During one the speediest and most frugal legislative sessions in history, Arizona officials churned out more than 300 new laws.
Governor Doug Ducey and the Arizona Legislature spent a quick 81 days in session on a tight budget of $9.1 billion, producing 324 new laws, many of which will go into effect July 3.
Dozens revolve around the economy, social issues and education, meaning the daily lives of residents across the state will be affected.
Of the 324, Corso Law Group selected six of the most noteworthy new laws Arizonans should know about.
- Changes at the Border: SB 1271 gives the Joint Border Security Advisory Committee the go ahead to use $264,400 in collected private donations to build a fence, physical or virtual, as close as possible to the Arizona-Mexico border.
- Abortion Reversal: One facet of SB 1318 requires doctors to inform women interested in an abortion using a combination of medications that the procedure may potentially be reversed. Arizona is the first state to initiate this law, which was based on information from the anti-abortion group Americans United for Life.
- Get a REAL ID: HB 2609 gives Arizona residents the option to purchase a new ID that meets federal requirements. This is important news for air travelers who would otherwise have had to carry another form of ID, like a passport, to fly domestically.
- Required Civics Tests: HB 2064 makes the class of 2017 the first wave of high school students who must pass a U.S. Immigration and Naturalization civics test to graduate. To graduate, students will have to answer at least 60 questions correctly out of 100.
- Ride-sharing Regulations: HB 2135 initiates new rules for ride-sharing companies, like Uber and Lyft, that were previously operating unregulated in Arizona alongside taxis and cabs. The new bill requires companies to inspect vehicles, conduct criminal background checks on drivers and make sure they carry insurance.
- Driving school do-over: HB 2308 lets drivers who have been cited for traffic violations clear their records more frequently by offering the opportunity to complete driving school as often as every 12 months instead of every 24 months.
Other impactful laws cover topics like the study of police body cameras, brewery expansion, junk food in schools and more.
