Gov. Doug Ducey late last week signed HB 2404 into law, shortly after lawmakers gave the measure their final approval. The bill outlaws the practice of paying initiative petition signature gatherers by the signature — rather, they’ll have to be paid by the hour.
Supporters, like the bill’s sponsor, Republican Vince Leach, said Arizonans have lost faith in the initiative process.
"This process has become subject to fraud, some would say rife with fraud, forgery and fabrications," Leach said.
The measure, and others in the Legislature this year that would affect the initiative process, is seen as a result of the passage of Proposition 206 this past November.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the higher minimum wage, was strongly in support of HB 2404.
Critics worry it’ll put a nearly insurmountable hurdle in the way of citizen initiatives making the ballot.
So now the question is, what’s the next step for opponents.
Josselyn Berry is the executive director of Progress Now Arizona.
