Voting rights

The Senate voted 16-12 Thursday to automatically restore the voting rights of people convicted of multiple felonies.

Current law makes that automatic for those who committed just a single felony. But anyone else has to petition the court to regain voting rights.

Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor, D-Phoenix, said she believes that getting former felons involved in voting would help "steer them in the right direction.'' But Sen. Pamela Gorman, R-Anthem, said automatically extending those rights to multiple offenders is "disrespectful to the rest of the citizens.''

The measure now goes to the House.

Water conservation

On a 26-2 margin the Senate agreed Thursday to allow rural cities and counties adopt ordinances letting them block new construction unless the developer can show an adequate water supply. State law already includes such restrictions in the Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott areas, along with portions of Pinal and Santa Cruz County. This measure is designed to give elected officials in other areas the right to enact their own such rules.

Sen. Tom O'Halleran, R-Sedona objected, not to the rules but to a provision which said the restrictions can be enacted only with a unanimous vote of the board of supervisors or city council. He said that would allow a lone holdout to thwart the will of the majority.

But Sen. Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, said there should be unanimous support for any measure that denies a landowner the ability to develop property. SB 1575 now goes to the House.

Militia

The Senate voted Thursday to create a Homeland Security Force which could be activated by the governor in time of emergency. Arizona already has a National Guard. But Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, pointed out that a new federal law allows the president to take control of those soldiers during an emergency, even over the objection of the governor.

The militia which would be created under SB 1132 would answer to only the governor. The measure now needs House approval.

Teen drinking

Adults who let teens use their facilities for parties with alcohol could end up in jail under the terms of legislation approved Thursday by the Senate.

Existing law already makes it a crime for adults to give liquor to anyone younger than 21. SB 1222, which now goes to the House, makes it a crime for an adult to permit teens to use a house or other location if the adult knows or should have known alcohol would be served.

Temporary signs

The House voted 36-21 Thursday to bar cities from passing laws which prohibit temporary signs.

HB 2369 is specifically aimed at a Scottsdale ordinance which makes it illegal for individual to stand around on sidewalks while holding a sign. These people are paid by a private firm which has contracts with developers, car dealers and others to try to direct customers into their locations.

Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, called it "absolutely outrageous'' that lawmakers would tell cities what they cannot control. The measure now goes to the Senate.