by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 27, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona legislators are one step closer to acting on an outdated criminal justice statute.
This week, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2720 “to eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Arizona’s legal code.” The bill was sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci.
The bill passed the state House with a 59-0 vote (with one member not voting).
According to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the proposal, if enacted into law, would “consolidate the threshold amount for cocaine base and hydrolyzed cocaine with the nine-gram threshold already established for powder cocaine, eliminat[ing] the outdated 750-miligram threshold for crack cocaine, a policy widely criticized for disproportionately targeting lower-income offenders without scientific justification.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Biasiucci said, “For too long, Arizona’s laws have imposed an unjust sentencing disparity on two chemically identical substances. HB 2720 ensures our justice system is guided by facts and fairness, not outdated policies from nearly 40 years ago. It’s time for Arizona to align with the federal government and the majority of states that have already fixed this inequity.”
Representative Biasiucci added, “This is about being smart on crime. Punishment should fit the crime, and our laws shouldn’t unfairly penalize one group over another for the same offense.”
Earlier this month, the Arizona House Committee on the Judiciary gave the bill the green light with a unanimous 9-0 vote.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Dreamcorps, Justice Action Network, Justice Action Network, and Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice signed in to support the bill.
HB 2720 will now advance to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 26, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One chamber of the Arizona Legislature just passed legislation to protect kids’ meals at schools.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2164, that, if enacted, would “ban ultra-processed foods containing harmful additives from being served in public school meals.” The proposal was sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci.
The bill passed out of the full House chamber with a 59-0 vote (one member not voting).
In a statement accompanying the announcement of the bill’s progress, Biasiucci said, “Our kids deserve better than artificial dyes and cheap fillers in their meals. Parents should know that when their children eat at school, they are getting real, nutritious food – not the kind of processed junk that’s banned in other countries. This is common sense, and I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass this important bill.”
Biasiucci added, “This is a public health issued. We now have overwhelming evidence that these chemicals can contribute to everything from hyperactivity to increased cancer risk – yet they remain in school meals. We hope to end that today.”
According to the press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the bill would “prohibit the sale or serving of school foods that contain potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, propylparaben, and synthetic food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 – several of which are already restricted or banned in Europe due to harmful effects on children’s health.”
Earlier this month, the legislation was approved by the Arizona House Committee on Education with a 10-0 vote (one member was absent, and one voted ‘present’).
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, Arizona Public Interest Research Group, indicated their groups’ support for the bill; while representatives from Save Our Schools Arizona and Consumer Brands Association, signed in to oppose the proposal. Representatives from the Arizona Food Bank Network, Arizona School Administrators, Arizona Education Association, and Arizona School Boards Association, noted their organizations’ neutrality on the bills.
HB 2164 will now head to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 25, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanksi |
A bill to support the efforts of law enforcement on the streets of Arizona is progressing through the state legislature.
Last week, HB 2733 was approved by the Arizona House of Representatives Public Safety & Law Enforcement Committee. The bill, which was sponsored by State Representative David Marshall, “protects law enforcement officers from civil liability when taking down unmanned aircraft suspected of being used for criminal activities within 15 miles of the international border.”
In a statement released in conjunction with the bill’s progress, Representative Marshall said, “Arizona’s law enforcement officers are on the front lines of the fight against cartels and traffickers exploiting our border, and they need the ability to act decisively against criminal drone activity. These drones aren’t toys – they’re tools of organized crime, used to scout for weak points in our security and to smuggle fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our communities. HB 2733 makes sure that our officers can neutralize these threats without the fear of frivolous lawsuits.”
Marshall added, “This bill is a no-brainer. Law enforcement shouldn’t have to second-guess their ability to stop cartel drones from carrying drugs across the border. Our Majority is standing firm on securing Arizona, backing law enforcement, and taking action to keep dangerous criminals out of our communities.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona House Republicans on the bill, “The rise in cartel drone activity has put additional pressure on Arizona’s law enforcement agencies, forcing officers to make quick decisions in real-time to prevent smuggling operations.” The proposal would give these law enforcement officials “the legal certainty they need to act without hesitation, protecting Arizona’s communities from the devastating consequences of cartel operations.”
The bill was passed by the House committee with a bipartisan vote of 10-0, though three members were absent and two voted ‘Present.’
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police signed in to support the bill, while a representative of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona indicated the organization’s opposition to the legislation. A representative from the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association signed in as neutral.
HB 2733 will now be considered by the full state House of Representatives in the near future.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 25, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One Arizona lawmaker is making a push for greater state sovereignty.
Last week, State Representative Lisa Fink, a Republican, wrote an op-ed, entitled, “Make Arizona Sovereign Again.” In this piece, the first-term legislator makes the case for three of her bills that “push back against federal overreach and empower our citizens to take back control of their lives by restoring transparency in our elections, unleashing economic prosperity with our natural resources, and safeguarding the health and safety of Arizonans, putting the people and economy of our state first.”
The first bill Fink highlights is HB 2059, which would “ensure Arizona and employees of its state agencies are no longer forced to uphold various federal regulations on critical natural resource industries, like mining, coal, oil, and gas, that violate the clear boundaries of the U.S. Constitution. Representative Fink states that Arizona “must have the freedom to prioritize its own economic prosperity and environmental stewardship without being bound by harmful federal mandates.”
The second bill the state lawmaker presents is HB 2060, which would “strictly adher[e] to established laws on voter registration, citizenship, residency, and proof of identification. Fink opined that “securing our polls, free from outside interference, is of the utmost importance to preserving trust in our processes.”
The final bill that Representative Fink addressed was HB 2056, which would “take a proactive stance against federal efforts to alter the environment, protecting our state’s autonomy.” The Republican legislator states that she introduced this legislation because of the “growing issue of environmental manipulation, specifically addressing concerns over weather modification techniques like geoengineering and solar radiation management perpetrated by the federal government and multinational organizations. Fink added that “Arizona’s environment and natural resources belong to the people of this state – not federal agencies and certainly not the global elite.”
As she ended her piece, Representative Fink wrote, “The message is clear: Arizona will not tolerate unconstitutional federal overreach. From energy independence and mineral dominance to election integrity to defending our environment, this series of bills reasserts Arizona’s Tenth Amendment rights over the federal government and puts Arizona first. This is about reclaiming the freedom that is rightfully ours.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 24, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The Arizona Legislature is taking a stand against antisemitism.
Last, the Arizona House Education Committee approved HB 2867, the Antisemitism in Education Act, which would “prohibit Arizona’s public schools and state agencies from promoting antisemitic conduct or rhetoric and establish strict penalties for violations.” HB 2867 was sponsored by State Representative Michael Way.
The legislation was approved with a bipartisan vote of 8-4. One Democrat joined seven Republicans to support the bill.
According to information shared by the Arizona House Republicans, the proposal would “enforce clear prohibitions on using taxpayer dollars to fund antisemitic curricula or activities, ensure accountability for individuals and institutions that violate these protections, and empower students, parents, and educators to report violations.” The bill additionally “aligns with the internationally recognized IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, which the U.S. State Department has adopted as the standard for identifying and addressing antisemitic conduct.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Representative Way said, “Our schools should be places of learning, not breeding grounds for hatred and discrimination. Arizona has zero tolerance for antisemitism, and this bill ensures that our classrooms are free from the toxic ideology that fuels division and hostility. No teacher, administrator, or student should be forced to endorse or participate in any form of antisemitic conduct. This legislation sends a clear message – there will be consequences for those who violate these fundamental principles.”
Way added, “House Republicans are leading with action, not lip service. We’re committed to protecting students and teachers from the kind of coercion and discrimination that have no place in Arizona’s classrooms. We will uphold American values – freedom, fairness, and safety. I’m proud to see this bill advance and look forward to its passage in the full House.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Education Association, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Save Our Schools Arizona, Arizona National Organization for Women (NOW), and CHISPA ARIZONA – A Program of League of Conservation Voters, signed in to oppose the bill.
HB 2867 will now be considered by the full Arizona House of Representatives in the near future.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
