JUST A LITTLE HISTORY PLEASE…First Republican Meeting, March 20, 1854 at Ripon Wisconsin:

 

…because of a hot day on July 6^, 1854, an anti-slavery state convention, the large crowd [first picture] outside to a nearby oak grove, took place.  At this “Under the Oaks Convention” the first statewide candidates were selected for what would become the Republican Party.

Prior to July, smaller groups had gathered in intimate settings like the schoolhouse in Ripon, Wisconsin (2nd picture).  However, this meeting in Jackson would be the first ever mass gathering of the Republican Party.  The name “Republican” was chosen, alluding to Thomas Jefferson’s Democratic-Republican Party and conveying a commitment to the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On January 31, 1865, a Republican controlled 38^th Congress passed the 13^th Amendment abolishing slavery.

Fast forward to AZ politics…

Even though George W. P. Hunt was the First Governor in AZ from February 14, 1912 -January 1, 1917, he was not actually the first OFFICIAL Governor of AZ.  Richard Eihu Sloan was the 17^th and Final Territorial Governor before AZ became a State in 1912.

Through the many years of Arizona’s territorial days and Statehood days, many legislatures have seen the hallowed walls of the old and present Capital.  From the first Senate office, still preserved in the old section of the Capital, to the renewed and enlarged two Chambers of the legislature, thousands of Bills have journeyed their way trailblazing a new pathway for the future of Arizona.

So why the history?

It’s remarkable that Arizona has a revered past that so few even know about; and even more disturbing that many legislators – as knowledgeable and humbled to be a representative to our constituents – do NOT know this beloved history!  Compounding this is the fact that so few of our elected officials know the Arizona Constitution and Statutes…the very same documents holding the laws that each session they seek to edit, add and change, without knowledge of what is presently on the books.

As a Citizen Legislator, I thought it would be appropriate to have “fun” with history and learning.  After you review the Legislative Update, please take a trip down “memory lane” in the section of the Citizen Legislator, and take the test I have prepared (don’t cheat, but answers are attached) and see how you would rate being a public official.  Enjoy the trip as we now come full circle to the present and see how our laws are changing daily…and maybe how YOU can be a Citizen Legislator too, by using the RTS system to give your positions on present legislation to guide the legislators. Civic Knowledge Questions       2023 CIVIC LITERACY TEST ANSWERS

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

With the deadline of March 31^st to hear Bills in the Committees, the legislators did not take any time off to get those Bills heard this week.  Next week, they will all be wearing skates to get to the Committees on time.

At least the Governor will be kept busy with 12 Bills having already been transmitted to her desk this week.  Look for many more this next week.

One Bill she is about the veto that is sitting on her desk is Bill Number SB1063    food; municipal tax; exemption.  Since all the Democrats voted NO to removing the tax, the Governor had to stay party line and vote with her Democrat legislators…She said she wanted a bipartisan Bill before she would vote for it.

Here are the other 11 Bills that were sent to her desk to contemplate within the next 3 days.  Since they were all sent to her on March 23^rd, she has 5 days to make a decision to vote yes or veto them, before they automatically pass and become law.

1. SB1036        setting aside conviction; certificate eligibility
2. SB1051        census adjustment; population threshold
3. SB1078        podiatric medical assistants; radiation; exemption
4. SB1096        firearms; contracts; prohibited practices
5. SB1130        technical correction; budget report
6. SB1173        public retirement systems; plan election
7. SB1190        technical correction; collection agencies; licenses
8. SB1211        county attorney; representation; duties
9. SB1218        naturopathic physicians medical board
10. SB1283        dental board; annual report; website
11. SB1473        tax corrections act of 2023

BILLS OF INTEREST

The following Bills are of much interest to peeps that have contacted me.  Since there are so many, please review each Bill by going to the link, and/or review their status on the attached sheet.

1. HCR2033      primary elections; eligible candidates
2. HB2320        National guard; active duty combat
3. HB2415        active early voting lists; removal
4. HB2427        domestic violence; pregnant victim; sentencing
5. HB2440        electric energy; power companies; priorities
6. HB2474        school immunizations; exclusions
7. HB2523        schools; pledge of allegiance; requirement
8. HB2552        voting; elections; tally; prohibition
9. HB2613        voting equipment; requirements; origin
10. HB2617        carrying of firearms; constables
11. HB2675  This Bill is long overdue!  It declares that drug cartels are terrorist organizations and requires the Arizona Department of Homeland Security (AZDOHS) to do everything within its authority to address the threat that drug cartels pose.  Here is the Fact Sheet for this Bill:

https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/summary/H.HB2675_020823_HOUSEENGROSSED.pdf

1. SCR1034      general appropriation bill; continuing appropriation
2. SB1026        state monies; drag shows; minors
3. SB1048        campaign finance; reporting threshold; lobbyists
4. SB1095        early ballot envelope; notice
5. SB1135        spoiled early ballots; election day
6. SB1140        elections; voting centers prohibited
7. SB1143        voting registrations; ballot requests; source
8. SB1144        electronic ballot adjudication; prohibition
9. SB1170        ballot drop boxes; prohibition
10. SB1175        registrations; observers; counting procedures; verification
11. SB1273        early ballot delivery; instruction requirements
12. SB1367        national guard; active duty; requirements
13. SB1471        ballot tabulation; hand count comparison
14. SB1562        research; development; tax credits
15. SB1595        early ballots; identification; tabulation
16. SB1597        early ballot on-site tabulation; requirement
17. SB1600        infants; born alive; requirements
18. SB1695        election violations; disenfranchisement; new election
19. SB1698        unlawful exposure; minors; sentencing; reporting

There is a lot of reading here – I apologize.  But if you ask me to follow specific Bills, I will do it.  So, pick and choose which ones are important to you.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR

The RTS (Request to Speak) system is a necessary component to our legislative process.  This is an excellent way to share your positions on a particular Bill and let your legislator know that you support his/her legislation.  Please review this site and make sure you know how to use it properly.  The legislators depend a lot on your opinions and this is where you share them.

The link to sign up for the RTS system can be found here:  https://www.azleg.gov/alispdfs/Using_the_Request_to_Speak_Program.pdf

THE CITIZEN LEGISLATOR

 Civics can be so much fun, if we learn to challenge our knowledge.  Unfortunately, history and Civics have been taken out of the history books of today’s education, but history is not dead.  It speaks to us daily when we send our kids to school, when we buy groceries or put gas into our cars, when we go to a doctor or visit a sick friend; and yes, when we sit at home watching TV or talking on our phone.

Remember the movie, Pleasantville?  If you have not seen it, be sure to rent it!  That is life today in the fast lane.

So, I spoke of history before and Civics now.  Have fun and take a test (attached with answers) and see how much you know, or remember, from the good ole days and the present.  Let me know what you think, ha, and how much you know!  A game of trivia never hurt anyone.

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Once again, as a gentle reminder to all of the people who just joined these updates, this is how to read the attachments.  All the Bills listed on the attachments are mostly ALL the Republican Introduced Bills.

2023 AZ STATE LEGISLATIVE BILLS AND ACTIONS 032423 VERSION

The Bills highlighted in Green are the GOP Bills I monitor on a daily basis.  The Bills highlighted in Blue are Democratic Bills I thought were necessary to follow.  The Bills highlighted in Gray, are ones introduced by LD2 legislators, Senator Kaiser and Representative Wilmeth.

And, the Bills highlighted with yellow in the status and date columns, are noted for your review to see their progression in the legislative process.  Al Bills are up to date through 3/18/23.

Remember, each Bill Number listed is a link to the Bill itself and you can access the status, documents and Agenda’s by clicking onto the link.  Even though I monitor and keep track of the Bills daily, I only send out Updates on the weekends.  So, if you want daily updates on any Bill, just click onto the Bill Number, and go to Overview or Status, for real-time information.

As always, if there are Bills that I am not specifically monitoring, PLEASE let me know and I will add them to my list for you.

By Line:

Linda Brickman,

Chairman of LD2 Legislative Committee

Email:  Luvbug1611@cox.net

Cell:  602-330-9422

 

 

SESSION STATISTICS

 

Days of Session: 75

 

Bills Posted: 1630

 

Bills Transmitted to the Governor: 30

 

Bills Vetoed: 16 (soon to be 17)

 

Bills Signed: 2

 

Resolutions Posted: 98

 

Resolutions Passed: 7

 

Bills Vetoed:

 

1. SB1184: Municipal tax exemption; residential leases
2. SB1248: Scope of practice; process; repeal
3. Senate Budget Bills SB1523 through SB1535 (13 Bills)
4. SB 1305:  race; ethnicity; prohibited instruction [CRT Bill]

 

UPCOMING DEADLINES

 

March 31: Last day for committee hearings