Arizona House speaker won’t hear rioting bill

Regional News

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The speaker of the Arizona House said Monday he won’t hear a bill that makes participating in or helping organize a protest that turns into a riot an offense that could lead to criminal racketeering charges.

The measure passed last week by the Senate drew nationwide attention because it added rioting to the organized crime statutes and said an overt act isn’t needed to prove conspiracy to riot. That attention led Speaker J.D. Mesnard to decide Monday to kill it for the session.

Mesnard told The Associated Press that people all across the country now believe that the Arizona Legislature is trying to enact a law that will suppress their First Amendment right to assemble.

The House speaker controls the path of legislation through his chamber, so Mesnard’s decision means the bill is dead.

All 17 Senate Republicans supported the measure and all 13 Democrats voted no last week.