by Matthew Holloway | Jan 23, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Three bills addressing radiation exposure risks for health care workers moved out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on unanimous votes Wednesday, advancing a legislative package sponsored by Sen. Carine Werner (R-LD4) focused on updating safety standards in high-radiation medical settings.
According to the Senate, the legislation would make Arizona the first state to mandate these protections by statute.
The bipartisan legislative package targets exposure risks associated with real-time X-ray imaging used in cardiac catheterization labs and other advanced procedure rooms.
The three bills that passed out of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee are:
- SB 1120, which would require hospitals that perform real-time X-ray procedures to install modern radiation protection systems in at least half of their procedure rooms by July 2027. These systems are designed to shield staff more effectively than traditional lead aprons and to track exposure levels in real time.
- SB 1121, which addresses the use of protective equipment and exposure monitoring during procedures. The bill specifies standards for radiation protection systems and would clarify how they replace or augment traditional protective gear such as lead aprons.
- SB 1118, which would create a grant program to assist rural hospitals and health care facilities with the costs associated with installing radiation protection systems. It is designed to mitigate geographic and budgetary barriers to compliance.
Werner has highlighted radiation exposure as an occupational hazard for doctors, nurses, and radiographers who perform imaging-intensive procedures. Supporters of the legislation argue that updated shielding technology and exposure tracking could reduce long-term health risks for medical personnel.
In a statement, Werner said, “These are the people saving our lives every day, and too often they’re doing it at the cost of their own long-term health. We know the risk. We have the technology to reduce it. Now we’re taking action.”
“This is about protecting the people behind the scenes. The nurses. The techs. The doctors who don’t make headlines but make care possible,” Werner continued. “If these bills are signed into law, Arizona will lead the nation in recognizing that health care workers deserve the same protections as the patients they serve.”
The radiation protection systems referenced in the legislation are defined as shielding that offers protection at least equivalent to or better than a .25 millimeter lead-equivalent apron, according to the bill’s summary.
All three measures now head to the full Senate for consideration.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 22, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Rep. Walt Blackman (R-LD7) has introduced a constitutional measure to change legislative term lengths, adjust term limits, and establish new post-service lobbying restrictions for former legislators.
Blackman, who serves as chairman of the House Government Committee, filed House Concurrent Resolution 2014 (HCR 2014), which would refer the proposed changes to voters in a statewide election.
The measure is broad and would double the current two-year terms of the House and Senate and impose limitations on their ability to lobby upon leaving office.
“Legislators work for the voters, not for themselves or for future lobbying clients,” Blackman said in the release. “HCR 2014 sets clear limits on how long lawmakers can stay in office and draws a hard line after they leave. It strengthens accountability and keeps the focus where it belongs — on the people we’re elected to serve.”
Under the measure:
- Legislative terms would transition to four-year terms beginning in 2033.
- Legislators would be limited to eight years of consecutive service in each chamber.
- Representatives and senators could only return to the same chamber after a one-term break.
- Former legislators would be subject to a one-year “cooling-off” period before they may lobby the Legislature, though they could still engage in other professional or civic activity during that time.
As a constitutional resolution, HCR 2014 must be approved by Arizona voters in a statewide election to take effect.
As the legislative session progresses, the Resolution is likely to spark debate in both chambers of the Legislature and among Arizona voters over the nature of representation, accountability, and the relationship between elected officials and special interests.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 22, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In the aftermath of historic flooding across Gila County in September 2025, Arizona communities are still wrestling with the long road toward recovery, and the federal government’s initial refusal to provide disaster relief has only added to the frustration.
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) took action, sending a letter to President Donald Trump and FEMA Region IX Administrator Robert Fenton uring them to intervene in Arizona’s appeal of FEMA’s denial of a Major Disaster Declaration. He was joined by Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06), and David Schweikert (R-AZ01).
The disaster declaration, would unlock vital federal funds and resources under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to help communities like Globe, Miami, and other rural areas rebuild infrastructure, support residents, and mitigate future flood risks.
The appeal follows FEMA’s December 20, 2025, denial, a decision that came despite the state and local officials’ reassessment estimating damages well above $100 million.
“The new figures reflect substantial and unanticipated financial burdens placed on local jurisdictions, which were required to undertake immediate emergency protective measures, restore essential services, and address damage to roads, utilities, and public facilities,” Crane wrote in the letter.
He added, “When viewed in the aggregate, these impacts demonstrate a level of strain that exceeds the reasonable capacity of affected communities to manage without federal support.” Crane has engaged directly with FEMA officials in Washington, D.C., and invited them to visit Gila County to see conditions firsthand.
“With this more accurate assessment,” Crane said, “FEMA will now have a better sense of the damage to these storied communities. While many democrat elected officials were quick to point fingers and score cheap points, we worked behind the scenes to strengthen our efforts and believe the State of Arizona’s updated figures present a far stronger case for federal assistance. We applaud President Trump’s ongoing commitment to Arizona and look forward to continuing our work with his team at FEMA as they consider this appeal, which would deliver much-needed assistance to residents in rural Arizona.”
The original denial has drawn bipartisan criticism, including from Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs, who argued the decision left families and local governments to shoulder rebuilding without critical federal support.
As federal officials weigh the appeal, residents and local leaders in Gila County continue working to recover from floods that overwhelmed watersheds, washed out infrastructure, and left lasting damage to homes and businesses.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Senate Health & Human Services Committee will hold another oversight hearing on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) on Thursday, Jan. 29. Committee Chair Sen. Carine Werner (R-LD4) is seeking answers over ongoing access and provider network issues.
Werner said ongoing oversight efforts, including hearings, document requests, and sworn testimony, have revealed continued failures within AHCCCS that are disrupting Arizona’s provider network and limiting patient access to care.
According to Werner, providers remain locked out of the system, services continue to be restricted, and families seeking care are facing delays.
“This is no longer just a policy failure. It’s a public health and safety crisis,” Werner said. “Decisions made inside AHCCCS dismantled parts of our provider network and robbed Arizonans of the care they desperately need.”
Werner explained in the release that AHCCCS leadership, appearing before the committee, has failed to provide clear and complete answers regarding enforcement decisions, provider terminations, and internal actions taken after the discovery of billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud.
The Senator has introduced multiple bills during the current legislative session aimed at strengthening oversight, enforcing accountability, and ensuring AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services fulfill their responsibility to protect patients, providers, and taxpayers.
Werner also referenced the recent appointment of Ginny Rountree as AHCCCS director, saying leadership changes alone may not resolve issues identified during the investigation.
“The committee remains cautiously optimistic that newly appointed Director Ginny Rountree can begin stabilizing the agency, but the oversight record makes clear that leadership changes alone will not resolve the systemic breakdown exposed through the investigation,” Werner said.
Werner said the committee will continue its oversight efforts until access to care is restored and accountability measures are implemented within Arizona’s Medicaid system.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 20, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) has introduced H.R. 6931, the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act. The bill would ratify and authorize the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Agreement reached in 2024 between the Tribal Nation, the State of Arizona, the Salt River Project, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and local stakeholders.
The agreement, approved by the Yavapai-Apache Nation Tribal Council on June 26, 2024, resolves water rights claims that have been pending in Arizona courts for over four decades.
A central component of the settlement is the Cragin-Verde Pipeline, a roughly 60-mile-long pipeline that will deliver surface water from the C.C. Cragin Reservoir on the Mogollon Rim to the Verde Valley. The pipeline will provide reliable drinking water to the Nation, reduce groundwater pumping, support housing and economic development on the reservation, and contribute to the sustained health of the Verde River, as explained by the ASU Arizona Water Innovation Initiative.
H.R. 6931 would codify the Nation’s water rights, authorize federal funding for construction of the Cragin-Verde Pipeline and the Yavapai-Apache Drinking Water System, and establish dedicated trust funds for water, wastewater, watershed restoration, operations, and maintenance.
Under the legislation, the U.S. Department of the Interior would oversee planning, design, and construction of the Cragin-Verde Pipeline as part of the Salt River Federal Reclamation Project. The bill also authorizes the Nation’s use of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, establishes a permanent CAP delivery contract, and allows the Nation to store, lease, or exchange CAP water within Arizona.
The settlement would provide water reliability for the Nation’s more than 2,500 enrolled members across five tribal communities and enhance long-term water security throughout the Verde Valley, according to a press release from Crane’s office.
Yavapai-Apache Nation Chairman Buddy Rocha Jr. stated, “The passage of the Yavapai-Apache Nation Water Rights Settlement Act will finally resolve our water rights claims that have been pending in Arizona’s courts for over four decades, providing water certainty for the Nation and our neighbors throughout the watershed. On behalf of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, I want to thank Congressman Crane for his commitment to the Settlement and to his constituents here in the Verde Valley. We are also truly grateful to Congressman Crane for his recent visit to the Nation, where he, and Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Kirkland, saw first-hand how the Settlement will help support critically needed housing and economic development on our Reservation for years to come.”
Rep. Crane said in the press release, “I’m honored to introduce this legislation to help secure long-term water security for the Yavapai-Apache Nation, develop critical infrastructure, and finally move toward a permanent solution. After visiting and meeting with tribal leaders and surrounding communities, it was clear how much certainty and stability this bill would provide. I’m proud to fight for rural Arizona.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
