by Ethan Faverino | Mar 24, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Goldwater Institute put the City of South Tucson on notice for alleged non-compliance with Arizona’s Permit Freedom Act, a 2023 law designed to streamline government permitting processes and protect citizens from arbitrary bureaucratic delays and decisions.
In a formal letter on March 13, 2026, addressed to Mayor Roxanna Valenzuela, Goldwater Institute Staff Attorney Parker Jackson reminded city officials of their obligations under the Act (codified at A.R.S. § 9-843).
The letter highlights the city’s handling of a permit application from businessman Marv Kirchler for a billboard near I-10. Despite initial approval from the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, the city has refused to grant the permit, prompting the group’s intervention.
The Permit Freedom Act requires municipalities to:
- Specify permit criteria in “clear and unambiguous language” for activities affecting land use, appearance, or density.
- Process complete applications within 60 days, after which the application is deemed approved if no decision is made.
- Provide proper notice of application completeness or deficiencies, adhere to statutory timelines for reviews, and include specific details in denial notices.
The Act also states that cities print notices of these protections on permit applications and comply with related statutes like A.R.S. §§ 9-495, 9-834, and 9-835. Failure to follow these rules can result in automatic permit approval, fee refunds in certain cases, and exposure to litigation.
The Goldwater Institute’s letter points out apparent shortcomings in South Tucson’s processes, including potential non-compliance with notice requirements on its new Permit Portal, which became effective March 2, 2026. It warns that ongoing violations could lead to automatic approval of Mr. Kirchler’s application.
Since its passage, the Permit Freedom Act has been credited with significantly reducing permit timelines, improving objectivity in criteria, and easing backlogs across Arizona. This action underscores broader concerns about government overreach in land-use permitting, which has long frustrated property owners, developers, and businesses. The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized the need to curb “the uncontrolled will of an official” to protect constitutional rights, including property use.
The Goldwater Institute emphasized that the dispute with South Tucson is not isolated but reflects the importance of full statewide compliance nearly three years after the law’s enactment. The organization vowed to continue holding officials accountable and advocating for similar reforms nationwide.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 24, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ08) partnered with the U.S. Secret Service to host a fraud prevention seminar for residents of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District earlier this month.
According to a social media post from the congressman’s office, the event was held in Sun City and focused on educating residents about how to identify and avoid common financial scams.
The event listing described the seminar as an opportunity for residents to learn from U.S. Secret Service experts how to recognize and prevent fraud schemes. A video shared on social media by Hamadeh’s office stated that the seminar aimed to help residents learn about fraud and scam tactics that target consumers.
The presentation focused on common forms of financial fraud, including scams that frequently target older Americans.
Concerns about deed fraud and property scams have been increasing in Arizona, prompting the Arizona Senate to introduce Senate Bills 1479 and 1254 in February to strengthen protections for property owners and close gaps in the state’s deed recording process. SB 1479 was advanced unanimously by the state Senate on March 3.
“Property ownership is the cornerstone of financial security for families, seniors, and small businesses in Arizona,” said the bill’s sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Sen. Frank Carroll (R-LD28).
“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. These bills deliver a strong message: Arizona will not tolerate deed fraud. We are enhancing identity verification, increasing penalties for offenders, improving notification systems, and ensuring that no property changes hands without proper approval. This initiative aims to protect homeowners, restore confidence in our public records, and ensure that the law firmly supports legitimate property owners.”
Sun City and the surrounding communities in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District have a significant population of retirees and senior residents. Hamadeh’s office said the seminar was part of an effort to provide constituents with resources and information on financial crime prevention.
The U.S. Secret Service is responsible for investigating financial crimes, including fraud, identity theft, and other forms of financial exploitation.
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 Staff Reporter | Mar 23, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee is advocating for reforming the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program to reduce improper spending.
The treasurer’s office manages the contract with the vendor operating the portal through which ESA holders submit reimbursement payments.
Yee shared that she directed her office to seek out vendors proposing to innovate better means of facilitating the expanding ESA program. The treasurer’s office will publish a formal request for information to secure a platform better suited to support the current scope of the program.
Over 100,000 families participate in the ESA Program.
“If there is a financial platform, or are updates to the current platform, that can provide families ESA program funds efficiently and identify any misspending or misuse, then Arizona taxpayers deserve to use that system,” said Yee.
Yee announced her RFI plan following a public dispute between Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Superintendent Tom Horne and the media over fraud, abuse, and waste within the ESA Program.
Horne maintains the program has low levels of those problems, but 12News argues they’re much higher.
12News claimed based on a risk-based audit that 20 percent of purchases under $2,000 within the ESA Program were fraudulent. Horne disputed that total as a “ridiculous” misunderstanding of data.
“Only 20 percent of that 20 percent were improper — that’s only four percent,” said Horne in an interview with KTAR News. “The other thing to know is, [those improper expenditures are] not all fraud. A lot of times it’s innocent mistakes, a paper that needs to be submitted, things that people think are okay but don’t fall into our standards. The amount of actual egregious purchases or fraud is 0.3 percent.”
The 0.3 percent figure came from a randomized study by a Stanford PhD, per Horne, which reviewed 3,000 random ESA orders between July 2025 and February 2026.
12News relied on public records to estimate in a report published last month that misspending “could” amount to 20 percent of all purchases in the ESA Program. According to their report, at least 18,000 of the 102,000 ESA Program participants had one or more unallowable purchases over the course of one year, which amounted to nearly 84,000 unallowable purchases.
Horne has demanded that 12News issue a retraction of their reporting perpetuating the 20 percent claim.
“A ridiculous figure of 20 percent fraud has been circulating concerning ESA purchases which resulted from a total misinterpretation of data provided to Channel 12. The 20 percent figure represented program participants that ADE had selected for risk-based auditing,” said Horne in a press release last week. “Continued use of the 20% fraud allegation is an outrageous misrepresentation to the public that must stop.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 23, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate Republicans advanced legislation last week addressing insurance coverage requirements and the use of taxpayer funds for gender transition procedures.
The legislative package includes Senate Bills 1014 and 1177. The measures passed the Arizona Senate and now move to the House for further consideration.
SB 1014, sponsored by Sen. Janae Shamp (R-LD29), would require health insurers that provide coverage for gender transition procedures to also cover gender detransition procedures. The bill also requires certain healthcare providers who perform transition procedures to provide detransition care and establishes reporting requirements related to those services.
“If insurance companies are going to profit from covering gender transition procedures, they must also take responsibility for the continuum of care – including detransition,” Shamp said in a statement.
“We are hearing more and more stories from individuals who feel misled, who regret these procedures, and who are left without support when they seek to reverse course. That is unacceptable,” she added. “This legislation ensures that patients are not abandoned and that insurers cannot pick and choose coverage based on convenience or ideology. If they’re going to cover the front end, they must cover the consequences on the back end. That’s not just policy – that’s basic fairness and accountability.”
Under the legislation, insurers would be required to submit reports to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions detailing claims related to detransition procedures, including demographic and procedural information, while prohibiting the disclosure of personally identifiable data.
The proposal also includes provisions requiring state agencies to establish processes that allow individuals undergoing detransition to update official documents reflecting name, sex, or gender changes.
SB 1177, sponsored by Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), would prohibit the use of public funds for gender transition procedures.
The Senate Republican Caucus stated that both measures are intended to address healthcare policy and insurance practices related to gender transition and detransition services.
The bills are part of a broader set of proposals considered by the Arizona Legislature this session related to gender transition procedures and healthcare policy.
If approved by the House and signed into law, SB 1014 would become effective on January 1, 2027. If signed into law, SB 1177 would take effect on Arizona’s general effective date, typically 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the session.
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 Staff Reporter | Mar 23, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
An appointed group of Scottsdale residents used to approve land and development plans, but state law now requires city staff to do it.
Municipalities must adhere their development review processes to HB 2447, legislation sponsored by House Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-LD25) passed by the Arizona legislature last year.
The bill made it a requirement, rather than an option, for municipalities to have administrative personnel to review and approve site and development plans, land divisions, lot line adjustments and ties, and preliminary and final plats without a public hearing. It also requires administrative personnel to review and approve design review plans based on objective standards, also without public hearing.
Additionally, the bill requires municipalities to allow at-risk submittals for certain on-site preliminary grading and draining work on infrastructure, and applicants with a history of compliance with building codes and regulations to be eligible for expedited permit review.
The goal behind the legislation was to accelerate development approvals, according to Rep. Carbone.
“It’s more about expediting versus the long process which takes anywhere from six months to two years,” said Carbone during the House Commerce Committee hearing last February.
The city of Scottsdale announced on Thursday that they would still rely on their citizen-led board as they adopt the changes required by law.
Previously the city relied on appointed citizens to its Development Review Board (DRB) to undertake those responsibilities modified by HB 2447. Although residents will no longer be charged with handling all development approvals, the city says the DRB will continue “under a revised structure” in which the board will review applicant-requested deviations from objective design standards.
Additionally, the city said the board will be the one to ensure compliance with state requirements by transitioning existing design guidelines into clear, objective standards.
DRB’s staff liaison and the city’s Planning & Development area manager, Brad Carr, said city staff would play more of an assisting role to the DRB.
“The Development Review Board has always had a mission to uphold the highest standards for development in Scottsdale,” said Carr. “While the new state law alters the scope and practice that the DRB has employed in the past, the mission remains the same. City staff is committed to assisting the board in that mission.”
The city of Scottsdale notified the public in a press release that city staff are also evaluating and updating city code and zoning ordinances to align with the new state law, and had already amended the Land Division Ordinance in December for administrative processing of land division plats.
Scottsdale leadership has been critical of the changes.
Scottsdale Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas told Scottsdale Progress that the legislation removed community control over development processes.
“Local control ensures that our communities remain distinct and in Scottsdale helps us keep our unique charm,” said Dubauskas. “In Scottsdale, our design and planning commissions bring residents to the table to help keep our city special. The legislature’s effort to erode local control is concerning because it will eventually homogenize all communities.”
The bill received support from a number of builder advocate groups and some municipalities: the Arizona Chapter of NAIOP; Arizona Chamber of Commerce; Arizona Multihousing Association; the cities of Goodyear, Glendale, Buckeye, Maricopa; the town of Queen Creek; Home Builders Association of Central Arizona; and League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 22, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona lawmakers revealed during a committee hearing that Maricopa County’s former recorder, Stephen Richer, is being investigated for obstruction.
The investigation into Richer was disclosed during last week’s House Federalism, Military Affairs, & Elections Committee meeting. The committee discussed an investigation by the office of State Rep. John Gillette (R-LD30), chair of the committee, into Arizona’s voter registrations. The findings of that investigation were packaged as part of a criminal referral to the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
As part of his layout of the criminal referral packet, Gillette touched on an action by Richer in which the former recorder, while president of the Arizona Association of County Recorders (AACR) in 2023, advised other county recorders to not comply with a records request from Arizona lawmakers concerning the 2022 election.
“Stephen Richer telling recorders not to comply with the legislative public records request. That is not a glitch. That’s on purpose,” said Gillette.
State Rep. Rachel Keshel (R-LD17), vice chair of the committee, asked Gillette whether Richer reaching out to all of the county recorders qualified as obstruction. Keshel characterized Richer’s recent public engagements as a “CYA campaign.”
“Is there something there that he broke the law by telling other recorders to basically obstruct on that point? Is anything being looked into on that front?” asked Keshel.
Gillette disclosed that he discussed Richer’s actions with former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and “her assistant,” and that Richer was being investigated for that communication with other recorders.
“There appears to be some obstruction or intent to obstruct other recorders from doing their job because they have an association, he was president of the association at the time, but he was instructing other elected officials that are not of Maricopa County how to comply or not comply in this case with a lawful public records request from the House,” said Gillette. “That is being looked at, and thus we’ve had a subpoena issued since.”
Richer commented on a video posted of the exchange with an “lol” in an X post, which he later deleted.
Earlier this month, federal investigators seized election-related records from Maricopa County as part of an investigation into the 2020 presidential election.
In response to that investigation, Richer wrote in a Dispatch op-ed defending the official outcome of the 2020 election. Richer characterized Arizona Republicans as being “maniacally obsessed [with] theories of a stolen election” and questioning the necessity of continuing scrutiny over Arizona elections.
“The years of investigations, tests, reviews, and audits are also worth revisiting because any future allegations would have to account for why all the previous probes didn’t uncover any material fraud or error,” wrote Richer. “I would politely suggest that the reason is because no such fraud or error exists. The voters of Arizona chose Joe Biden more than five and a half years ago. It’s time to move on.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
