Representative Carbone said, “Arizona is on the leading edge of advanced manufacturing – an industry that’s investing billions, and creating thousands of high-paying, skilled jobs for what I call a ‘new blue-collar workforce.’ HB 2809 makes it possible for the state to provide communities more help to build the critical business infrastructure improvements they’ll need to attract advanced manufacturing investment. Infrastructure serves as the backbone of a state, and I believe that broad based, industry neutral incentives which support public infrastructure are a proper role of government and will ensure that Arizona will continue to be a reliable partner. This was a great first bill to have signed into law, and it’s the kind of policy that I came to the legislature to advance to move Arizona forward.”
Earlier in June, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry supported the passage of this proposal through the state legislature, tweeting, “PASSED! The #AZLeg on a bipartisan vote just approved HB 2809, the business community’s priority bill of this legislative session. With this vote, Arizona is one step closer to solidifying our reputation as the No. 1 state for manufacturing growth. HB 2809 is a critical economic development tool that will improve local infrastructure & ensure AZ remains a attractive place for manufacturers to invest. We’re grateful to lawmakers – especially sponsor Michael Carbone – for supporting this bill & sending it to the governor’s desk.”
In Carbone’s release, he explained, “State law provides that a city, town or county may be paid up to 80% of the cost of public infrastructure improvements for the benefit of a manufacturing facility and that the funds distributed are from tax revenues received from persons conducting business under the Prime Contracting Classification derived from contracts to construct buildings and associated improvements for the benefit of a manufacturing facility. HB 2809 raised the total amount paid to all cities, towns and counties that can be paid by the state, from $100 million to $200 million.”
Representatives from the City of Chandler, Intel Corporation, Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Greater Phoenix Leadership,
Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and the City of Phoenix endorsed the bill throughout the legislative process.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Dec 3, 2022 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
On Thursday, Arizona House Speaker-elect Ben Toma (R-LD27) announced the committee and chair appointments for the upcoming session.
The House GOP clarified that committee membership is forthcoming.
The appointments are as follows:
Appropriations Committee — Chair: Rep. David Livingston (R-LD28), Vice Chair: Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-LD3)
Appropriations Subcommittee on Education — Chair: Rep. Matt Gress (R-LD04)
Appropriations Subcommittee on Health & Welfare — Chair: Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD01)
Commerce Committee — Chair: Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-LD02), Vice Chair: Rep. Michael Carbone (R-LD25)
Education Committee — Chair: Rep. Beverly Pingerelli (R-LD28), Vice Chair: Rep. David Marshall (R-LD07)
Ethics Committee — Chair: Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-LD03), Vice Chair: Rep. Travis Grantham (R-LD14)
Government Committee — Chair: Rep. Tim Dunn (R-LD25), Vice Chair: Rep. John Gillette (R-LD30)
Health & Human Services Committee — Chair: Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), Vice Chair: Rep. Barbara Parker (R-LD10)
Judiciary Committee — Chair: Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD01), Vice Chair: Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD01)
Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee — Chair: Rep. Lupe Diaz (R-LD19), Vice Chair: Rep. Michele Pena (R-LD23)
Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee — Chair: Rep. Jacqueline Parker (R-LD15), Vice Chair: Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-LD03)
Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee — Chair: Rep. Gail Griffin (R-LD19), Vice Chair: Rep. Austin Smith (R-LD29)
Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee — Chair: Rep. Kevin Payne (R-LD27), Vice Chair: Rep. Rachel Jones (R-LD17)
Regulatory Affairs Committee — Chair: Rep. Laurin Hendrix (R-LD14), Vice Chair: Rep. Cory McGarr (R-LD17)
Rules Committee — Chair: Rep. Travis Grantham (R-LD14), Vice Chair: Rep. Gail Griffin (R-LD19)
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee — Chair: Rep. David Cook (R-LD07), Vice Chair: Rep. Liz Harris (R-LD13)
Ways & Means Committee — Chair: Rep. Neal Carter (R-LD15), Vice Chair: Rep. Justin Heap (R-LD10)
The Senate announced its committee chairmanships and leadership last month.
The session opens Jan. 9.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.