By Nick Phillip, Nathan Brown, Camryn Sanchez | Arizona Capitol Times
The Legislature could go into special session soon, with the most likely topic to be legislation implementing Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to create an Arizona Water Authority to invest in water projects throughout the state.
House Republicans have been reviewing two bills to implement the governor’s plans, one from Sen. Sine Kerr, R-Buckeye, and one from Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Hereford.
“I think the idea is to get bipartisan support,” said House Majority Leader Ben Toma, R-Peoria.
Senate Republicans have also been discussing water issues.
“The Legislature commenced the larger stakeholder process today,” Senate GOP spokeswoman Kim Quintero said February 28. “Water policy is an information-driven policy-making process and we intend to give it that due diligence, bringing in perspectives from both caucuses and water experts from across the state. These discussions are an important requisite to a special session, but we are working diligently to solicit that feedback now.”
A Republican source said the draft bills are likely to change; the source expects a final bill sponsored by Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, to be introduced when Ducey calls a special session.
Toma said he isn’t sure when or whether Ducey will call a special session, or what the topics would be. He did say that calling one would make it easier to pass something than going through the regular process at this point in the session.
Republicans have also discussed the possibility of a special session to repeal and replace the roughly $2 billion in tax cuts that were passed last year. The tax cut package is in doubt due to a voter referendum planned for November that has prevented it from taking effect.
