The 2022 Arizona legislative session ends following protests at the state Capitol

By Tom Maxedon
Published: Saturday, June 25, 2022 - 10:35pm
Updated: Monday, June 27, 2022 - 10:10am

Anti-abortion demonstrators approach the group of abortion-rights protesters
Troy HIll/Cronkite News
Anti-abortion demonstrators approach the group of abortion-rights protesters at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on June 24, 2022.

Early Saturday morning marked the end of the 2022 Arizona legislative session as a slew of bills were passed.

Retiring Senate President Karen Fann gaveled out the session, “All in favor indicate by saying ‘aye.’”

‘Aye,’ responded fellow senators.

“Any opposed?” asked Fann. “‘Nay.’ It appears the ayes have it. So ordered, we are sine die,” she said.

The Prescott Republican will remain a lawmaker until January 2023.

In the lower chamber, outgoing House speaker Rusty Bowers, who testified before the Jan.  6 committee in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, thanked his fellow legislators.

Abortion-rights activists march around the Arizona Capitol grounds
Troy Hill/Cronkite News
Abortion-rights activists march around the Arizona Capitol grounds on June 24, 2022, to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

“I’ve tried to serve with dignity and respect and a bit of good humor for this institution that I love so much. I thank you very much Arizona and to my colleagues here,” he said.

A previous state senator, Bowers is making another bid for that chamber in the August Republican primary against former Senator David Farnsworth.

The legislative proceedings were interrupted by protests from opposing groups both supporting and condemning the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Arizona Department of Public Safety fired tear gas on the crowd after they say, "protesters repeatedly pounded on the glass doors" of the Senate.

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