by Matthew Holloway | Jan 30, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona House Republican Majority advanced five of six bills aimed at aligning state law with key provisions of the Trump administration’s signature legislation, H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, during a meeting of the House Health and Human Services Committee on Monday.
According to a pre-meeting press release from the Arizona House GOP Conference, the six-bill package focuses on Medicaid eligibility verification, reporting requirements, rural health workforce issues, and related health policy changes. GOP leaders said the measures are intended to mirror select federal reforms included in H.R. 1, including restoring accountability to Medicaid, strengthening rural health care access and workforce participation, and protecting taxpayer resources.
The following bills were identified by House GOP leadership as part of the package:
Medicaid-related measures:
- HB 2796 (Rep. Michael Carbone, R-LD25) — AHCCCS; enrollment verification; presumptive eligibility: Strengthens eligibility verification for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) by requiring cross-agency data matching to verify income, residency, deaths, and out-of-state activity. The bill limits reliance on self-reporting where not federally required and tightens presumptive eligibility primarily to children and pregnant women. Advanced 7–5.
- HB 2689 (Rep. Ralph Heap, R-LD10) — Hospitals; patient immigration status; reporting: Establishes reporting requirements related to hospital patient immigration status. Advanced 7–5.
Public assistance, health access, and workforce-related measures
- HB 2396 (Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-LD30) — SNAP; allowed purchases; waiver: Addresses Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) policy options, including purchase eligibility and waiver authority. Advanced as amended 7–5.
- HB 2190 (Rep. Julie Willoughby, R-LD13) — Physician Assistant Licensure Compact: Seeks to join Arizona in an interstate compact to facilitate licensure portability for physician assistants. Advanced 11–1.
- HB 2437 (Rep. Selina Bliss, R-LD1) — EMS reciprocity; compact: Would establish an interstate compact for emergency medical services credential reciprocity. Held.
- HB 2233 (Rep. Walt Blackman, R-LD7) — Arizona Rural Health Transformation Fund; reporting: Requires additional reporting related to the Arizona Rural Health Transformation Fund. Advanced as amended/strike everything 7–5.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed by the U.S. Congress under budget reconciliation and signed into federal law on July 4, 2025. It includes broad federal policy changes affecting tax policy, Medicaid funding, SNAP, border security, and other areas.
The House Health and Human Services Committee meeting was open to the public and available for viewing online via the Arizona Legislature’s official video player.
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 Ethan Faverino | Jan 30, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Former Arizona State Representative Noel Campbell, a dedicated public servant and veteran, passed away on January 24, 2026, at the age of 84, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident on I-10 in Phoenix on January 20.
Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro announced the news, highlighting Campbell’s lifelong commitment to service. “Noel Campbell lived a life defined by service,” explained Montenegro. “He served his country in uniform, protected our communities in the air and on the ground, and brought that same sense of duty to the Arizona House. Our state is better because he chose to serve. Our prayers are with Noel’s wife, Mary Beth, his family, and all who were fortunate to know him. He will be remembered with respect and gratitude.”
Campbell, a Republican from Prescott, represented Legislative District 1 in the Arizona House of Representatives for three terms, from 2015 to 2021.
He chaired the House Transportation Committee during the 53rd and 54th Legislatures, earning respect for his practical approach, leadership, and thoughtful policy work.
Before entering politics, Campbell’s career was marked by extensive service in high-stakes roles. He served as a United States Navy combat aviator during the Vietnam War, later retiring as a Commander in the Naval Reserves.
He went on to work as a pilot with the United States Customs Service, combating illegal drug trafficking, and later as a wildfire pilot for the United States Forest Service.
Arizona lawmakers from both chambers mourned his loss and celebrated his legacy. “Noel served Arizona with distinction, representing his district with a steady hand and a deep commitment to the people he was elected to serve,” expressed Senator Mark Finchem. “Never afraid to have a scrappy debate, his work at the Legislature reflected a strong belief in public service, civic duty, and the responsibility of government to its citizens. Noel was someone who took the job seriously and never forgot who he worked for. He represented his district, Legislative District 1, with integrity and left a lasting mark on Arizona’s legislative history.”
“His passing is a loss for our state,” Senator Finchem added. “Noel was known for his thoughtful approach to policy and his dedication to Arizona communities, particularly in Legislative District 1. His service spanned decades of civic involvement, and his impact continues to be felt by colleagues and constituents alike.”
Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss also honored Campbell’s legacy in Arizona, stating:
“Noel was a mentor and a friend,” Rep. Nguyen said. “When I was first elected, he reminded me that my vote mattered just as much as anyone else’s and that no one should ever be bullied out of doing what they believe is right. He also taught me that your word is everything. Once you lose that, you have nothing left. I am grateful for his guidance and his example. Thank you for your service, Representative Campbell. Rest in peace.”
“Noel Campbell was a champion for Legislative District 1 and for the state of Arizona,” said Rep Bliss. “He served with honor and cared deeply about the people he represented. God bless him, and rest in peace.”
Campbell’s decades of service—from military aviation and federal law enforcement to wildfire response and state legislation—reflected a consistent willingness to step forward in challenging environments, guided by leadership, discipline, and a focus on protecting communities in his district and across the state of Arizona.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 29, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Tucson Pride organization will be shutting down after nearly 50 years of existence.
The organization maintained the third-oldest Pride entity in the country, and the first and oldest one in Arizona.
The announcement comes exactly a month before the organization was slated to have its annual pride festival.
The Tucson Pride Board of Directors said in an announcement that it would refund all funds received for this year’s festival within 30 to 90 days.
“This decision was not made lightly. We recognize the deep importance Tucson Pride has held in our community since 1977, serving as a space of visibility, advocacy, celebration, and resilience for nearly five decades,” stated the organization on its Facebook page and website. “We are profoundly grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, artist, activist, and community member who has supported Tucson Pride throughout its history.”
Tucson Pride was founded following the murder of Richard Heakin in 1976 outside Stonewall Tavern.
The organization’s nonprofit status (Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance) was jeopardized in the recent past for failing to file on time. The IRS automatically revoked their nonprofit status in May 2024 for failing to file their tax returns for three consecutive years.
Tucson Pride said one of their prior board members “missed” the 2021 and 2022 tax filings. They did not name the prior board member allegedly responsible for the missing filings.
According to their latest available filing from 2020, the board of directors at the time included Rocque Perez.
Perez is a state senate candidate and a formerly appointed member of the Tucson City Council. AZ Free News reported on the recent discovery of Perez’s deletion of his pornographic and violent social media accounts.
Other directors per that last 2020 filing included Samantha Cloud (president), Jeff Myers-Fulgham (vice president), Stephen R. Myers-Fulgham (treasurer), and Matthew Taylor (secretary).
Tax filings revealed the Tucson Lesbian and Gay Alliance had a significant dropoff in revenue between its 2019 and 2020 filings. The 2020 reported revenue ($18,400) was $28,800 lower than its lowest revenue over the past decade of available reports, dating back to 2010.
Prior to 2020, the organization had reported a steady rise in revenue from 2015 to 2019, having a reported revenue high of $171,000 before the 2020 decline.
The organization had a steady rise in revenue from 2016 to 2019.
Last October, Tucson Pride leadership delayed its Pride festival due to financial problems and political pressures. The organization reported having over $50,000 in debt following a slash to ticket sales and donations after 2024.
“Nationwide, LGBTQIA+ nonprofits have seen donations and corporate sponsorships decline due to shifting politics and increased hostility toward queer causes,” said the board. “Tucson Pride has felt this squeeze firsthand, making local fundraising more challenging than in past years.”
A 2024 financial overview provided by Tucson Pride reflected that gross earnings totaled over $110,000, but their expenses totaled nearly $156,000: $37,000 on entertainment; $7,000 on food, beverage, and ice; $50,000 on infrastructure; $5,000 on logistics; $2,000 on marketing; $7,000 on permitting; $27,000 on public safety; $5,000 on tech; $1,000 on a Tihan donation; and $13,000 on supplies.
Cash sponsorships totaled just over $54,000, and festival sales totaled $63,000.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 29, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Republican Party’s annual meeting on this past Saturday drew less robust attendance than expected and was characterized by prolonged delays and organizational challenges, even as delegates elected Sergio Arellano as the party’s new chair.
The meeting, held in Prescott Valley, was scheduled to conclude by approximately 5 p.m. but it extended into the evening as party officials conducted hand counts and resolved procedural disputes. Leadership results — including the chair’s race — were not announced until after 8 p.m.
The Epoch Times Arizona reported that the meeting was “over an hour late getting started,” and noted rising tensions inside. Covering the opening remarks by former-Chair Gina Swoboda, the outlet wrote, “Swoboda is effectively filibustering while the meeting can’t officially begin—opening with a unity pep talk amid ongoing controversy over her and school choice.”
Several attendees described the meeting environment and turnout on social media. Independent journalist Christy Kelly wrote, “FACT: The turnout for the AZGOP state meeting was significantly depressed,” responding to a post from gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, who described the turnout as “amazing.”
Columnist Rachel Alexander noted the significant delay in her coverage via X, writing, “The AZGOP’s election is now going on at 6:20 pm (it’s supposed to be over by 5 pm, started at 8 am).”
Delegates conducted leadership elections during the meeting. After two rounds of voting for state party chairmanship, Sergio Arellano, an Army combat veteran and Republican activist, won the runoff against former First Vice Chair Pam Kirby. Arellano succeeds Gina Swoboda, the outgoing chair, who is pursuing a Congressional Campaign in Arizona’s District 1.
Before voting commenced, delegates debated whether to seat 16 “fractional” state committeemen whose party positions had been challenged under interpretive readings of the bylaws. The floor ultimately voted to seat those members, allowing the leadership election to proceed without a formal challenge.
The prolonged process included a full hand count of ballots for multiple leadership roles, as well as reportedly 20 proposed bylaw changes, which contributed to the extended meeting timeline. As reported by the Epoch Times Arizona, debate on the bylaw changes was prohibited, allowing “no member discussion, no back-and-forth, no amendments from the floor.”
The outlet noted, “People in the room are visibly upset and uncomfortable about the decision to move forward with zero debate on such a large set of changes.”
Over forty minutes after the meeting’s conclusion at 8 p.m., Garret Archer, Data and Political Analyst for ABC15, wrote, “Only a few state committee members are left waiting for the results of the runoff chair 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 Ethan Faverino | Jan 29, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4) renewed her demand for transparency and accountability within the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) before the committee’s latest special oversight hearing on Thursday, January 29th.
Following months of intense investigation—including multiple hearings, extensive document requests, and sworn testimony—the committee has uncovered persistent systemic failures at AHCCCS that continue to undermine Arizona’s provider network and block vulnerable patients from accessing essential care.
Providers remain unable to fully participate in the system, with critical services constrained and families in crisis struggling to access timely and appropriate care. “This is no longer just a policy failure. It’s a public health and safety crisis,” stated Senator Werner. “Decisions made inside AHCCCS dismantled parts of our provider network and robbed Arizonans of the care they desperately need. Leadership appearing before the committee has repeatedly failed to provide clear, complete answers regarding enforcement decisions, provider terminations, and the internal actions taken after billions of dollars in Medicaid fraud were uncovered.”
During the current legislative session, Werner has introduced several bills to improve oversight, reinforce accountability, and require AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services to fulfill their obligations to patients, legitimate providers, and Arizona taxpayers.
While expressing cautious optimism regarding the leadership of the newly appointed AHCCCS director, Senator Werner emphasized that personnel changes alone are insufficient to resolve the deep-rooted issues uncovered by the committee’s ongoing 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,” explained Werner. “The Senate Health & Human Services Committee will continue its work until access to care is restored, trust is rebuilt, and meaningful accountability is achieved within Arizona’s Medicaid system.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 28, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The man arrested for a deadly shooting at a Phoenix gas station was released from a weapons charge five years ago.
This occurred under the watch of Attorney General Kris Mayes’ former division chief Vanessa Hickman when she was city attorney for the city of Peoria. Hickman worked nearly three years in Mayes’ office before her arrest last November by federal agents on felony charges of mail theft.
Hickman was accused of stealing and selling several pieces out of $40,000 worth of fine jewelry misdelivered to her in the mail.
Under Hickman in September 2020, city of Peoria prosecutors dismissed a charge against Deondre Stephen Franklin for carrying a deadly weapon while under 21 years old. Franklin, now 25, also faced a charge of underage drinking at the time in the Peoria Municipal Court.
Court records show the court allowed Franklin to undergo substance use evaluation and education rather than sentencing him to jail time. Like Franklin, court records revealed Hickman underwent an outpatient substance abuse program while working for Mayes. Hickman had a DUI charge in 2003.
Divorce records allege that on multiple occasions Hickman drove drunk and would pour hard liquor into her coffee in the mornings.
The weapons charge Franklin faced was a class three misdemeanor, which could have resulted in up to 30 days in jail, up to $500 in fines, and up to a year of probation.
Hickman stepped down following the 2022 election of Mayor Jason Beck. Hickman joined the city in 2018.
Mayes hired Hickman despite warnings from the city of Peoria about other allegations against Hickman relating to fraud, conversion, and breach of fiduciary duty. The city sued Hickman following her departure over a disputed severance payment.
It appears Hickman’s direction for prosecuting criminals in Peoria has now resulted in the loss of at least one innocent life.
Last Friday, Franklin shot 52-year-old Danny Lyn Kaster at a QuikTrip gas station. Franklin reportedly shot Kaster after Franklin attempted to cut ahead in a line for the restroom.
Phoenix police arrested Franklin on Sunday. He faces a second-degree murder charge and a bond of $1 million.
An update from one of Kaster’s friends, Jasen Szczepaniak, relayed what Kaster’s sister said in a Facebook post that Kaster was shot at least four times.
“[Franklin] is a 24-25yr old punk ass wannabe gangster that had a gun,” said Szczepaniak. “Danny said ‘line is back there’ gunman pulled out [a] gun [and] shot him in face, chest, leg as of now 4 shots but autopsy may show more. Deondre Franklin is his name[;] he shot & killed Danny over a bathroom being told to go to [the] back of a line. I’m so grateful he was in custody swiftly, I will make sure the courts/judges know how worthy your life was & will make sure he gets [the] maximum sentence. Doesn’t bring you back doesn’t help make any sense of this but I’m happy he was caught.”
Other friends noted that Kaster was a “dear friend” known for his acts of generosity and kindness.
Kaster’s loved ones recounted that his love for family extended to the animals in his life — especially including his dog, Max. Kaster’s sister reportedly plans to take care of his dog.
A GoFundMe for Kaster’s family is collecting funds to handle funeral expenses.
Although Franklin is in custody, the shooting remains under investigation. Those who may have more information about the shooting should call Silent Witness at (480) 948-6377.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
