The proposed bill amends sections 19-121.04 and 19-122 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, focusing on the initiative and referendum process. It simplifies the process for determining the number of invalid signatures on a petition by removing a step that previously required accounting for signatures found ineligible by county recorders that were not already subtracted. Now, only a single paragraph (instead of two) will be used to calculate the percentage of invalid signatures after initial subtractions.

Additionally, the bill sets a strict five-day period after the actions of the secretary of state for any person to file an action contesting the validity of an initiative or referendum based on the secretary's actions. It also separates challenges to the validity of individual petition signatures from challenges to the actions of the secretary of state or a county, prohibiting their consolidation in court. This aims to streamline the legal process surrounding the validation of initiatives and referendums.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 19-121.04, 19-122, 19-121.01, 19-121.02