The Arizona Legislature reacts to abortion ruling

The Arizona Supreme Court sent shockwaves through the state Capitol last week with a ruling that a pre-statehood ban on most abortions is still the law. The ruling highlighted sharp divisions and shook up political alliances, drawing attention to state legislators on policies related to abortion.

Legislative responses led to passionate and noisy debates when the legislature convened on Wednesday, disrupting House and Senate floor sessions as Democrats sought to force a vote to repeal the ban on abortions. House and Senate Republican leaders delayed any action on the issue, citing their desire for additional discussions on options – including a potential Republican-sponsored ballot measure that would avoid the Governor’s veto pen by going directly to voters. 

No one was happy about how things unfolded. Republicans condemned the Democrats’ “disorderly and chaotic disruption;” Governor Hobbs decried the “unconscionable” actions of “extremist Republicans.”

The Court ruling is expected to overshadow political discourse in the coming months – at the Capitol, on the campaign trail, on the ballot and in judicial retention elections this year. 

House, Senate Convene One Floor Session

This week the Governor signed HB2178 (universities; student fees; clubs; organizations) which requires public universities to allow to students to specify if they DO NOT  want their mandatory “student activity fee” to go towards supporting specific student clubs or organizations.  The Arizona Board of Regents, as well as ASU, NAU and UA were neutral on this bill because the sponsor agreed to an amendment that made the law easier for the universities to implement.  Similar bills have been introduced as the legislature for the last four years. 

What’s Next?

The House and Senate will reconvene on April 17, but House and Senate leaders have not announced which remaining bills they’ll schedule for votes or floor debates. There are almost 200 bills still eligible for final debate and votes, though not all are expected to make it to the Governor’s desk.

Regardless of what is on the schedule, though, floor sessions will be interrupted by efforts to repeal the state’s abortion ban.