by Matthew Holloway | Apr 20, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Representative David Marshall Sr. (R-LD7) announced Wednesday that he will resign from the Arizona House of Representatives effective April 17, days after questions emerged about his appointment as the next Navajo County recorder.
Marshall submitted his resignation in a letter to House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) dated April 15. In the letter, Marshall said his decision was based on family considerations.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Marshall wrote. “After careful consideration, I have concluded that stepping down is in the best interest of my family.”
Marshall said serving in the Legislature has been “an honor and a privilege” and thanked his constituents, fellow lawmakers, staff, and House leadership.
“I remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will cooperate fully to support continuity of representation for the residents of Legislative District 7,” Marshall wrote.
Marshall’s resignation comes after the Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed him to fill a vacancy in the county recorder’s office created by the resignation of former Recorder Timothy Jordan.
The appointment has drawn scrutiny because the Arizona Constitution states that lawmakers cannot hold other state, county, or municipal offices “during the term for which he shall have been elected.” Some legalobservers have argued that Marshall can accept the recorder position if he resigns from the Legislature, while others contend he would remain ineligible until the next legislative term begins in January 2027.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told KJZZ that her office is reviewing whether the appointment violated the state constitution, though she declined to comment further while the matter is under review.
According to Axios, Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon told reporters that he had forgotten the particular statute but informed Marshall that his appointment could face a legal challenge.
Marshall is also running for the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Under ARS §41-1202, Republican precinct committeemen from Legislative District 7 will nominate three qualified Republicans who live in the same district and county as Marshall. The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will then appoint one of those nominees to serve the remainder of his term.
Marshall served on the House Education Committee and Judiciary Committee and was chairman of the House Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee.
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 | Apr 18, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said statements by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes regarding a federal election investigation raise “valid concerns of obstruction of justice and witness tampering” in response to a referral from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen.
In a letter dated April 14, Courchaine wrote that he had received Petersen’s correspondence and shared the Senate president’s desire “to work together across all levels of government to ensure fair and free elections.” Courchaine added that his office was “carefully reviewing the facts” surrounding communications from Mayes and Fontes regarding the investigation.
Courchaine wrote that statements from the attorney general and secretary of state “undermine the federal grand jury’s constitutionally enshrined right to investigate violations of federal law or ensure no such crime occurred.” He said the federal investigation is aimed at confirming that “only lawful citizens are registered and voting in federal elections” after state election officials disclosed registration errors that predated the 2024 election. Courchaine also wrote that the actions of the two state officials “raise valid concerns of obstruction of justice and witness tampering under Title 18 of the United States Code.”
Petersen first referred Mayes and Fontes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on April 7, alleging that both officials attempted to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation tied to election records from the Arizona Senate’s 2021 review. Petersen accused the officials of obstruction of justice and witness tampering after they warned county election officials against complying with federal requests for election records.
According to Petersen’s referral letter, the Arizona Senate complied with a federal grand jury subpoena served by the FBI in March seeking records related to the 2020 election. Petersen said the Senate produced the records after obtaining a legal opinion from the law firm Snell & Wilmer, concluding that compliance with the subpoena was required under federal law. The legal opinion stated that refusing to comply with the subpoena could have exposed the Senate and state officials to sanctions and that attempts to interfere with compliance could potentially constitute obstruction of justice.
The Snell & Wilmer opinion cited by Petersen argued that federal grand jury subpoenas carry broad investigative authority and supersede conflicting state privacy laws under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The opinion also stated that state laws cited by Mayes and Fontes did not excuse noncompliance with a federal subpoena and that federal courts have routinely compelled compliance despite state confidentiality statutes.
Petersen has argued that a March joint letter sent by Mayes and Fontes to county recorders, warning that compliance with certain federal requests could violate state and federal law, amounted to an attempt to interfere with the federal investigation. In those letters, the attorney general and the secretary of state advised county officials that disclosing certain voter registration records could be illegal under privacy protections in Arizona law.
Mayes previously responded to Petersen’s referral in a written statement, statingthat he “inexplicably remains an election denier six years later.”
Petersen is running in the Republican primary for Arizona Attorney General and, if nominated, would face Mayes in the 2026 General Election.
A Gray House poll of 400 likely Republican voters and 450 likely general election voters found that a majority of those polled for the primary are undecided, with Petersen leading at 15%, but when the sample group was briefed on candidate backgrounds, Petersen becomes the clear leader at 57% compared to single-digits for other GOP contenders.
In the general election, Petersen trails Mayes by just 2 points at 42% to 44%, bringing the race well within the poll’s 4.6% margin of error.
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 | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona homeowners will receive expanded protection against deed and title fraud under Senate Bill 1479, which Gov. Katie Hobbs signed into law last week after it received unanimous support in the Arizona Senate.
The bipartisan legislation was sponsored by Arizona Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28) and co-sponsored by Reps. Selina Bliss (R-LD1) and Patricia Contreras (D-LD12). The bill was also backed by Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook, Gov. Katie Hobbs, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
SB 1479 establishes new requirements for recording property documents, creates a statewide alert system for property owners, increases criminal penalties for fraudulent filings, and repeals an Arizona law that critics said could allow forged deeds to become legally valid if left uncontested for five years.
According to Maricopa County officials, deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide. Fraudsters can use forged signatures and fraudulent documents to transfer property ownership or attempt to secure a loan against a home they do not own, sometimes before the actual owner becomes aware of the transfer.
In a February statement, Carroll said, “Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona. When criminals are able to forge documents, record false claims, or quietly transfer property without the rightful owner’s knowledge, it erodes trust in our entire system.”
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, a 2025 survey by the National Association of Realtors found that Arizonans lost nearly $50 million to real estate fraud in 2024.
“A home is often a family’s most important investment, both financially and emotionally,” Cook said in a statement. “Deed fraud robs people of far more than property; it steals their sense of security.”
Under the new law, anyone recording a document in person at a county recorder’s office will be required to provide photo identification, with exemptions for certain professionals, including escrow officers, attorneys, and financial institutions.
The legislation also requires county assessors to create an opt-in property alert system by Jan. 1, 2027. The system will notify homeowners whenever the ownership status of their property changes or when the mailing address associated with the property is changed.
SB 1479 also expands the information required on an Affidavit of Legal Value. Buyers and sellers will now be required to provide mailing addresses and phone numbers, while email addresses will remain optional.
The measure also increases the penalty for filing false property documents from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a Class 5 felony to reflect “the severity and financial harm caused by deed fraud,” according to a release from the County Assessor’s Office.
The bill also repeals Arizona Revised Statute §12-524, the law at issue in the Arizona Supreme Court case Dominguez v. Dominguez, a prominent forged deed dispute. Critics argued the law created a loophole under which a forged deed could become legally valid if it was not challenged within five years.
In addition, notaries will now be required to obtain a thumbprint in their journal for most deeds and real estate documents. Remote notarizations are exempt if video recordings verifying the signer’s identity are retained for at least seven years.
Cook said the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office began prioritizing deed fraud prevention in 2024 and hosted a seminar last year with county officials, industry representatives, and lawmakers to discuss the issue and develop legislative solutions.
Cook said the new law provides “the early alerts, verification safeguards, and legal teeth we need to stop criminals before harm is done.”
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 | Apr 16, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona has enacted legislation aimed at addressing teen suicide by expanding criminal penalties for adults who encourage minors to take their own lives through targeted communication.
According to a press release from Arizona House Republicans, House Bill 2665, known as “Cade’s Law,” establishes criminal liability for adults who intentionally advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide through direct communication, including online messages.
The law expands Arizona’s manslaughter statute to include cases in which an adult, age 18 or older, knowingly encourages a minor to die by suicide while aware of the minor’s intent.
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Pamela Carter (R-LD4), is named after Cade Keller, a 16-year-old Arizona teen who died by suicide in 2022. Lawmakers said the case highlighted a gap in existing law, which penalized providing the physical means for suicide but did not address targeted online communication encouraging self-harm.
In the release, the Arizona House GOP Caucus wrote, “Cade’s Law closes a dangerous loophole.”
Under the new law, “directed communication” includes verbal, written, or electronic messages specifically aimed at a minor, including social media posts, text messages, or other online interactions.
An adult who intentionally sends such communication to a minor, with knowledge of the minor’s intent to die by suicide, can be charged with manslaughter, a Class 2 felony.
The measure does not apply to general discussions about suicide or mental health that are not directed at a specific individual.
In a statement marking the law’s enactment, Carter said, “Teen suicide is a crisis, and we cannot ignore it. Cade Keller was only 16. He loved welding and had plans to attend Mesa Community College. Then his life was cut short. Cade posted online that he planned to take his life. People saw it. No one called 911. No one got an adult. Cade died. That is the nightmare every parent fears, and it is happening to too many families. Cade’s Law makes this a crime. If you knowingly use direct messages to advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide, you will be prosecuted. If you see warning signs, do not wait. Make the call. Get help. Step in.”
The legislation was designed to address the growing role of online platforms in cases involving teen self-harm. Teen suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 24 in the United States, according to data cited in legislative materials.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Arizona Legislature and was advanced as part of broader efforts to address youth mental health and online safety concerns. It was signed into law alongside HB 2666, which addresses the sexual extortion of minors online.
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 | Apr 15, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report from the Common Sense Institute finds that rising costs for housing, groceries, insurance, and child care continue to strain affordability for Arizona families, even as inflation has cooled from its post-pandemic peak.
According to CSI’s latest affordability rankings, Arizona is now the seventh least affordable state in the nation and ranks 45th overall when comparing household incomes to the cost of essential expenses. The state has fallen 12 spots in affordability since 2019, but remains more affordable than Florida, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, and California, which ranked 46th through 50th, respectively.
CSI’s analysis found that Arizona households retain about 19.6% of their gross income after paying for taxes and basic expenses such as shelter, groceries, health insurance, car insurance, gasoline, and child care. That amounts to about $1,700 per month left over, compared to the national average of 24.7% ($2,170 per month).
The report found that Arizona households are spending about $19,300 more per year on essential expenses than they did in 2019, exceeding the national average increase of $15,400. CSI estimates that Arizona households have effectively lost 3.8% of their gross income to rising prices since before the pandemic.
Housing costs have continued to be the primary cause of affordability challenges in the state. According to a recent report, shelter and utility costs for Arizona households rose by $9,012 annually between 2019 and 2025, a 59% increase that ranked as the fourth-largest increase in the country. Arizona also experienced some of the nation’s fastest-growing grocery and car insurance costs during the same period.
CSI reported that grocery costs rose by $3,375, child care costs by $3,950, health insurance costs by $1,302, car insurance costs by $1,355, and gasoline costs by $313 between 2019 and 2025.
The report found that child care remains a major expense for working families. In Arizona, one full-time working parent must devote about 38% of their gross income to cover child care costs, slightly below the national average of roughly 40%. Nationally, CSI estimated that the average household spends about 16.9% of gross income on child care for preschool- and school-aged children.
“Inflation reports may show things are cooling, but that doesn’t mean life is getting more affordable for Arizonans,” said Zachary Milne, Senior Economist and Research Analyst for the Common Sense Institute AZ. “Our analysis shows the cost of everyday essentials is still significantly higher than it was before the pandemic, and for many families, incomes haven’t kept pace. That gap is what continues to drive the affordability challenges we’re seeing across Arizona today.”
CSI noted that inflation in the Phoenix area has moderated in recent months, with consumer prices rising 2.2% year over year in December. However, according to CSI’s Arizona inflation update, prices in the Phoenix metro area remain 28.9% higher than they were in December 2019, resulting in an additional $1,441 in average monthly costs for a typical Arizona household.
Arizona households are also carrying greater debt, coupled with declining credit scores and rising delinquency rates, at levels significantly higher than the national average, according to CSI’s April 1 report.
CSI detailed its data sources and methodology on its website.
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.
