Officials have eyed Chase Field as a larger alternative venue for some ceremonies on the first day of the session/Twitter Photo/@ChaseField
By Andrew Oxford | Arizona Republic
The state Capitol’s windowless chambers and cramped committee rooms were not designed for the era of social distancing.
But another session of the Arizona Legislature is fast approaching and it is unclear how, exactly, lawmakers will convene without turning their annual gathering into a daily COVID-19 superspreader event.
Republican legislators have flouted mask requirements, and it is unknown to what extent the Senate and House of Representatives will conduct business via videoconferencing, which could allow legislators to work from home and the public to offer input on bills without crowding into committee meetings.
Officials have eyed Chase Field as a larger alternative venue for some ceremonies on the first day of the session, when all 90 legislators usually cram into the House with guests and other dignitaries for the governor’s state of the state address.
Whatever legislative leaders decide, they face a delicate balance in the coming months between somehow making progress on a mountain of work and ensuring the safety of their own members, staff and the public.
