Arizona Senate president: Lawmakers aim to end the session within 4 weeks
Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) says state lawmakers aim to wrap up the legislative session within the next four weeks.
Petersen’s comments came as part of a Senate GOP announcement that budget negotiations have finally begun with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
In addition to the budget, legislators are still working on other issues like border security bills, agency continuations, teacher pay raises and groundwater conservation, all of which are contentious and the subject of partisan strife.
Sen. Sine Kerr (R-Buckeye) has been holding weekly rural groundwater management meetings with legislative leaders in both parties.
“These meetings will continue until a solution has been negotiated,” according to a statement.
Republicans reiterated that if Hobbs doesn’t approve their border security legislation, they’ll put it on the ballot for voters to decide.
But, most of that work will happen behind the scenes, so lawmakers won’t be required to come to the floor as a whole each day.
Instead, Petersen says the legislature will convene one day a week going forward.
“Out of respect for everyone's time, other off-campus work and family obligations, we are allowing lawmakers to tend to those commitments,” he said.
Petersen says that he’s hopeful the Legislature can adjourn by early May and blamed the governor’s office for “months of stalling.”
Hobbs confirmed Wednesday that she hasn’t been in the meetings, but her staff has.
Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe) said the governor and budget staff met with legislative Democrats last week as well.
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