by Matthew Holloway | Feb 12, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona House of Representatives passed a bill unanimously on Monday to intensify prison sentences for fentanyl traffickers. Supporters say it will strengthen law enforcement’s tools against the opioid crisis.
House Bill 2132, sponsored by Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), lowers the amount of fentanyl that triggers enhanced prison terms in state law. Under current law, mandatory enhanced sentences apply at the 200-gram threshold; the measure approved by the House would apply those penalties at 100 grams.
The bill passed the chamber with unanimous support and now advances to the Arizona Senate for further consideration.
“Fentanyl is killing Arizonans, destroying families, and driving crime across our state,” Nguyen said in a statement following the Monday vote. “HB 2132 targets the dealers who profit from death and puts serious prison time on the table. This bill backs law enforcement, protects our communities, and makes clear that Arizona will not tolerate fentanyl trafficking.”
According to the Arizona House GOP leadership, enhanced sentence ranges under existing law carry mandatory terms of five to 15 years, with longer terms for repeat offenders. Nguyen’s office says applying those penalties at a lower fentanyl threshold better reflects how the drug is moved and sold in real-world trafficking cases.
Critics of stricter sentencing, such as Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-LD20), have argued that enhanced penalties alone may not significantly deter addiction or drug distribution. She told the Judicial Committee in January, “I am just concerned that we continue to move the goal posts,” as reported by the AZ Mirror.
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jeff Newnum described fentanyl as “a drug of mass destruction,” speaking to the committee. He explained that 100 grams amounts to approximately 1,000 pills, adding that an average sale in his county involves about 30 grams.
“I would love an amendment that lowers it to 30 grams, but I’ll take 100 grams today,” Newnum said per the Mirror. “These are not people, in my opinion, that need to be placed on probation. They need to be put in prison.”
“Public safety is non-negotiable,” Nguyen said in his statement. “House Republicans are taking direct action against fentanyl dealers because Arizona families deserve safe streets, strong laws, and accountability for those who profit from destruction.”
The next stop for HB 2132 is the state Senate, where it will be assigned to a committee before a potential floor vote. A similar measure from Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), Senate Bill 1061, would lower the enhanced sentencing threshold to nine grams. The bill passed the Senate Judicial Committee in January and is pending a floor vote.
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 | Feb 11, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona lawmakers advanced a constitutional proposal last week that would set a firm deadline for ending the Legislature’s regular session, a major procedural change supporters say would provide a clearer structure for what is currently an open-ended calendar.
Under the state’s current system, the Arizona Constitution requires lawmakers to convene the regular session on the second Monday in January each year, but does not set a deadline for when that session must end. Regular sessions in recent years have stretched into late spring or early summer, with the 2025 session adjourned on June 27 after roughly 169 days in session.
The absence of a constitutional adjournment deadline means lawmakers can continue legislative work beyond traditional spring months, even though state law governs per diem reimbursements for extended sessions.
By contrast, other states employ more rigid schedules. Texas lawmakers meet in regular session once every two years for a constitutionally limited period, and adjourn by a set date unless a special session is called. In 2025, for example, the Texas Legislature concluded its most recent regular session in early June as the statutory timeline expired.
The House Government Committee on Wednesday passed House Concurrent Resolution 2005 (HCR 2005), sponsored by State Representative Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) of North Phoenix. The resolution would amend the Arizona Constitution to mandate that the Legislature adjourn its regular session sine die no later than April 30 each year.
Under the proposal, lawmakers could still convene special sessions after April 30, but those would be subject to the subjects specified in the Governor’s call. If HCR 2005 clears both chambers of the Legislature, it would be placed on the ballot at the next general election for voter approval.
Wilmeth said the measure is aimed at restoring discipline and accountability to the legislative calendar. “I appreciate the committee moving this measure forward, allowing the discussion to continue,” he said in a statement.
“This proposal is about accountability and discipline. Arizonans expect the Legislature to do its job, pass a budget, and finish its work on time. President Ronald Reagan kept a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that said, ‘It CAN be done.’ I agree with that. Finishing our work by April 30 is achievable, and it should be the standard.”
Wilmeth, a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Innovation, introduced the constitutional adjournment proposal earlier this year.
Supporters of the resolution have pointed to frequently extended sessions, which in recent years have stretched deep into spring and summer, as justification for a defined end date. In several recent cycles, lawmakers did not adjourn until June, well past traditional deadlines for bill passage and budget agreement.
In a post to X on January 23, Wilmeth wrote, “Decades ago, we told the people we’d have a part-time legislature conducted by citizen-legislators. Nowadays, the legislative session basically goes seven months! That’s unacceptable to me. It’s just responsible government to stick to our part-time commitment.”
If voters approve a constitutional amendment, Arizona would become one of the states with a fixed legislative deadline, rather than relying on internal legislative rules and per diem incentives to guide the calendar. That model differs from states like Texas, where sessions are inherently limited by statute or constitution and extend only through specified time windows.
HCR 2005 now moves to further consideration in the Arizona House as it continues through the legislative process.
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 | Feb 11, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Resolution Copper has donated $285,000 to Mesa-based United Food Bank under a multi-year agreement extending through December 2028, according to the company. The donation comes as food banks across Arizona report record demand driven by rising food and household costs.
The funding will support United Food Bank’s programs and operations across its 19,000-square-mile service area, which stretches from Arizona’s East Valley to the New Mexico border and includes parts of Maricopa, Pinal, and Gila counties, as well as southern Navajo and Apache counties, including the Copper Corridor.
Resolution Copper President and General Manager Vicky Peacey said the company’s focus in this donation is on food security, particularly in mining and tribal communities within the Copper Corridor, including Superior, Globe, and Miami.
“Mining has always been about more than minerals. It is about people,” Peacey said in the release, adding that meeting basic needs such as food security is essential to building strong communities. “Our work in the Copper Triangle connects us to communities that have powered Arizona’s economy for generations. But we know that strong communities start with meeting basic needs, and for many families, that means food security.”
United Food Bank President and CEO Jason Reed said the multi-year partnership will strengthen the nonprofit’s ability to respond to increasing demand across its service area, including during emergencies when access to food and water may be limited.
According to United Food Bank, demand for food assistance reached record levels in 2025, fueled by economic instability and rising costs for food and household necessities. Reed noted that while food banks often receive increased attention during the holiday season, the need for assistance continues year-round.
United Food Bank partners with more than 125 food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters, and community organizations across eastern Arizona. While food drives help stock shelves, the organization said monetary donations allow for greater flexibility and impact.
Resolution Copper is developing what the company says has the potential to become one of the largest copper mines in the United States, with an estimated $1 billion annual economic impact for Arizona and the creation of thousands of local jobs. The development, approximately 60 miles east of Phoenix near Superior, AZ, has received support from the Trump administration, while also facing opposition from environmental groups. The company said it supports a range of community initiatives, including education, workforce development, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation.
Reed said the partnership will strengthen food assistance efforts across Arizona, particularly in tribal communities. “This partnership provides critical, multi-year support for our food programs across Arizona,” Reed said. “It strengthens our ability to meet rising demand, address day-to-day food insecurity, and respond during emergencies when access to food and water is at risk. Support for tribal communities is an important part of this agreement, reflecting the shared commitment to the communities we serve.”
Resolution Copper Mining LLC is owned 55% by Resolution Copper Company, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto PLC, and 45% by BHP Copper Inc., a subsidiary of BHP PLC.
United Food Bank, founded in 1983, serves more than 100,000 Arizonans each month and is a member of Feeding America, the national network of food banks.
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 | Feb 10, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
New Legislation requiring continuous electronic monitoring for certain registered sex offenders who lack a fixed residence advanced out of a key legislative committee last week.
House Bill 2413, sponsored by Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was approved by that Committee and is bound for the House Rules Committee before heading to the House floor for consideration.
The bill would amend existing law to require courts to place any registered sex offender without a permanent address on a global positioning system (GPS) or other electronic monitoring until a residence is established.
As explained in a news release, the bill “closes a serious gap in current law by ensuring offenders who cannot be reliably located are continuously monitored, strengthening accountability and protecting Arizona communities.”
Under current statute, sex offenders who are homeless may register as transients and periodically update their status, a gap Nguyen’s bill aims to close. HB 2413 also directs the Arizona Department of Public Safety to oversee compliance with the monitoring requirement.
“Public safety in Arizona is not negotiable,” Rep. Nguyen said. “If a registered sex offender cannot tell authorities where they live, the public should not be left guessing where they are. This bill puts accountability first and gives law enforcement the tools they need to track offenders who would otherwise be difficult to locate.”
House GOP leaders stated, “House Republicans have made clear that protecting communities requires firm enforcement, clear standards, and consequences that are enforced.”
HB 2413 advances the House Republican Majority Plan’s public safety pillar, which emphasizes enforcing the rule of law and prioritizing the safety of families and neighborhoods.
Under the bill language summarized by legislative tracking services, the monitoring requirement would be in addition to any supervision already in place for offenders on probation, parole, or other court orders.
The committee vote was 5–4 along party lines, with the bill clearing the Judicial Committee and moving to the Rules Committee, before going to the full House for a potential floor vote.
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 | Feb 10, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Legislation aimed at easing regulatory barriers for next-generation nuclear power projects in rural Arizona advanced last week after clearing a key House committee.
The House Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee approved House Bill 2795, sponsored by Arizona Rep. Michael Carbone (R-LD25). The bill would limit the ability of county zoning ordinances to block small modular nuclear reactor projects once federal safety, permitting, and public notice requirements have been satisfied.
Under HB 2795, counties would be prohibited from denying zoning approval for a small modular reactor after a project completes federal design certification and site permitting, and once those approvals are formally presented to local boards of supervisors.
Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are a class of nuclear reactors designed to generate electricity on a smaller scale than traditional nuclear plants. They are typically factory-built, use standardized designs, and incorporate passive safety systems that rely on natural physical processes, such as gravity and convection, rather than active mechanical controls. Developers and regulators have promoted SMRs as a potential option for expanding reliable, carbon-free energy generation, particularly in remote or rural areas.
“Advanced nuclear reactors are coming, and we need to be prepared,” Carbone said in a statement following the committee vote. He added, “We need these projects to keep up with China and compete on national security.”
Carbone continued, “Educating the public remains the number one issue, but I believe when members of the public see the facts, they will understand the substantial benefits these projects can bring. Small modular reactors offer safe, clean, reliable power with high-paying jobs and opportunities for economic development—especially in our rural areas. HB 2795 ensures that when federal safety standards are met, and the public has had its say, local zoning cannot be used to block these critical projects that can secure our future energy supply.”
Carbone said the bill preserves public input through the federal permitting process while preventing counties from blocking projects after those regulatory steps are complete.
In a related op-ed, Carbone and James Taylor (R-LD29) wrote that modern nuclear reactor designs are significantly safer than earlier generations, citing advances in passive safety systems and next-generation technologies.
They wrote:
“Fears of radioactivity and nuclear fallout sparked protests and public opposition, leading countries like Germany to dismantle reactors that were operating safely. Those memories linger today and often fuel organized resistance in local communities whenever new reactors are proposed.”
“The fear is understandable. Lives were lost, radiation was released, and entire communities were evacuated, with some residents never able to return. As tragic as those incidents were, it is important to understand why they occurred and why modern reactor designs address the specific failures that caused them.”
In the op-ed, the lawmakers pointed to features such as passive cooling systems, non-pressurized designs, and fail-safe mechanisms intended to address the conditions that contributed to past nuclear accidents, including Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.
The lawmakers also noted that advanced reactor concepts, such as molten salt and sodium-cooled designs, reduce reliance on active mechanical systems and external power sources.
Supporters of HB 2795 say the legislation aligns with broader efforts to expand reliable power generation, support rural economic development, and prepare for projected increases in electricity demand.
The bill now advances to the House Rules Committee before moving to the House floor, where it will be debated and voted upon.
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.
