by Ethan Faverino | Jun 19, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) has introduced two new pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening America’s commitment to recovering U.S. citizens abroad and ensuring military equipment is properly secured during overseas withdrawals.
The measures, the No American Left Behind Act and the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026, were recently approved as amendments to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by unanimous voice vote in the House Armed Services Committee.
The legislation is expected to be considered by the full House in late June.
The No American Left Behind Act seeks to establish a formal “No American Left Behind Doctrine” to guide future U.S. policy and planning regarding Americans detained or stranded overseas.
The legislation was inspired in part by the release of American citizen Dennis Coyle from Taliban custody earlier this year and Congressman Hamadeh’s ongoing efforts to recover the remains of Arizona humanitarian worker Kayla Mueller from Syria.
Congressman Hamadeh said the legislation is designed to improve coordination among federal agencies involved in hostage recovery and citizen repatriation efforts. The bill calls for reviews of collaboration between the Department of War, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and other government partners to strengthen whole-of-government response.
Hamadeh has made the recovery of Kayla Mueller a central focus of his congressional service. Mueller, a humanitarian aide worker from Prescott, Arizona, was abducted by terrorists in Syria in 2013 after leaving Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo.
Before taking office, Hamadeh pledged to work toward returning Mueller’s remains to her family. When he was sworn into Congress in January 2025, he honored Mueller’s memory by using her family’s Bible during his oath-of-office ceremony, attended by her parents.
That effort continued in August 2025 when Hamadeh made a trip from Jerusalem to Damascus to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. According to the congressman’s office, the discussions focused on ongoing efforts to bring Americans home and advance “Peace Through Strength” foreign policy agenda.
The legislation also draws from Hamadeh’s efforts to secure the release of Dennis Coyle. Coyle was detained by the Taliban in Afganistan in January 2025 and held in solitary confinement without charge or due process. Hamadeh publicly called for Coyle’s immediate release in February and Coyle was freed the following month.
“The bottom line is clear: the United States is finally making real progress in bringing Americans home,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “This bill locks in those efforts — strong, coordinated, and enduring. Every American abroad must know that their country will never stop fighting for them. No exceptions. America First means no American left behind.”
The second proposal, the No Equipment Left Behind Act of 2026, addresses concerns stemming from the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and previous incidents in Iraq where American-funded military equipment was captured by hostile forces following the collapse of partner governments and security forces.
According to the Department of War findings cited in the legislation, at least $7.1 billion worth of U.S.-funded military equipment was left behind following the Afghanistan withdrawal. The report also found that the Taliban gained access to approximately $57.6 million in U.S. government funds and captured thousand of U.S.-provided vehicles and military assets after Afghan security forces collapsed.
The legislation further references similar events in Iraq in 2014 when ISIS seized large quantities of U.S.-provided military equipment, including hundreds of armored vehicles that were later weaponized against coalition and partner forces.
Hamadeh’s bill would establish enhanced reporting requirements, risk assessments, and accountability measures intended to ensure military assets are properly tracked, secured, transferred, or destroyed during future military withdrawals.
“The American people should never again be forced to watch billions of dollars in military equipment fall into the hands of our enemies,” added Hamadeh. “We’re still haunted by the shameful images of the Biden Administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan — weapons scattered across the battlefield, abandoned to terrorists and our adversaries. Those failures exposed dangerous gaps in leadership, accountability, and planning. Our service members and taxpayers deserve far better — and with this bill, we’re ensuring it never happens again.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jun 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona has signed into law a new measure that significantly increases penalties for individuals who pay or agree to pay for prostitution, targeting the demand side of prostitution and sex trafficking by elevating these offenses to felonies with mandatory jail time. The law also directs dedicated funding toward support services for victims of sexual trafficking.
House Bill 2720, sponsored by Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD1), passed both chambers of the Legislature with bipartisan support and has been signed into law. The measure targets individuals who “offer to pay, agree to pay, or pay a monetary fee or other valuable consideration for engaging in sexual conduct with another person,” classifying such acts as a Class 6 felony under revisions to A.R.S. § 13-3214.
The law imposes mandatory minimum jail sentences: 15 consecutive days for a first time offense, 30 days for a second, and 60 days for a third, with no eligibility for probation or suspended sentences until the full term is served. Repeat offenders with three or more prior violations face Class 4 felony charges and at least 180 consecutive days in jail.
“Arizona is going after the demand that fuels prostitution and sex trafficking,” stated Rep. Bliss. “This is a victory for families, neighborhoods, and victims who deserve a path out. The people paying for sex are funding an industry that traffickers exploit, and communities across Arizona are left to deal with the crime, abuse, and damage that follow.”
In addition, convicted offenders must pay a non-waivable $200 assessment. These funds will be transmitted to the state’s Anti-Human Trafficking Grant Fund and used exclusively to provide services to victims of sexual trafficking.
HB 2720 also strengthens protections for survivors by requiring courts to seal records of prostitution convictions that are later vacated upon determination that the individual was a victim of sex trafficking. This provision aims to remove barriers to employment, housing, and recovery for those exiting exploitation.
“This law holds offenders accountable, puts money directly toward helping victims recover, and puts every person who pays for sex in Arizona on notice: you can face jail time, a felony record, and the consequences that come with it,” added Rep. Bliss.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jun 16, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Legislation sponsored by Sen. David Gowan (R-LD19) that would significantly change how photo radar violations are enforced in Arizona has cleared the Legislature and now awaits the governor’s decision.
Senate Bill 1624, which was transmitted to the Governor last week, seeks to limit financial penalties associated with most photo radar violations while preventing those citations from affecting a driver’s insurance rates or driving privileges.
Under the legislation, individuals found responsible for a civil traffic violation resulting from a photo enforcement system would face a maximum civil penalty of $75. The cap would apply to most photo radar violations but would not affect existing penalties for red-light violations or school-crossing violations. Of the penalty collected, $15 would be directed to Arizona’s Peace Officer Training Equipment Fund.
“Arizonans are tired of being treated like an ATM by photo radar systems,” stated Senator Gowan. “For years, these cameras have generated frustration because they often feel more focused on collecting revenue than improving public safety. A photo radar ticket should not carry the same consequences as an interaction with a law enforcement officer who can evaluate the circumstances, exercise judgment, and make a real determination about what occurred.”
The bill also contains several provisions designed to limit the long-term consequences of automated traffic enforcement citations. State agencies would be prohibited from considering qualifying photo radar violations when determining whether a driver’s license should be suspended or revoked.
Courts would be barred from transmitting records of those violations to the Arizona Department of Transportation, and insurance companies would be prohibited from using the violations to establish rates, determine insurability, cancel coverage, or refuse policy renewals.
“SB 1624 restores some common sense to the system by limiting excessive penalties and preventing these automated citations from being used to raise insurance rates or jeopardize a person’s driving privileges,” added Gowan. “This bill protects drivers from unfair consequences while maintaining accountability for legitimate traffic violations. Arizona families deserve a system that is fair, reasonable, and focused on safety—not one that treats every camera flash as an opportunity to extract more money from hardworking taxpayers.”
If signed into law, SB 1624 would establish a statewide framework limiting the use of photo radar citations in insurance and licensing decisions while maintaining existing enforcement standards for red-light and school-zone violations.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jun 14, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Legislation sponsored by Senator David Gowan (R-LD19) to modernize Arizona’s timeshare licensing system, strengthen consumer protections, and create industry-specific requirements for timeshare sales professionals has cleared the Arizona Legislature and is now headed to the governor for consideration.
Senate Bill 1274 establishes a dedicated licensing framework for timeshare salespeople, replacing what supporters say is an outdated requirement that forces individuals who exclusively sell timeshares to hold a traditional real estate license.
Under current law, timeshare sales professionals must complete extensive real estate education and pass licensing examinations covering broad areas of real estate law and practice that often have little to no relevance to the sale of timeshare interests.
SB 1274 would create a separate timeshare salesperson license with education and testing requirements focused specifically on Arizona timeshare laws, ownership structures, consumer protections, ethics, and industry-specific business practices.
“Arizona homeowners and consumers deserve to work with professionals who are trained in the products they’re actually selling,” stated Senator Gowan. “For years, timeshare sales professionals have been required to spend countless hours studying for a full real estate licensing exam that covers subjects many of them will never use in their careers. Meanwhile, valuable training time that could have been spent learning Arizona’s timeshare laws, consumer protections, ownership structures, and ethical responsibilities was devoted to unrelated material.”
The legislation defines a “timeshare salesperson” as an individual who works under the supervision of a licensed real estate broker to sell or exchange timeshare properties on behalf of a timeshare plan developer or other authorized entity.
The bill directs the Arizona Department of Real Estate to develop examination preparation courses and testing requirements specifically tailored to the timeshare industry. Applicants would be required to demonstrate competency in areas directly related to timeshare transactions, including Arizona timeshare laws and regulations, ownership methods such as deeds and contracts of sale, leasing arrangements, liens and foreclosure procedures, and business ethics standards governing the sale and exchange of timeshare interests.
Applicants would also be required to demonstrate basic proficiency in arithmetic and the English language, including reading, writing, and spelling, while gaining a general understanding of the statutory and regulatory framework governing timeshare developments and transactions in Arizona.
“SB 1274 brings common sense to the licensing process,” added Gowan. “It creates a pathway that is more focused, more efficient, and more relevant to the real-world responsibilities of timeshare professionals. That means better-trained licensees, better-informed consumers, and stronger protections for Arizona families making important vacation ownership decisions.”
SB 1274 also authorizes the real estate commissioner to issue a one-time, 30 day certificate of convenience to qualifying applicants without examination. Before an applicant may participate in any timeshare offer or sale under the temporary certificate, the complying timeshare plan developer’s designated broker must certify that the individual has received training in applicable timeshare and contract laws.
If signed into law, SB 1274 would take effect on June 30, 2027.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jun 13, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Small business job openings declined sharply in May while concerns over rising labor costs reached the highest level in the survey’s history, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) May Jobs Report released Friday.
The NFIB Small Business Employment Index remained essentially flat in May, standing at 100.3 after 100.4 in April. This marks the third consecutive monthly decline. The index now sits below the 2025 average of 101.2, though it remains slightly above the long-term historical average of 100.
In May, 29% of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill, a 5-point drop from April and the lowest reading since May 2020. Openings for skilled workers fell 2 points to 27%, while openings for unskilled positions dropped 4 points to 9%.
“Concerns about rising labor costs increased significantly to the highest reading in the survey’s history,” stated Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “Small business owners are facing mounting pressure to retain workers, and many firms are navigating costly new state mandates. While current conditions restrict Main Street’s already-thin profit margins, compensation measures remain steady for now.”
Arizona-specific concerns added to the unease. “Arizona small businesses are growing increasingly uneasy as labor costs climb and uncertainty around state tax policy remains unresolved,” NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich added. “Failure to conform with the business provisions Congress made permanent at the federal level will result in a tax hike on Main Street Arizonans. Small businesses need certainty to plan, invest, and create jobs, and time is running short for lawmakers to deliver.”
Looking ahead, hiring plans weakened further. A seasonally adjusted net 9% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down 4 points from April and the lowest level since May 2020. This falls below the historical average of a net 11%.
Overall, 55% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in May, up slightly from April. However, 46% of all owners (representing 84% of those actively hiring or trying to hire) reported few or no qualified applicants for open positions.
Labor quality, the most important business problem eased to 13%, the lowest since December 2016. In contrast, labor costs surged in importance, cited by 14% of owners as their top problem — a 5 point increase from April and the highest reading on record.
Despite softening demand for new hires, compensation pressures persisted. A net 31% of owners reported rising worker compensation in May, up 1 point from April. Plans to raise compensation in the coming three months held steady at 18%.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
