THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS FINALLY ADJOURNED FOR THE YEAR, AFTER 160 DAYS OF NASTY POLITICAL FIGHTING AND POSTURING.  AN ARIZONA SUPREME COURT RULING WHICH UPHELD A TERRITORIAL-ISSUED ABORTION BAN WAS QUICKLY REPEALED WITH ENOUGH REPUBLICANS VOTING WITH DEMOCRATS TO REINSTATE THE MORE RECENT 15 WEEK BAN ON ABORTION.  A MAJOR FOCUS OF THIS SESSION WAS WATER, SCHOOL VOUCHERS, VOTING RIGHTS AND PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS THE BUDGET FOR 2025.  ALMOST ALL STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SUFFERED 3.5% BUDGET CUTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DPS, THE DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS AND THE BOARD OF EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY.  IN FACT, THE DOC WAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT NEEDED/COURT-MANDATED ADDITIONS TO ITS INMATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM.   

INSOFAR AS REDUCING PRISON SENTENCES, COMBINING CONSECUTIVE SENTENCES INTO CONCURRENT ONES, REDUCING THE CRIMINAL CODE TO 65% INSTEAD OF 85%, ALLOWING SOME PRISONERS TO DO TIME ON HOME ARREST STATUS, NONE OF THESE MEASURES PASSED INTO LAW AND SOME WERE JUST RUMORS WHICH WERE NEVER INTRODUCED AS BILLS.   THE ONLY SENTENCING REFORM BILL OF NOTE WAS ONE THAT DID PASS INTO LAW -- IT REQUIRES A MANDATORNY FLAT SENTENCE OF FROM 5 TO 15 YEARS FOR SOMEONE CONVICTED OF SELLING 200 GRAMS OR MORE OF FENTANYL.  THE GOVERNOR DID SIGN THIS BILL AND IT WILL BECOME LAW IN SEPTEMBER 2024.

THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION WON'T BEGIN UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY 2025, SO NO OTHER POSSIBLE CHANGES WILL EVEN BE CONSIDERED UNTIL NEXT SESSION.  SINCE 2024 IS AN ELECTION YEAR FOR ALL 90 LEGISLATORS (60 HOUSE MEMBERS; 30 SENATORS) THE BALANCE OF POWER IN NEXT SESSION COULD CHANGE FROM REPUBLICAN TO DEMOCRAT IN ONE OR BOTH CHAMBERS.  THIS IS UNLIKELY, BUT POSSIBLE.  IF THAT HAPPENS, WE KNOW THAT IF DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER ONE OR BOTH CHAMBERS, COMBINED WITH OUR CURRENT DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, A LOT OF CHANGES WOULD TAKE PLACE IN SOME VERY PROGRESSIVE AREAS OF LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES.  

PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE WHEN YOU VOTE FOR CANDIDATES TO SERVE IN THE ARIZONA HOUSE OR SENATE.  ASK THEM WHAT THEIR POSITIONS IS ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SENTENCING AND PRISON REFORMS BEFORE YOU CAST YOUR VOTE.  IF YOU'RE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, PLEASE DO SO.