Bill > SB1657

This bill modifies Arizona state law regarding municipal emergency measures and referendum petitions by adding a new provision that allows citizens to challenge emergency ordinances through a referendum process. Specifically, the bill now explicitly states that emergency measures adopted by a city or town council can be subject to a referendum, even though they were initially passed with a three-fourths council vote and mayoral approval for immediate implementation. Under the new provision, citizens can file a referendum petition within 30 days of an emergency measure's passage, and if the measure is placed on the ballot and does not receive a majority of votes, it will be nullified. This change gives residents more direct democratic control over emergency ordinances, which previously could be implemented immediately without the possibility of voter review. The bill makes a minor technical correction to hyphenate "thirty-day" and adds a completely new subsection (e) that outlines the referendum process for emergency measures, expanding citizens' ability to challenge such ordinances at the ballot box.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83110