By Mary Jo Pitzl | The Republic
Gov. Doug Ducey tied a bow on the 2017 legislative session, signing a final 27 bills into law and vetoing six on the final day for him to act on proposals passed by the Legislature.
He started the bill-signing flurry with his signature on a $1 billion university-bonding package that, Ducey said, will ensure continued higher-education excellence “for decades.”
He also approved bills that fit with the economic-development and social-welfare goals he outlined in his January State of the State speech.
Related: Wanting freedom from the First Amendment: From the Rose Law Group Growlery
He vetoed a measure that would have opened Arizona to industrial-hemp cultivation (Senate Bill 1337), saying it lacked the funding to get it started.
He also vetoed SB 1384, which would have clarified First Amendment protections for student journalists. The governor said while he supports free-speech protections, he fears “unintended consequences” on high-school campuses.
