The next session of the Arizona State Legislature is set to open next week with a lot of issues on its plate including what is always a priority, the state budget.

Representative John Kavanagh, of Fountain Hills, said it is always a challenge to come up with the balanced budget as required by law. He said they are focused on beefing up the rainy day fund as a hedge against a possible recession.

Another budget-related subject the lawmakers will consider is an income tax conformity law. This would have the state filing requirements consistent with the federal government which would eliminate some tax deductions. Kavanagh clarified, however, that it would not change or impact the current tax credit system in the state, which allows taxpayers to take a dollar for dollar credit for donations to charities. The amount is capped depending on single taxpayer or a couple.

The credits are relied on heavily by schools for extracurricular programs, food banks and similar charities. Kavanagh said they would not touch the credits.

Kavanagh said he is also working on legislation to address major problems with short-term rental properties.

The current bill stripped away too much control from local government to address nuisance issues that go with the short-term rental properties, according to Kavanagh.

Traffic, nuisance noise and trash are some of the key complaints related to the rentals.

Kavanagh said he wants to ban the use of short-term rentals for what are essentially event venues for weddings, parties and similar activities.

“I want to return the authority [to municipalities] to stop party houses, and allow only rental situations,” Kavanagh said.

Other items on Kavanagh’s agenda for the session include a bill to make it harder for people accused of extreme animal cruelty to plead down to a misdemeanor offense.

Kavanagh is also pushing a return of the single subject rules for initiatives and referendums, and he would also have it applied to items referred to voters by the legislature.

Kavanagh said courts have ruled that, as written, the single subject rules do not apply to citizen initiatives.

Currently municipalities appoint their local magistrate and Kavanagh would like to see changes to that process. He is introducing legislation that would allow for initial appointment of a judge, but have that judge stand for election by voters during subsequent voting cycles.

He said a municipality would still be able to dismiss a judge for cause.

Kavanagh wants to address “speed traps” he sees in some communities, too. He said there are some locations where the speed limit is artificially low.

“This would ban the use of photo radar on streets or roads where the speed limit is lower than accepted engineering standards,” Kavanagh said.

Kavanagh said he is also on board with an effort that would abolish the recently enacted increase in vehicle registration fees.

The new requirements allow for administrative control of setting the fees, and Kavanagh said that should be the purview of the legislature.

The legislature goes to work on Monday, Jan. 14.