by Matthew Holloway | Apr 3, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a bipartisan emergency measure to repeal the state law recognizing César Chávez Day, following the legislature’s action on Monday.
House Bill 2072, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Fink (R-LD27), removes statutory recognition of the March 31 holiday honoring the late union leader following New York Times reporting on allegations that he sexually abused women and minors during his tenure.
The bill passed the Arizona House with a 48-8 vote and cleared the Arizona Senate with a 29-1 vote, with State Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) casting the sole dissenting vote.
“Once these reports came to light, there was no excuse for leaving this honor in Arizona law,” Fink said. “The women and children Chavez harmed should not have to watch the state continue honoring his name. Repealing this law is the proper response. It respects the victims he left behind and removes a state honor that should not remain in place.”
The legislation advanced following recent reporting on allegations involving Chávez during his tenure as president of the United Farm Workers.
“Arizona law should not honor a man tied to sexual abuse against children and violence against women,” House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) said in a statement. “The House acted today because victims deserve better, the truth cannot be ignored, and state honors carry meaning.”
Montenegro urged Hobbs to sign the bill, stressing bipartisan support in both chambers of the legislature.
Hobbs said in a statement on Wednesday that she is “deeply troubled by the recent revelations about César Chávez.”
“After learning the troubling news, I decided not to recognize César Chávez Day this year and have signed legislation to repeal the observance of March 31st as César Chávez Day. While I know signing this bill won’t erase the pain, my thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected. I’m working with community leaders to find meaningful ways to honor and celebrate our farmworker community and their continued contributions to the state of Arizona. “
Addressing the Arizona farmworkers Chávez once represented, Hobbs said, “I am incredibly grateful for our hardworking farmworkers. Their resilience is evident in the lettuce fields of Yuma and the orange-picking farms of Mesa. Arizona’s farmworkers are the backbone of our state’s economy. I remain committed to supporting them and ensuring their contributions are recognized with dignity and respect.”
A March 2026 report by The New York Times detailed allegations from multiple women who said Chávez engaged in sexual misconduct, including claims that he “used his power within the organization to exploit women and girls.”
House Republicans stated in a release that “Arizonans should not be forced to celebrate a figure whose legacy is now under serious question,” adding that the measure reflects “a responsibility to ensure state-recognized holidays align with values supported by the public.”
The emergency legislation, an amended version of HB 2072, repeals sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes that establish the holiday and includes an emergency clause that makes the repeal effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. The bill text specifies that it “repeals section 1-301, Arizona Revised Statutes,” which designates César Chávez Day as a state holiday.
In a March 30 letter to Governor Hobbs, Gonzales urged a veto of the measure, arguing the emergency clause is unconstitutional.
“House Bill 2072 is not an emergency, and it lacks the constitutionally required section that explains why it is necessary to preserve the public peace, health, or safety,” Gonzales wrote. She added that the bill “denies the people of Arizona their constitutionally protected right to direct democracy via referendum.”
Gonzales also called on state leaders to pursue recognition of farmworkers’ contributions through an alternative designation, writing that lawmakers should consider “renaming Dr. Cesar Estrada Chavez Day” rather than eliminating it entirely.
Despite those objections, the bill received the supermajority required for an emergency clause.
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 28, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Arizona issued a policy statement this week urging state lawmakers to prioritize tax certainty for small businesses in the upcoming legislative session.
In a press release, NFIB Arizona urged Arizona policymakers to “take action and align Arizona’s income tax code with the small business provisions that are permanent in federal law,” and consider tax policy changes this year. The group argued that stable and predictable tax policy is essential for small businesses to plan, invest, and grow.
NFIB Arizona also highlighted concerns about potential tax increases and shifting tax policy, emphasizing that uncertainty in state taxes could discourage investment and expansion by small businesses across Arizona. The organization represents thousands of small business owners in the state.
In its release, NFIB Arizona pointed to the Arizona House and Senate GOP plan to protect taxpayers during the filing season, stating that lawmakers should avoid policies that could lead to higher costs or an unstable tax environment for small business operators.
“It’s good to hear that the legislative majority has the back of small business and will not allow for a surprise tax increase for the 2025 tax year,” NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich said in a statement. “That’s great for 2025, which is in the books.”
He added, “Small businesses are actively operating in 2026 without having the certainty needed to make investments now. We will continue to urge lawmakers to take action and align Arizona’s income tax code with the small business provisions that are permanent in federal law so that Main Street can operate and grow their businesses with certainty.”
NFIB Arizona’s statement follows an ongoing debacle at the Arizona State Capitol over the state’s conformity with 2025 federal tax changes between the Republican-led legislature and Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs. Hobbs vetoed a Republican bill, HB 2785, which would have brought Arizona’s income tax law into full conformity with the federal Internal Revenue Code on Feb. 12. The group said tax certainty would help small businesses make long-term hiring and investment decisions.
At the time, the NFIB wrote in a statement, “Twice, the Legislature has taken responsible action to protect hardworking Arizonans from tax uncertainty. Twice, Governor Hobbs has chosen political gamesmanship instead—turning something as mundane as tax conformity into a partisan game.”
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 | Feb 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona state lawmakers requested the U.S. Supreme Court to take up an appeal on the state’s proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Last February, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down two laws which established proof of citizenship requirements. That court declared Arizona’s laws attempting to add more requirements on voter registrations were preempted by the simpler registration requirements of federal voting rights laws under the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and were therefore invalid.
Those laws, passed in 2022 under then-Gov. Doug Ducey, restricted mail-in voting for registrants lacking citizenship verification in addition to requiring recorders to check federal citizenship databases and applicants to provide documentary proof of citizenship and residence. These pieces of legislation emerged following the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision against an Arizona law requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
Several years later, in 2018, the state entered into a consent decree requiring county recorders to search Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) records for state registration forms lacking proof of citizenship. Those applications without verifiable citizenship proof through ADOT would only be allowed to cast ballots in the federal election, otherwise known as “federal-only voters.”
A number of progressive activist organizations joined in a lawsuit to challenge these laws: Mi Familia Vota, Voto Latino, Living United for Change in Arizona, League of United Latin American Citizens, Arizona Students Association, ADRC Action, Arizona Coalition for Change, Poder Latinx, Chicanos Por La Causa and their affiliated action fund, Democratic National Committee, Arizona Democratic Party, Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition, Promise Arizona, and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, and Gila River Indian Community also were among the challengers to proof of citizenship laws, citing concerns with challenges tribal members face to obtain proof of residency. Several tribal members were named independently in the lawsuit: Keanu Stevens, Alanna Siqueiros, and LaDonna Jacket.
The leaders of the Republican-led Arizona legislature filed their petition with the Supreme Court this week.
Sen. President Warren Petersen (R-LD4) issued a press release announcing the Supreme Court petition in which he accused the Ninth Circuit judges of having “rewrote” federal law and ignored Supreme Court precedent.
“For more than two decades, Arizona has required proof of citizenship to register to vote, because only American citizens should decide American elections,” said Petersen. “This case is about whether states still have the power to enforce commonsense safeguards to ensure only eligible voters participate in our elections. Arizona is standing up not just for our state, but for every state’s constitutional authority to secure its own elections.”
The filing argues that the Ninth Circuit ruling against Arizona law stretches federal voting law far beyond its allowable interpretation.
“This case, which comes to the Court on a non-expedited basis and underpinned by a comprehensive evidentiary record, offers an ideal vehicle for clarifying the NVRA’s preemptive scope, affirming that federal consent decrees cannot perpetually paralyze state legislative bodies, and vindicating the presumption of legislative good faith,” read the filing.
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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 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.
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