by Matthew Holloway | Feb 23, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ02) issued a statement Wednesday praising the Trump administration for what he described as action to protect veterans’ Second Amendment rights.
According to a press release from Crane’s office, the administration clarified federal policy to ensure veterans who have a fiduciary appointed to manage their VA benefits are not automatically reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) as “prohibited persons.”
Under prior policy, veterans assigned a fiduciary to manage benefits could be reported to NICS, potentially preventing them from purchasing or possessing firearms under federal law. The change announced by the administration reverses that reporting practice, according to Crane’s statement.
“For nearly three decades, unelected bureaucrats violated the constitutional rights of hundreds of thousands of our nation’s heroes. If the federal government is willing to strip fundamental liberties from those who served in uniform, there’s no telling where they will draw the line,” Crane said. “I’m grateful to President Trump and Secretary Collins for correcting this injustice and protecting the freedoms that our veterans fought to defend. Congress must now codify this directive so no future administration can reimplement this disgraceful protocol.”
The press release states that the policy clarification impacts enforcement of federal firearm restrictions under the Gun Control Act of 1968, which prohibits firearm possession by individuals adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution.
In a statement posted to X, VA Secretary Doug Collins wrote:
“Effective immediately, VA is halting enforcement of the interim final rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication. VA issued the rule to clarify existing policy and protect Veterans’ benefits in the wake of an ongoing court action. But many interpreted the rule as something that could result in adverse consequences.
While VA does not agree with the way this rule has been characterized, the department always takes Veterans’ concerns seriously. To alleviate these concerns, VA will continue to collect public comments regarding the rule, but it will not be enforced at any time in the future.”
Crane has previously pursued legislative efforts addressing the issue. In the 118th Congress, he introduced H.R. 9053 and H.R. 9054, which would have nullified prior VA submissions to NICS and prohibited the VA from participating in certain state-level firearm confiscation proceedings. He reintroduced similar legislation in the current Congress as H.R. 496 on January 16.
The bill has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs under the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Arizona Representatives Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) serve on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which, along with the Judiciary Committee, will consider the bill before it goes to the floor.
During the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations process, Crane also sponsored an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill stating that veterans reported to NICS by a VA fiduciary were unlawfully submitted and directing the VA Secretary to instruct the Attorney General to remove those names from the system. The amendment passed the House, but the underlying appropriations measure did not advance in the U.S. Senate.
The Trump administration has not yet released detailed regulatory language publicly outlining the changes referenced in Crane’s statement.
Crane has called on Congress to pursue legislative action to codify protections for veterans’ firearm rights in federal statute.
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 22, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28) advanced legislation Monday aimed at tightening restrictions on foreign adversaries’ ability to acquire or access land and critical infrastructure in the state.
Senate Bill 1683 would lower the statutory “substantial interest” ownership threshold from 30% to 5% and expand prohibitions to prevent the use of shell companies, convertible debt arrangements, options, and other financial structures to obtain property interests in Arizona, according to a press release from Senate leadership.
The measure also restricts access not only to ownership interests, but to leases, development rights, and the installation or operation of certain equipment on Arizona property. The bill applies to equipment, including antennas, communication systems, autonomous technology, surveillance devices, and high-sensitivity sensors.
Under SB 1683, public utilities and operators of critical infrastructure would be required to report suspicious agreements involving covered entities. Violations involving the use of prohibited equipment would be classified as felonies.
“This is about protecting Arizona, plain and simple,” Carroll said in a statement. “We’ve already taken steps to prevent hostile foreign governments from purchasing our land, but we’ve seen how quickly bad actors adapt. If they can’t buy property, they will try to lease it. If they can’t put their names on a deed, they’ll hide behind shell companies or secretly install surveillance equipment. This bill closes those loopholes.”
He added, “Arizona farmland, military-adjacent property, airports, utilities, and critical infrastructure should never become tools for foreign espionage or leverage for hostile regimes. We must not allow adversarial nations or terrorist-linked actors to gain control, either directly or indirectly, over Arizona soil. This legislation draws a clear line: our land, infrastructure, and security are not for sale, lease, or negotiation.”
SB 1683 passed the Senate Federalism Committee on a 5-2 vote, with only Republican support, and now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
Arizona lawmakers enacted a 2025 measure, Senate Bill 1082, adding A.R.S. § 33-443 to state statutes, which restricts land purchases by entities connected to designated foreign adversaries. SB 1683 would amend and expand those existing provisions.
If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the bill would take immediate effect as an emergency measure with a two-thirds vote of both legislative houses.
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 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a new installment of its “Inside the Majority” video series spotlighting Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) on Wednesday. Ciscomani’s Southern Arizona district is rated a “Toss-Up” by the Cook Political Report ahead of the 2026 election.
The NRCC describes the series as highlighting Republican members viewed as critical to maintaining GOP control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The episode featuring Ciscomani is available on YouTube and on X:
Arizona’s 6th Congressional District is considered one of the most competitive House races in the country. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as a “Toss-Up,” reflecting its narrow partisan split.
Ciscomani first won the seat in 2022 by approximately 1.5 percentage points after the district flipped from Democratic to Republican control. He was reelected in 2024 by roughly 2.5 percentage points, increasing his margin and adding more than 5,000 votes to his prior total.
Ciscomani is currently the only declared Republican candidate in the race and was endorsed by President Donald Trump in an April 2025 post to Truth Social. The President wrote, “Congressman Juan Ciscomani is a Tremendous Champion for Arizona’s 6th Congressional District! As a Member of the POWERFUL Appropriations Committee, Juan is fighting hard to Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Vets, Support our Great Law Enforcement, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Juan Ciscomani has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”
In the video, Ciscomani discusses his immigration background and legislative priorities.
“My name is Juan Ciscomani and I was born in Mexico,” Ciscomani says in the segment. “I immigrated with my family when I was 11 years old, and then, after a long process, became a U.S. citizen along with my family back in 2006. Sixteen years after becoming a U.S. citizen, I became a member of the United States Congress.”
Ciscomani references his first bill to pass the House, which focused on expediting veterans’ disability claims and expanding workforce opportunities for transitioning service members.
He also highlights the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which he says is intended to prevent scheduled tax increases and expand tax relief provisions.
“The Working Families Tax Cuts Act is having an immediate and enormous impact in the district,” Ciscomani says in the video. “Not only does it avoid the cliff of a lot of taxes going up by the thousands in my district, but it also introduces great ways to have people keep their hard earned money. These are all quick and immediate ways that people will be able to see the benefits of this act.”
According to NRCC materials, the legislation includes provisions related to the Child Tax Credit, the standard deduction, Social Security taxation, tipped wages, overtime pay, and savings accounts.
NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said Ciscomani’s district is central to the party’s majority strategy.
“Juan Ciscomani embodies what it means to be an effective representative—he shows up, listens and delivers results on the issues that matter most to Arizona families,” Petersen said. “From securing the border to ensuring water reliability and supporting our veterans, Juan has proven he’s a fighter for Arizona.”
Speaking to his motivations for serving in Congress, Ciscomani observed, “When I look at my kids in the future that I want for them, which is for them to find their path and have a shot at the American dream. What motivates me is my family and all those families out there that I want them to have a real opportunity in this country to go pursue their own version of the American dream. That’s what motivates me, so that we can do what we do here. To have families out there at home can go do what they were called to do.”
When first elected to Congress in 2022, Ciscomani became the first naturalized U.S. citizen born in Mexico elected to represent Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee and has advocated for federal funding for infrastructure, border security, water projects, and veterans’ services within the district.
According to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings, Ciscomani reported more than $3 million in cash on hand.
The 2026 race in Arizona’s 6th District is expected to draw national attention as both parties compete for control of the narrowly divided U.S. House.
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 20, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Attorneys with the Goldwater Institute are scheduled to appear in Maricopa County Superior Court at 10 a.m. Friday for a hearing in their lawsuit challenging water policy changes implemented by the administration of Katie Hobbs.
The case, filed in January 2025 on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, contests new requirements adopted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) affecting groundwater supply determinations in parts of Maricopa County.
The Goldwater Institute said the policy changes have halted approvals for new housing developments in certain areas of the Phoenix metropolitan region, including portions of Queen Creek and Buckeye.
Under Arizona law, homebuilders in designated Active Management Areas must obtain a certificate demonstrating a 100-year assured water supply before beginning construction.
Goldwater’s lawsuit challenges a policy change announced by ADWR in November 2024. It contends that the department adopted a new framework based on what it describes as “unmet demand,” which it says is not referenced in Arizona statute.
Goldwater penned a letter to the ADWR one month later, urging the agency to reconsider its “AMA Wide Unmet Demand Rule,” asserting that the new rule was in violation of the law, having been imposed without legislative approval or via the required rulemaking process.
ADWR has defended its authority to interpret and apply groundwater modeling within the state’s assured water supply program. The department has not publicly characterized the policy as a formal rulemaking.
The Maricopa County Superior Court previously denied ADWR’s motion to dismiss the case, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.
During Friday’s hearing, attorneys for Goldwater are expected to ask Judge Scott Blaney to enter judgment in favor of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.
The case is being heard at the Maricopa County Superior Court, East Building, located at 101 W. Jefferson Street in Phoenix.
In a statement, Goldwater Institute Vice President for Litigation Jon Riches said: “Decisions on vital statewide concerns like the availability of affordable housing and the responsible stewardship of our natural resources should be made through a transparent, democratic process—not imposed by executive fiat.”
Additional information about the case is available on the Goldwater Institute’s website. No ruling is expected at the time of the hearing.
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 19, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
An Arizona-based social media startup, ConnectNeighbors.com, is projected to surpass 4 million visitors before the end of February 2026, according to a recent company press release.
The digital platform, designed to offer structured community information across the United States, currently includes websites for more than 3,080 counties, 3,100 cities, and 5,700 neighborhoods nationwide — all organized in searchable pages distinct from traditional social media feeds.
ConnectNeighbors.com was founded by Air Force veteran and entrepreneur John Backer, emphasizing long-term discoverability through dedicated local websites at the state, county, city, and neighborhood levels. Using this model, the platform intends to provide residents and local service providers with community-specific content that remains accessible in search engines.
In a statement, Backer said the projected milestone reflects “steady organic growth” tied to the ongoing expansion of neighborhood web pages across all 50 U.S. states.
“The focus has been on building dedicated neighborhood websites that remain searchable and accessible for residents, real estate professionals, and local businesses,” he explained.
In Pima County, where the platform is based, the network comprises one county page, 10 city pages, and 997 neighborhood websites. Additional cities and neighborhoods are planned for launch throughout 2026. The cities in Arizona with the most neighborhood pages, according to the site’s directory, include Tucson, Green Valley, Phoenix, Vail, Sahuarita, Chandler, and Yuma.
ConnectNeighbors.com offers dedicated community pages that can host local news, events, polls, homeowners’ association information, business listings, and real estate data without the time-limited feeds typical of social networking platforms.
According to the platform’s website, community members can browse by state to find neighborhood pages that include vital local resources, such as utility contacts, schools, safety alerts, and community activities.
The project launched nationwide in 2025 and surpassed 2 million page views by mid-year, expanding to serve all 50 states.
The platform operates through a sponsorship model, in which local Realtors sponsor and help curate neighborhood pages, providing both community resources and professional visibility.
ConnectNeighbors.com’s model centers on structured, permanent websites designed to be discoverable through search engines, in contrast to platforms that focus on time-sensitive social feeds or subscription-gated content.
Neighborhood pages are free for community residents to access and are supported through local sponsorship by realtors, lenders, and small businesses, which may use the pages to reach local audiences.
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.
