Key points:
- Lawmaker proposes constitutional requirement to end legislative session in 100 days
- Last time the legislative session wrapped up before June was April 2015
- Low salary and longer sessions keep people from seeking public office
By Jacob Thorington | AZ Capitol Times
Both chambers of the Arizona Legislature have traditionally pushed to finish the legislative session by its 100th day, but that goal hasn’t been met in a decade.
Now, one lawmaker wants to enshrine it as a requirement in the state Constitution.
Rep. Justin Wilmeth, R-Phoenix, plans on introducing a concurrent resolution next session that would require lawmakers to be done with the legislative session by the end of April.
“I want it to be in the Constitution that we have to be done,” Wilmeth said. “I think most people are going to like it. Some won’t, but that’s the conversation I am making us have next year.”
Lawmakers didn’t sine die, or adjourn for the session, until June 27, the 213th day of the session this year.
The last time lawmakers wrapped up their business in April was 2015, which had a sine die date of April 3. That 81-day session was unusual even a decade ago, as it was the shortest legislative session seen in close to a half century.
