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1. Legislative Terms
2. TERMS 0-9
3. TERMS A-B
4. TERMS C-D
5. TERMS E-F
6. TERMS G-H
7. TERMS I-J
8. TERMS K-N
9. TERMS O-R
10. TERMS S-U
11. TERMS V-Z

Legislative Terms

(updated 02-20-24)

Can’t find the term you are looking for? Send an email to league@azleague.org and League staff will review your request.

Note about agency initialisms/abbreviations: To avoid confusion with federal agencies, Arizona state agencies typically have an “A” to begin the shortened form and typically don’t have the “O.” So although you will still hear people refer to DOC for Corrections, but ADC is the correct form. There are exceptions to these rules. For example, the Registrar of Contractors is most commonly shortened to ROC, ignoring both of the practices mentioned above. 

TERMS 0-9

2^nd Floor – Slang for Legislative leadership, who have offices located on the 2^nd floor of their buildings.

3^rd Rail – A highly sensitive or controversial political issue that people would rather not discuss or touch. Named after the “live” or electrified third rail of a subway or train track, such that touching it would be harmful or dangerous.

3^rd Read – This is the official vote of the full chamber on a bill.

9^th Floor – Slang for the Governor/Governor’s Office, which is located on the 9^th Floor of the Executive Tower.

TERMS A-B

A

AG – Attorney General.

Amending to the 3^rd degree – You cannot amend to the third degree, meaning that you cannot amend an amendment to an amendment.

Arizona Legislative Information System/Bill Status Inquiry (ALIS/BSI) – Both terms refer to the bill information systems available on http://www.azleg.gov.

B

Big Board of Truth – Slang for 3^rd Read. Refers to the large screen that shows the vote of every legislator during 3^rd Read. 

Building a bridge – Amendments are not allowed unless they are germane to the underlying bill. This can be overcome by including subject matter that serves as a bridge, connecting the bill’s subject matter to the subject matter of the original amendment language.

The Box – Slang for the “budget box,” which itself is a symbol for the total amount of the budget that is available for discretionary spending. What goes in or doesn’t go into the box is heavily negotiated and influenced by available funds. The placement of a legislator’s item or program into the box is typically tied to whether or not they will vote for the overall budget package.

TERMS C-D

C

The Cage – Slang for the main conference room at JLBC, where intense budget negotiations often take place.

Camel’s nose under the tent – Common Capitol idiom. Often used expressing hesitation or outright opposition to a measure or idea, the concern being that this is just the start and will open the door for further expansion of the concept.

Cap Times – Slang for The Arizona Capitol Times, a publication focused on political activity in Arizona.

Caucus – This is a gathering of legislators of a particular party to discuss bills coming out or Rules Committee prior to those bills going to the floor. They are typically public meetings, but no public testimony is taken. 

Christmas Tree – A bill (the tree) that has had the provisions of other bills amended onto it (the ornaments). Only seen toward the end of session as options dwindle away.

Constitutional and Proper form (C&P) –Refers to the review provided by the House Rules Committee. This finding means that the committee believes the measure to be constitutional and properly drafted.

Committee of the Whole (COW) – An entire Legislative chamber comes together to debate a bill.

Companion Bill – 1. A bill that is paired with another bill. For example, one bill might create a new program, and the companion bill might appropriate money for the program. 2. A bill and a ballot measure with matching language to bypass the Governor if the bill version dies or is vetoed.

Crossover Week – The week following the first Hell Week where each chamber endeavors to push bills through COW and 3^rd Read and onto the opposite chamber.

D

Dead – A bill that is no longer moving through the legislative process, either due to failing a vote, or failing to move far enough within provided legislative deadlines.

DP – Do Pass. A bill has passed as introduced.

DPA – Do Pass Amended. A bill has passed with at least one amendment.

DPA/SE – Do Pass Amended with a Strike Everything Amendment.

DISC/HELD – A bill was on a committee agenda, the bill was discussed, but ultimately held.

Double-Tap – Refers to the idea of failing a bill and immediately revoting on the bill and failing it again. A double-tapped bill cannot advance at the legislature. The only option would be to create a zombie bill via striker or amend it onto a germane bill or Christmas tree.

TERMS E-F

E

Earmark – An earmark refers to government dollars or funding that is appropriated to a specific project, district, or region, typically for political reasons. The term can be used as a pejorative by fiscal conservatives and as a result, at the federal level the term “Congressionally Directed Spending” has been used in its place.

Emergency Clause – A clause on a bill, that if passed by 2/3 of each chamber renders a bill effective immediately upon signature by the Governor, rather than the General Effective Date.

F

Feed Bill – Slang for the General Appropriations Act, which is the main budget bill. So called because it “feeds” all of the state agencies with delicious, tasty money.

Fiscal Note – A brief analysis written by JLBC on the state and local fiscal impacts a particular piece of legislation will have. Must be requested by a legislator.  

Floor – Refers to any activity that involves an entire chamber gathering. Can include COW, 3^rdRead, and various mundane or clerical tasks.

TERMS G-H

G

Germane – Relevant or related to the underlying language of a bill or measure.

H

HELD – A bill that was on a committee agenda but was held and was not moved.

Hell Week – 1. The last week before the start of the leg. session, referring to the practice of numerous fundraisers being held before the legal prohibition kicks in. 2. The last week to hear bills in committees, either in the chamber of origin (e.g. House bills in the House) and the opposite chamber (e.g. Senate bills in the House), referring to the long and packed committee agendas that happen during those weeks.

Hopper – refers to the physical receptacle that proposed bills are placed into to be considered an official, introduced bill.

Hostile Amendment – 1. An amendment that was not discussed with the bill sponsor and is being offered without permission. 2. An amendment that was discussed with the bill sponsor, rejected, yet is still being offered. 3. An amendment being offered on a bill that is undesired because it is controversial or disliked and could, either intentionally or unintentionally, potentially kill the underlying bill if adopted.

HURF – Highway User Revenue Fund. Cities and towns receive a portion of revenue collected from gas taxes. HURF is one form of SSR.

TERMS I-J

I

Intergov – Refers to a local government (City/Town/County) lobbyist.

J

JLBC – Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Legislature’s budget arm. JLBC is a bipartisan, bicameral committee, but 90% of the time the term is used to refer to the analysts that staff the committee, and not the committee itself.

TERMS K-N

L

Leg. Council – Slang for Legislative Council. Leg. Council is a bipartisan, bicameral committee, but 90% of the time the term is used to refer to the attorney that staffs the committee. Most known for drafting bills and amendments for the legislature.

Leg. Liaison – Refers to a state agency lobbyist.

LOLA – Legislation Online Arizona, a subscription-based, online bill tracking platform.

M

MCTC – Model City Tax Code. The uniform options cities and towns use for their TPT code. Rates are set locally.

Messaging Bill – Refers to a bill that is more intended to score “political points” than drive sounds policy. Depending on the political dynamics, it can also be Veto Bait.

Mirror Bill – A bill that has an exact copy in the opposite chamber. Can be done to double the chances of a bill moving or can be done as a way to expedite the passage of a bill, since if bills pass both chambers with the same exact language, it goes directly to the Governor.

Money Bill – Refers to a bill with a financial impact, the exact definition of which is left to the eye of the beholder.

MTCC – Municipal Tax Code Commission. Made up of municipal elected officials and ADOR (as a non-voting member). The Commission approves all changes to the MCTC.

TERMS O-R

O

OAG – Office of the Auditor General. Answers to the Legislature, not the Executive Branch.

Omnibooze – Slang for the annual liquor omnibus bill.

Omnibus – Refers to a bill that contains many provisions related to one topic (e.g. transportation omnibus).

OSPB – Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting. The Governor’s budgeting arm.

P

Poison Pill – Refers to a clause in a bill that terminates the law or program if certain conditions are or aren’t met.

Pork – Similar to an earmark, pork refers to an appropriation or other form of government funding that specifically benefits one political district or area.

Prop 105 – Named after the ballot measure that requires a 3/4 majority vote in order to amend a voter-approved ballot measure. The change must also further the purpose of the original ballot measure.

Prop 108 – Named after the ballot measure that requires a 2/3 majority vote in order for the Legislature to “raise taxes.” In reality, the proposition requires a higher vote threshold if a measure increases overall revenue to the state in one of eight methods delineated in the proposition.

Prop 207 – Named after the ballot measure that enacted various protections for property owners.

Proper for Consideration (PFC) – Refers to the review provided by the Senate

Rules Committee. This finding means that the committee believes the measure to be constitutional and properly drafted.

R

Red Meat – Refers to an issue that will appeal to a political party’s base. Most commonly used these days to refer to right-wing issues/values. 

RTS – Request to Speak. Refers to the system used to register positions on bills. Do not require one to speak.

Rule of 10 – Refers to the concept that if a bill would have a direct financial benefit to a legislator, that legislator does not have a conflict of interest if there are at least nine other people that would have similar direct financial benefit.

Rules Committee – A standing committee in both the House and Senate, tasked with reviewing the constitutionality and legality of a proposed measure. The Senate Rules Committee finds bills Proper for Consideration (PFC) and the House Rules Committee finds bills to be in Constitutional and Proper form (C&P). On controversial bills, legislators on the Rules Committee will often vote based on their ideology rather than a constitutional analysis.

TERMS S-U

S

Sine Die – Latin for “without day,” this term refers to the end of the legislative session.

Single subject – Refers to the requirement that measures be confined to a single subject.

Short Title – Official name for what most people think of as the bill’s title. Can only be five words and no two bills can have the same short title.

Slippery slope – Common Capitol idiom. Someone will use this phrase to express concern that a measure is just the start of a questionable policy and will set a path of continuing down this policy.

SOS – Secretary of State.

Special legislation – Refers to the prohibition on introducing a measure that directly impacts only a single entity.

State Shared Revenue (SSR) – Refers to money collected by the state and distributed to local governments. Cities and Towns have four sources of SSR; HURF, SSST, VALR, and VLT.

SSST – State Shared Sales Tax. Cities and towns receive a portion of state TPT collections depending on the classification of tax. One form of SSR.

Strike-Everything Amendment – An amendment to a bill that can only be offered in committee and completely rewrites a bill with no germaneness restrictions

Striker – Slang for a Strike-Everything Amendment, an amendment that can only be offered in committee and completely rewrites a bill with no germaneness restrictions.

T

Take Home Bill – Refers to a bill that a legislator believes is “critical” for their district or for their re-election campaign.

Tech Correction – Refers to a bill that makes a simple technical fix. Short title of the bill often features the words “technical correction.”

Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) – Often referred to as “sales tax,” Arizona actually operates as a “TPT” state, meaning that businesses are the taxpayer and remit taxes for the “privilege” of being allowed to do business in Arizona. Businesses are allowed to pay TPT on to their customers.

TERMS V-Z

V

VALR – Voter Approved Local Revenue. Refers to the 18% of total income tax collections that are distributed to cities and towns. Officially known as Urban Revenue Sharing (URS). One form of State Shared Revenue.

Vehicle – Slang for a bill that is intended to serve as a host for a striker. Typically, a “tech correction.”

Veto Bait – Refers to a bill that is so contrary to the views or goals of the Governor that it is practically daring the Governor to veto it. Often serves as a Messaging Bill.

VLT – Vehicle License Tax. VLT is an ad valorem in lieu tax. It is essentially a property tax on a car. A portion of VLT is distributed to cities and towns. VLT is based on the assessed value of a vehicle and is NOT the same as vehicle registration fees. VLT is one form of SSR.

Vote your conscience – Typically used in reference to a bill or issue that either divides party politics or is outside of party platforms and the outcome of the vote is unclear.

Y

Yellow Sheet – Refers to The Yellow Sheet Report, a publication focused on gossip, rumor, and drama surrounding Capitol activity.

Z

Zombie Bill – Refers to a bill/subject that was previously considered dead but has found new life on another bill.