U.S. Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) has introduced the Monitor Accountability Act in the U.S. Senate, serving as a companion measure to H.R. 8365, legislation previously passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05).
The legislation seeks to establish new federal standards governing court-appointed monitors used in civil consent decrees involving state and local governments. These monitors are typically assigned to oversee reform efforts in areas such as law enforcement and public safety compliance.
Supporters of the bill point to long-running monitorships in jurisdictions such as Maricopa County, Arizona, and New Orleans, Louisiana, as examples of cases where oversight arrangements have extended for years and generated significant taxpayer costs.
According to figures cited by sponsors, the New Orleans Police Department consent decree lasted 13 years and cost an estimated $100 million before concluding, while the ongoing Maricopa County monitorship has reportedly exceeded $350 million in taxpayers expense and continues.
“I’m grateful for Senator Kennedy’s partnership in this fight to reinsert sorely needed congressional oversight over these out-of-control federal monitors,” stated Congressman Biggs. “The stories of Maricopa County and New Orleans are abusive and well-documented, showing how these monitors operate without oversight across America. As I have said repeatedly, the destructive effects these monitors have on government budgets and public safety necessitate congressional action. I hope the Senate quickly passes this bill and sends it to the White House to be enacted into law.”
U.S. Senator John Kennedy has introduced the Monitor Accountability Act as a companion bill to my legislation.
I’m grateful for Senator Kennedy’s partnership in this fight to reinsert sorely needed congressional oversight over these out-of-control monitors. pic.twitter.com/0bePhGAMx2
Senator Kennedy emphasized the need for accountability and cost controls in the system.
“Federal court monitors can serve an important purpose, but taxpayers should not have to fund open-ended monitorships that drag on for years without basic accountability,” said Senator Kennedy. “We basically let government contractors decide whether their own government contract keeps going. The Monitor Accountability Act would cap fees, limit terms and bring transparency to a system operating for far too long on autopilot.”
If enacted, the legislation would direct the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Judicial Conference of the United States to implement standardized rules for appointing and managing federal monitors. These include:
Five-year term limits for monitors, with no reappointment under the same court order.
Restrictions on successive appointments, preventing the same individual or affiliated employer from continuing a monitorship.
Fee caps and transparency requirements, including annual public accounting of services and compensation.
Public notice and comment period before a monitor is appointed.
Compliance-based extensions, allowing continuation only if substantial and sustained compliance has not been achieved.
Judicial reassignment after six years in ongoing cases to prevent prolonged oversight by a single judge.
Retroactive application to monitorships exceeding six years, including potential replacement of monitors and judicial reassignment.
The bill also encourages the use of pro bono or reduced-rate services in monitor roles.
As the legislation moved through the House earlier this year, it received public support from several law enforcement leaders and organizations, including Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, and the Arizona Police Association.
The bill notes that federal monitors are typically appointed in civil settlement agreements or consent decrees to oversee corrective reforms, often in response to findings of unconstitutional policing or systemic agency misconduct.
The legislation responds in part to prior federal guidance encouraging greater transparency, term limits, and cost accountability in monitor appointments.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed H.R. 7396, the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, a bipartisan measure aimed at strengthening Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach and support for Tribal entrepreneurs across the United States.
The legislation, led by a bipartisan coalition in Congress, seeks to formally establish and codify the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the SBA by amending the Small Business Act.
The goal is to improve coordination, accountability, and targeted support for Native American and native Hawaiian business owners who often face structural barriers in accessing federal resources.
The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), alongside Rep. Shanice Davids (D-KS-03), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), and Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03). The measure passed the House with unanimous support after previously clearing the chamber in the last Congress with strong bipartisan backing before stalling in the Senate.
If enacted, the legislation would formally embed the ONAA within the Small Business Administration and assign its responsibility for expanding access to entrepreneurial development programs, contracting opportunities, and capital resources for Tribal communities.
This evening, the House unanimously passed the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act to strengthen @SBAgov outreach to Tribal entrepreneurs.
The office would also be tasked with improving coordination with other federal agencies and increasing education about available programs for Native entrepreneurs.
Tribal business owners, particularly those operating on reservations, often face unique challenges including complex tax structures, regulatory barriers, lending difficulties, and questions surrounding property rights.
Supporters of the legislation argue that these issues have been compounded by inconsistent outreach and limited access to federal small business programs.
By codifying the Office of Native America Affairs into federal law, the bill also strengthens congressional oversight by requiring annual reports to Congress detailing outreach efforts, consultations with Tribal governments, training initiatives, and the number of entrepreneurs served.
“I’m proud to be part of the bipartisan coalition working to improve and expand SBA outreach to Tribal communities. As the representative of over half of Arizona’s tribes, I’m focused on solutions to help expand economic growth throughout rural Arizona,” stated Rep. Crane. “I’m grateful to Rep. Davids for her leadership, as well as Reps. Ellzey and Morrison for their support of this important bill. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly take up and pass this measure.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona communities are preparing for one of the most widespread Independence Day celebrations in recent years as cities across the state host fireworks, drone shows, and family festivals in honor of America’s 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
From major metro hubs to rural towns, residents will gather July 3-4 for coordinated events that highlight both patriotic tradition and modern light displays.
West Valley Celebrations
In Avondale, “Light Up the Sky” returns on Saturday July 4, at 7602 Jimmie Johnson Dr. Gates open at 6 p.m., with fireworks launching at 8:25 p.m. Admission is free.
Buckeye will hosts its Independence Day Celebration, July 4, at Buckeye Airport from 6-9 p.m., culminating in an 8:30 p.m. fireworks show. Admission is free.
Goodyear’s “Star Spangled 4th” runs from 6-9 p.m. at Goodyear Ballpark, July 4, featuring a drone show at 8:45 p.m. Admission is free.
Peoria will host its All-American Festival at Peoria Sports Complex, July 4, from 5-9 p.m. Fireworks will follow the concert lineup. Free admission with VIP tickets available
Surprise will hold firework displays at Surprise Community Park and Mark Coronado Park beginning at 8:45 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the event is free.
Glendale kicks off Independence Day weekend early with “Firework Fest” on Friday, July 3 at Westgate Entertainment District from 6-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m.
Tolleson will hold its Fourth of July Celebration on Friday, July 3 at Tolleson Veterans Park from 4-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is Free
Central and East Valley
Phoenix hosts “Fabulous Phoenix 4th” at Steele Indian School Park from 6-10 p.m., featuring one of the largest free fireworks shows in the state. Fireworks show time TBD
Chandler presents “Chandler’s All-American Bash”, July 4, at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park from 7-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 8:15 p.m. Admission is free.
Gilbert hosts its 4th of July Celebration at Gilbert Regional Park from 5-9:30 p.m., featuring fireworks and a drone show. Free admission with VIP tickets available.
Mesa will hold the Arizona Celebration of Freedom in downtown Mesa from 6-10 p.m., with fireworks and a drone show at 9:25 p.m.
Tempe hosts its Fourth of July Celebration at Tempe Diablo Stadium from 6-10 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9 p.m. Admission is $2.50
Scottsdale will host its celebration at WestWorld from 5-9 p.m., on July 4, with fireworks starting at 9 p.m. Admission ranges from $25-$50
Queen Creek presents “Hometown 4th at Schnepf Farms” from 2-10 p.m., featuring live entertainment and fireworks later in the evening. Admission ranges from $22.80 – $161.74.
Fountain Hills will host “Fourth at the Fountain”, July 4, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd. Fireworks will begin at 9 p.m with free admission.
Northern Arizona
Flagstaff will host a Fourth of July Drone Show at Foxglenn Park from 4-9 p.m., with the drone display beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is free
Cottonwood offers the “Fantastic Family Fourth of July” at Cottonwood Kids Park from 4-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Parking is $1
Wickenburg hosts its Independence Day Celebration at Sunset Park from 6-9 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Kingman holds an “Old Fashion 4th of July” morning celebration, July 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., with evening fireworks at 9 p.m. at 3333 Harrison Street. Admission is free
Southern and Western Arizona
Tucson hosts “Diamonds in the Sky: 4th of July Celebration”, July 4, at Kino Sports Complex from 5:30 -9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is a $1 donation or one canned food item.
Marana presents its Star Spangled Spectacular at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park from 5-9:30 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Casa Grande hosts its 4th of July Celebration at Paul Mason Sports Complex from 7-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Yuma presents the “4th of July Spectacular” at Desert Sun Stadium from 6-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Oro Valley hosts its July 4th Celebration at James D. Kriegh Park from 6-9:20 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m. Admission is free
Wellton will host a community Fourth of July Celebration at Butterfield Park. Fireworks timing will be announced. Admission is free.
Across Arizona, most Independence Day events remain free to the public, with select communities offering VIP seating or premium access options.
Organizers across the state encourage attendees to arrive early, plan for high temperatures, and check local city websites for parking updates and event advisories.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s major state-owned public shooting ranges, including the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, are now protected from unilateral closure after Gov. Hobbs signed House Bill 2763 into law. The measure was sponsored by Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1).
The new law establishes additional safeguards before certain Arizona Game and Fish Commission-owned shooting ranges can be closed, requiring approval from the Arizona Legislature in addition to existing public review and executive branch requirements.
H.B. 2763 applies to state-owned shooting ranges located in or near Arizona’s larger population centers and adds a legislative approval requirement to an already extensive closure process.
Under the law, a shooting range may not be closed unless the following steps occur:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department director recommends the closure in writing.
The commission issues a report explaining the reason for the proposed closure.
Public hearings are held in Arizona’s three most populous counties.
The commission unanimously approves the closure.
The Joint Committee on Capital Review reviews the closure recommendations.
The Arizona Legislature adopts a joint resolution approving the closure.
The Governor signs an executive order authorizing the closure.
The legislation passed both chambers of the Arizona Legislature without receiving a single Democratic vote.
Rep. Nguyen, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the measure ensures that decisions involving Arizona’s most significant public shooting facilities remain subject to public scrutiny and legislative oversight.
🚨BILL SIGNED🚨
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – The Ben Avery Shooting Facility and other major state-owned public shooting ranges are now protected from unilateral closure under legislation sponsored by Republican State Representative Quang Nguyen and signed into law today.
“Ben Avery belongs to the people of Arizona, and no state agency should be able to quietly shut it down because development moved closer or political priorities shifted,” stated Rep. Nguyen. “This law puts that decision where it belongs: before the public and the lawmakers they elect. Ben Avery trains responsible gun owners, supports hunters and law enforcement, and keeps shooting activity on a supervised range instead of pushing it into the open desert. Protecting this facility protects public safety, public access, and the rights of Arizona gun owners.”
Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located in North Phoenix is the largest publicly operated shooting facility in the United States and serves thousands of Arizonans annually through hunter education programs, firearm safety training, competitive shooting events, recreational shooting opportunities, and law enforcement qualification exercises.
Supporters of the legislation noted that Ben Avery was established decades before much of the surrounding residential and commercial development. They argue that maintaining designated public shooting facilities helps keep shooting activities in safe, supervised environments rather than pushing them onto unmanaged desert lands, where concerns can include wildfire risks, litter, environmental damage, and unsafe shooting conditions.
In addition to Ben Avery, the law impacts several other Arizona Game and Fish Commission-owned shooting ranges throughout the state, including:
Three Points Shooting Range (Tucson)
Seven Mile Hill Shooting Range (Kingman)
Silver Creek Archery Range (Show Low)
Second Knoll Shooting Range (Show Low)
Sierra Vista Shooting Range (Sierra Vista)
St. Johns shooting Range (St. Johns)
Tri-State Shooting Park (Bullhead City)
Usery Mountain Shooting Range (Mesa)
Northern Arizona Shooting Range (Flagstaff)
With Governor Hobbs’ signature, H.B. 2763 is now law, providing an additional layer of legislative oversight before Arizona’s major state-owned public shooting ranges can be permanently closed.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Consumers will soon see clearer labeling on food products made from cultivated animal cells following the enactment of House Bill 2762, known as the “Andy Groseta Act.”
The legislation, sponsored by State Representative Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in the Arizona Legislature, passing the House of Representatives by a vote of 52-3 and the Senate by a vote of 24-5.
The new law requires manufacturers, packagers, and retailers of food products derived from cultivated animal cells to clearly label those products as either “Cell-Cultivated” or “Cell-Cultured” on their packaging before they are sold to Arizona consumers.
The measure is named in honor of the late Andy Groseta, a prominent Arizona cattleman and agricultural leader who served as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association, and the Yavapai Cattle Growers’ Association.
Under the law, food products produced from cultivated animal cells may continue to be sold in Arizona, but consumers must be informed about how those products were made.
✅New Arizona Law Requires Clear Labels on Cell-Cultured Food Products Rep. Quang Nguyen’s “Andy Groseta Act” protects consumers and supports Arizona agriculture
“Arizona consumers deserve honesty at the grocery store, and Arizona ranchers deserve a fair market. This law does… pic.twitter.com/Nv0QuJOhKt
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) June 22, 2026
“Arizona consumers deserve honesty at the grocery store, and Arizona ranchers deserve a fair market,” stated Rep. Nguyen. “This law does not ban anything. It simply says that if a product is grown from cells in a lab, the package has to say so. Families should not have to sort through marketing claims to know whether they are buying food raised by farmers and ranchers or a product made another way. Clear labels protect consumers, respect Arizona agriculture, and make sure the package tells the truth.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), animal cell culture technology produces meat and poultry products without slaughter by growing livestock or poultry cells in a controlled environment, such as a bioreactor, before harvesting those cells for human consumption.
Federal regulators classify these products as meat and poultry food products and subject them to the same inspection and oversight requirements as conventionally produced meat and poultry.
“Andy Groseta spent his life standing up for cattlemen, rural Arizona, and honest agriculture,” added Nguyen. “This law honors that legacy by keeping the marketplace honest. If companies want to sell cell-cultured products, they can. But they should not be able to market their products as something they are not.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
