/ Modified mar 10, 2021 5:51 p.m.

AZ voter-approved laws could be restricted

State senators approved a change to the implementation of voter approved laws.

State Capitol The Buzz The Arizona state Capitol on March 3, 2020.
Ariana Brocious/AZPM

The proposal approved Wednesday by the state Senate will allow state lawmakers to throw out a voter-approved law if a court finds any part of the law is illegal or unconstitutional.

Opponents of the idea argued that voter-approved laws should have what is known in legal terms as severability. That is when if one section is found illegal it is thrown out, but the rest of the law remains on the books.

Opponents also accused backers of being “arrogant and foolish” when it comes to trying to change voter-approved laws.

“When they (voters) figure out that we are going to vote today to silence them and take away their powers because you don’t think the voters are as smart as we are, they aren’t going to be real happy with you. They’re going to remember that,” said Sen. Victoria Steele, D-Tucson.

Backers including Oro Valley Republican Senator Vince Leach said the legislature is not making any changes to how citizen-approved laws are implemented. They pointed out the proposal is a constitutional amendment that requires voter approval.

The proposal passed on a party-line vote. It now goes to the House for debate.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona