Stateline Headlines

Arizona law denying bail for some immigrants wins appeal

Best kooky moments of the Arizona Legislature

2013 Best of the Capitol

Taxation Vexation: Special districts often lead to wildly disparate tax bills among neighbors

Brewer: Bipartisan effort to pass Medicaid expansion took 'courage'

AZ Rep. Salmon and GOP House staffer save TX congressman choking on popcorn

AZ laws banning bail for those in country illegally OK'd by appeals court

Supreme Court blocks Arizona's voter ID law

Justices block law requiring voters to prove citizenship

Time to legalize same-sex marriage

Third parties would face major hurdle under election bill

Arizona citizenship proof law: Supreme Court issues split ruling

Arizona Gov. Brewer signs Medicaid expansion law

Paperwork filed to let Arizonans vote on allowing same-sex marriage

Bipartisan effort to pass Medicaid expansion took 'courage'

Colorado rebuffed voter ID laws like those struck down in Arizona

Court defies Kobach's prediction

Supreme Court ruling on voter I.D. could affect Kansas law

Why Pennsylvania's voter ID law probably won't be affected by the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's election law

Ruling's affect on Wisconsin not felt now, maybe later

Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Elections Law

The Supreme Court struck down an Arizona elections policy on Monday, upholding the federal government’s power over states in elections administration and voter registration.

Expanded voucher system approved by Arizona Senate

Arizona Senate passes election overhaul bill

Arizona legislature pushes election law changes through at last minute

Appeals court rejects bid for greater protection of nat'l monuments in AZ

AZ House passes Medicaid expansion in Brewer win

A new-world order at the Arizona Legislature?

Arizona lawmakers to pull budget all-nighter

Expanded voucher system approved by Arizona Senate

Arizona Senate passes election overhaul bill

Brewer gets her way

Divisive Arizona legislature ends on congenial note

House, Senate approve $8.8B Arizona budget, but foes lining up over Medicaid inclusion

AZ legislature closes out session in flurry, approve sales tax overhaul

Arizona’s Brewer set to prevail in bid to expand Medicaid

Rep. Foot-in-Mouth strikes again

Arizona House passes school bonds bill

Lawmakers prepare to adjourn as Medicaid expansion moves toward approval

Bipartisan Ariz. Senate group close to agreeing on $8.8M budget, Medicaid overhaul

Frustrated by delays, Brewer calls special session on budget, Medicaid

Arizona House passes school bonds bill

Budget, Medicaid come front and center as Brewer calls surprise special session

Will Arizona Legislature let CPS bill die of neglect?

A ‘second Bill of Rights’ in Arizona?

Lawmakers to review prison expansion project

Dire warnings of Prop. 100 foes didn’t come to pass

Medicaid showdown today?

As lawmakers deadlock, Arizona students take college debt fight to Washington

Backed by state Constitution, Medicaid expansion makes sense

Arizona lawmakers move to revive election bills

Pro-life bill would turn women away from abortion clinics even if government doesn’t pay

Medicaid expansion gets hearing in House

GOP lawmakers want $400M cut before approving Arizona budget

Arizona lawmakers seek 'warrentless' inspections of abortion clinics

Arpaio’s office suspends immigration efforts after judge’s ruling

Actually, you like Obamacare. Just ask Brewer.

Arizona lawmakers move to revive election bills

Medicaid anti-abortion language returns in House Approps

Arizona lawmakers work to prohibit cities from requiring new communities to have HOA

Political winds keep anti-medical marijuana measure off November ballot, lawmaker says

'Bathroom bill' fails to gain ground at Arizona Capitol

Franks’ bill banning abortion after 20 weeks clears House subcommittee

Arizona transgender bathroom bill won’t move

Arizona lawmakers gets another chance to fight court ruling to increase education funding

Arizona lawmakers move to change when businesses can appeal class-action lawsuits

Arizona’s Gov. Brewer Celebrates Tax Hike Expiration

Once upon a time, Arizona Gov. Brewer fought for a sales tax hike; now she celebrates its demise.

Drones, Fences and Sensors Influence Immigration Debate

Border security is a big part of the immigration overhaul. But who will define it?

Attorneys General Prepare to Defend Controversial Laws

State attorneys general are about to head to court to defend controversial state laws. Are they required to defend laws that might not survive legal scrutiny?

States That Skip Medicaid Expansion May Favor New Immigrants Over U.S. Citizens

The law of unintended consequences will strike states that decline to expand Medicaid.

Arizona’s Border Fence Still Faces Obstacles

After nearly two years of preparation and with more than a quarter million dollars of private donations in hand, Arizona officials still have not unveiled a plan to build a border fence. But a state lawmaker who is leading the effort said that will soon change.

Higher Ed Cuts Mean Major Tuition Hikes

Tuition at public colleges in Arizona and California has spiked more than 70 percent over the past five years, the result of massive cuts to state higher education funding in those states and most others.

Supreme Court Probes Arizona Voter Registration Law

The Supreme Court justices dissected Arizona’s challenge to a federal voter registration law during arguments Monday, even as they seemed to avoid the broader issues of states’ rights versus federal authority underlying the case.

Voter Registration in Supreme Court Spotlight

It’s gotten less attention than the challenge to the Voting Rights Act, but an Arizona challenge to the National Voter Registration Act could upset elections administration around the country.

States in Recovery: Housing

The housing crisis that threw states into economic free fall is helping them climb back out.

Pay Boost on the Horizon for Some State Workers

Far fewer people are working for state governments than before the recession began, but those who remain may get modest salary increases this year.

Governors Ask Lawmakers to Prevent Future Shootings

The recent mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut reshaped governors’ legislative agendas this year, and many used their once-a-year legislative addresses to ask lawmakers to take up gun control, mental health treatment and school safety.

Ohio Governor Backs Medicaid Expansion

Governor John Kasich will press lawmakers to expand Ohio’s Medicaid system, becoming the fifth Republican governor to endorse that key component of President Obama’s controversial health law.

Issue To Watch: Gun Regulation

Gun legislation moved to the top of the list for many state lawmakers after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December.

Issue To Watch: Immigration

Long-bottled-up bills that address state policies on whether to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students could become law this year, because of changes in party control of legislative chambers and changes in federal policy.

Brewer Endorses Medicaid Expansion Under Health Overhaul

Governor Jan Brewer will push to expand Arizona’s Medicaid program after all, she has announced, surprising many who have watched her crusade against that and other key components of President Obama’s health care overhaul.

Arizona State of the State Address 2013

PHOENIX, Arizona --Following is the prepared text of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's (R) 2013 State of the State Address

States Begin Giving Driver’s Licenses to Young Immigrants

The federal government thrust states back into dealing with the contentious issue of driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants, after years when the practice had become rare and the issue dropped off most legislative agendas.

Best of #StateReads: United States of Subsidies

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Oklahoma Among States Limiting Property Taxes

Lowering property taxes is always popular, and results from the November 6 elections show this year was no exemption

Next Elections: Races for Legislative Leadership

For aspiring legislative leaders, the elections aren’t over yet. Even as the final counts from last week’s votes are still being tallied, lawmakers who hope to be house speakers or senate presidents are courting their colleagues.

U.S. Supreme Court To Hear Arizona Voter Registration Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether states may require a would-be voter to first prove their citizenship — a case likely to answer larger questions about the sometimes conflicting roles of state and federal governments in regulating elections.

Arizona Ballot Measure Challenges the Federal Government Over Public Lands

Most western states remain uncomfortable with federal stewardship of their land. A group of activists wants to rewrite the Arizona constitution to change the rules.

Supreme Court Considers Competency in Death Penalty Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments from Ohio and Arizona that federal judges should not be allowed to indefinitely stay a death sentence even if there are questions about an inmate’s mental competency.

States Defend Anti-Terrorism Centers After Harsh Senate Report

Law enforcement agencies and state officials defended regional information-sharing offices known as “fusion centers” as a key part of the nation’s homeland security network. A Senate report questioned the value of the fusion centers, which they found had “not produced useful intelligence.”

States Still Resisting National Sex Offender Law

A 2006 federal law calls on states to create a national sex offender registry. But most have not complied, and some have stopped trying.

Arizona Conservatives Face Triple Threat

Two ballot initiatives and new district maps for legislative elections will together test conservative Republicans’ hold on the Arizona state legislature in November.

Judge Backs Heart of Arizona Immigration Law

The heart of Arizona’s law cracking down on undocumented immigrants is poised to take effect following a federal judge’s ruling. But the split decision blocked criminalizing knowingly transporting or harboring undocumented immigrants.

Best of #StateReads: Ex-Parks Official Had Criminal Past

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Christie Headlines Romney Event With GOP Governors

Ten Republican governors joined Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, for a rally and fundraiser in Colorado Thursday (August 3), but most of the attention seemed focused on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Romney gave Christie, who is often mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick

Federal Court Blocks Arizona Anti-Abortion Law

A federal appeals court on Wednesday blocked the state from enforcing a new Arizona law, which prohibits most abortions from taking place after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Alabama Police Start Slowly in Enforcing Immigration Law

CLANTON, Alabama — Alabama is off to a slow start in rolling out its law requiring police to check the immigration status of suspects. But it is ahead of the other states, including Arizona, that approved similar measures.

Do Gay Rights Affect Tourism?

Arizona’s push for U.S. Supreme Court approval of a plan to rescind same-sex benefits for state employees has some worried that tourism will take a hit.

New Anti-Abortion Strategy Pays Off

The past few months have seen a flurry of new state laws restricting abortion, most of them based on the concept of “fetal pain.”

Key Parts of Arizona Immigration Law Struck Down

A majority of Supreme Court Justices ruled that three sections of the Arizona law were in conflict with federal authority.

States May Boost Salaries, With a Catch

Long-awaited salary increases or bonuses will be tied to “ifs” and “buts” for state employees in Arizona and possibly Virginia.