Dear Conservation Friends,
The Legislature wrapped up most of its committee hearings this past week. They will continue to have informational hearings and to do some executive nominations in the Senate, but other than that, it should be primarily action on the floor -- and of course behind closed doors. There is still no sign of a budget agreement.
Please contact your senator and ask him or her to vote no on HB2551. Send a message to your representatives -- Vote No on HB2334! HB2404 S/E building codes; energy efficiency (Carter) appeared on a Committee of the Whole calendar this week, but was retained. It prohibits local government from adopting more energy efficient building codes, which is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy use and save ratepayers money. Please continue to contact your senator. The Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona is pushing hard to get this bill to undercut local control and more efficiency building codes. Please tell Senators to vote NO on HB2404 and to allow cities and towns to help consumers save energy and money! HB2485 health and safety audit privilege (Carter, Stevens: Barton, et al.) has still not appeared on a Committee of the Whole calendar. It provides a shield of secrecy to bad actors for violations of public health and safety laws and could keep repeat offenders from having to deal with any public scrutiny or fallout from their actions. HB2485 allows companies to keep health and safety violations secret in an audit and prohibits use of the audit to impose fines, penalties, or to take other legal action. In addition to all the other problems with this type of secrecy, it also encourages cozy relationships between businesses and the agencies charged with protecting public health and puts at risk public health and safety. Please ask Senators to protect public health and safety and vote NO on HB2485. Senator Burges' wacky anti-U.N., anti-sustainability, anti-energy conservation bill, and anti-bike path bill, SB1403 United National Rio Declaration; prohibition (Burges, Crandell, Griffin, et al.) has not appeared on a calendar in the House, but Representative Tobin is getting calls to move it. The bill now prohibits any entity from recognizing the UN or any of its declarations and the state and all of its political subdivisions "are prohibited from directly and knowingly, for the express purpose of adopting or implementing the United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the Statement of Principles for Sustainable Development." While it will have less of a direct impact on energy and water conservation programs, it is still crazy. Please ask your representatives to oppose SB1403!
For more information on some of the bills we are tracking, you can view our Legislative Tracker. If you no longer want to receive these updates, just zap me an email or unsubscribe by clicking on "Manage Preferences" at the bottom of the message. Please come join me at the Capitol and thank you for taking action and for caring about Arizona's environment. This week, give a howl for wolves! Warm regards, Chapter Director Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter (602) 253-8633 http://arizona.sierraclub.org
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Coming Up This Week at the Legislature Senate Government and Environment Committee upon adjournment of the Floor in Senate Hearing Room 3
Tuesday, April 2nd No Committee Action, but they will likely hear bills in the respective caucuses in the House and Senate Wednesday, April 3rd
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To call your legislators, click on Member Roster and find their phone numbers. If you're outside the Phoenix area, you can call your legislators’ offices toll free at 1-800-352-8404. In the Phoenix area call (602) 926-3559 (Senate) or (602) 926-4221 (House) and ask to connect with your legislators. | ||||||
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