by Staff Reporter | Apr 19, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Attorney General Kris Mayes is pushing a false narrative about Gov. Katie Hobbs’ leadership prowess, says Senate President Warren Petersen.
Mayes criticized Petersen over his recent interview remarks revealing the governor has refused to meet with legislative leadership to continue budget negotiations.
“Short memory,” said Mayes in a post with a picture of a 2021 headline describing former Republican governor Doug Ducey’s refusal to sign bills until a budget was approved.
The Republican representing LD14 retorted that Ducey continued to negotiate pending approval of the budget.
Unlike Ducey, Petersen said Hobbs hasn’t been willing to meet with the leaders of the Republican-led legislature at all unless they conform to her plan.
“Ducey didn’t walk away from the negotiating table like Hobbs did,” said Petersen. “We continued to meet with him even though he implemented a bill moratorium. Not the same.”
On Monday, Hobbs said she would veto all bills until Republicans publicized their budget plans.
“I’m ready to talk, but I can’t negotiate with politicians who refuse to show the public their plans,” said Hobbs. “The legislative majority needs to put forward their budget proposal and then join me in good faith negotiations so we can pass a bipartisan, balanced budget like we’ve done the past three years.”
Petersen explained in a Wednesday interview with KTAR that Hobbs wanted to balance the budget based on potential future funding to be accrued from the renewal of Proposition 123 — when, if ever, that comes to pass.
The proposition, passed by voters in 2016, pulled $300 million in annual revenue for K-12 funding from the State Land Trust Permanent Fund. It expired last summer, and the legislature still hasn’t agreed on a replacement renewal plan to put before the voters.
“[Hobbs] basically wanted us to balance something off of Prop 123, something that would have to pass later. We said that was irresponsible, and so she threw a temper tantrum and walked away from budget negotiations,” said Petersen.
Last month the Arizona Senate President and Arizona House Speaker issued a joint statement accusing the governor of “distorting the facts” on budget negotiations.
Part of Hobbs’ plan would “dramatically increase” the funds pulled from Arizona’s Public Land Trust, halving it over the next 20 years and jeopardizing the trust’s intended function to fund K-12 education in the long-term.
“This is not a solution. It is a long-term raid on a critical resource,” said the pair. “We’ve put forward a responsible plan that cuts taxes for working families and funds schools without gimmicks. She walked away from the table because her math doesn’t work.”
What’s more, the president and speaker said the governor’s proposed budget would add $1.5 million more in debt.
Hobbs’ communications director, Christian Slater, offered a different view of their budget plan. He claimed the governor’s proposed budget would lower costs, invest over $1.5 billion in public education, cut taxes for the middle class, and end tax breaks for data centers.
“[Republicans] know [their budget proposal is] unbalanced, unserious, and puts billionaires and special interests ahead of everyday working families,” said Slater. “Legislative Republicans must come clean with the people of Arizona and stop hiding their partisan and unbalanced budget from public scrutiny.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 2, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Carine Werner (R-LD4) will hold the final Department of Child Safety (DCS) oversight hearing of the legislative session on Monday, April 6, at 9 a.m. The hearing caps a months-long investigation into systemic failures that left vulnerable Arizona children unprotected despite repeated contacts with the child welfare system.
The oversight effort, launched after several high-profile tragedies, exposed critical breakdowns in how DCS handles reports of abuse, coordinates with partners, and responds to warning signs.
Among the cases that drew urgent attention were Emily Pike, a 14-year-old who ran away from a group home and was later found dead, Rebekah Baptiste, a 10-year-old who died after multiple reports of abuse were filed but not addressed with sufficient urgency, and Zariah Dodd, a 16-year-old in DCS care who was reported missing and later found murdered in Phoenix.
In each instance, the children had prior involvement with the system, yet missed opportunities for timely intervention, poor information sharing, and delayed action contributed to fatal outcomes.
“This investigation made one thing painfully clear. People were raising red flags, but the system wasn’t connecting the dots or acting fast enough,” stated Senator Werner. “These children were not invisible. They were known. Reports were made. And still, the response fell short. That cannot happen again.”
Through a series of stakeholder meetings and hearings involving DCS officials, law enforcement, child welfare experts, and affected families, Senator Werner’s committee identified key gaps in coordination, documentation, reporting, and response times. That work has culminated in a targeted package of bipartisan reform bills designed to prevent similar failures.
- SB 1125 strengthens coordination between DCS and Arizona’s Indian tribes by requiring efforts to establish memoranda of understanding. These agreements focus on sharing best practices in intake, investigations, placement, case management, and service coordination; designating tribal liaisons; and providing tribes access to regulatory actions, licensing sanctions, and safety violations involving group homes where tribal children are placed.
- SB 1126 improves information sharing between schools and DCS investigators. In compliance with federal privacy laws, schools must, upon request, identify other schools that have sought a student’s records, note any withdrawals, and provide relevant information or records during active abuse or neglect investigations. The bill also prohibits schools from barring employees from speaking with DCS caseworkers.
- SB 1127 tightens mandatory reporting requirements, stipulating that individuals with a duty to report suspected abuse or neglect who have direct knowledge must report immediately to DCS and may not delegate responsibility to another person.
- SB 1174 enhances DCS’s centralized intake process by requiring hotline workers to compile and review a child’s full history—including prior hotline calls and investigations involving the child and siblings—so patterns of concern are immediately visible. Workers must also review recent non-report calls when assessing new allegations.
- SB 1175 mandates that DCS caseworkers photograph children during every contact in an abuse or neglect investigation and maintain those images in the case file. When developing safety plans, caseworkers must review photos to identify any decline in the child’s appearance or health.
- SB 1496 strengthens legal protections and representation for children in dependency cases, including provisions addressing the Department’s role as representative payee for benefits and efforts to identify more appropriate non-DCS individuals for that responsibility.
- SB 1631 ensures that children who are alleged victims of sexual abuse receive a forensic interview conducted by a trained professional immediately or within 72 hours of the report. The requirement includes specific definitions of sexual abuse and allows documented good cause exceptions for limited delays, such as the child receiving inpatient care or not being located.
Presentations at Monday’s hearing will feature insights from Casey Family Programs, a national nonprofit dedicated to improving child welfare and reducing unnecessary foster care placements; Collaborative Safety, which partners with agencies to enhance child protection practices and lower risks; and an update from the Arizona Department of Child Safety on policy changes implemented since the investigation began.
“The reforms we’re advancing are about making sure information is shared, warning signs are taken seriously, and experienced professionals step in immediately when a child is in danger,” added Senator Werner. “When a child’s life is on the line, there is no room for delays, confusion, or missed communication.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 14, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Legislation intended to address the placement of dangerous criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial advanced this week at the Arizona Legislature.
The Arizona Senate Health & Human Services Committee approved HB 2307, as amended, during a committee hearing on Wednesday. The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R-LD5) was amended in committee by State Senator Hildy Angius (R-LD30).
According to the caucus, the bill is intended to address a gap in Arizona law involving defendants who are determined by a court to be both dangerous and incompetent to stand trial.
Under current Arizona statute, defendants who meet those criteria are required to be placed in a Secure Mental Health Facility. However, no such facilities currently exist in the state.
The legislation would allow certain defendants who meet specific legal requirements to be placed in secure behavioral health facilities rather than being released into the community when no appropriate secure placement is available.
The amendment adopted in committee would permit the Arizona State Hospital to temporarily accept certain dangerous defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial on its forensic campus when secure mental health beds are unavailable.
The amended bill would also establish reporting requirements and create a legislative study committee to examine long-term options for secure mental health facility capacity in Arizona.
HB 2307 previously passed the Arizona House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
“Public safety must come first,” Angius said. “When someone is found dangerous and incompetent to stand trial, they need to be placed in a secure facility where they can receive treatment while protecting the public. This bill helps close a gap in our system and ensures dangerous offenders do not fall through the cracks simply because there is not a bed available in Arizona.”
The measure now advances to the Arizona Senate for consideration by the full chamber.
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 13, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Senate passed legislation mandating expedited reporting for human trafficking on Monday.
SB 1416 sponsored by Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R-LD2) passed with total bipartisan support.
“When a child goes missing, time matters. Delays cost lives,” said Bolick in a press release. “SB1416 ensures that law enforcement has clear, enforceable requirements to act immediately, share information quickly, and engage the public right away. This is about urgency, accountability, and giving families the best possible chance to bring their child home safely.”
SB 1416 would require law enforcement agencies to submit reports of missing, kidnapped, or runaway children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), media outlets, and social media platforms within 24 hours.
Reports to the NCMEC would have to include a recent photo; name, birth date, sex, race, height, weight, eye color, and hair color; and category under which the child was reported missing. Reports to the media outlets and social media would have to include law enforcement agency phone number and the child’s physical description, last known location, clothing last known to be worn, and current photographs.
Within 30 days after receiving the report, law enforcement would also be required to enter a report into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
The bill also would require law enforcement agencies to develop and conduct training once every two years on the mandatory reporting requirements for a missing, kidnapped, or runaway child, and on the Seek and Find Alert Notification System.
Last week the Arizona Senate passed another key piece of legislation addressing human trafficking, SB 1077. The bill would make it a felony to knowingly profit from online operations trafficking minors.
Sen. Mark Finchem (R-LD1), the bill sponsor, stated in Monday’s press release that the legislation reflects the shift in how traffickers operate.
“This bill closes loopholes that predators rely on and sends a strong message that Arizona will not tolerate profiting off the exploitation of children,” said Finchem.
Unlike SB 1416, Finchem’s bill didn’t receive any support from Senate Democrats. Only one Senate Democrat rose to explain their vote on the floor.
Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-LD24) said the bill was “overly broad and vague,” and claimed it would punish individuals who weren’t aware they were communicating with a minor online and had ceased communications immediately after they became aware.
Both bills were the result of findings by the Human and Sex Trafficking Task Force convened during the 2025 interim session by Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14).
Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, former president of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, said in Monday’s press release that both bills would greatly assist law enforcement operations.
“President Petersen’s human trafficking task force led to the development of these laws which will give better tools to law enforcement in the fight to protect our children from these monsters who are profiteering off of their vulnerability,” said Rhodes. “I am grateful and fully support these needed changes in the law.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Mar 6, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
In response to recent controversies surrounding state contract awards under Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration, the Arizona Senate has approved legislation to strengthen oversight, prevent potential political favoritism, and protect taxpayer funds.
SB 1186 introduces mandatory disclosure requirements for companies applying for state contracts via Requests for Proposals (RFPs) or seeking certain state grants.
Under the bill, applicants must report any “thing of value” provided within the preceding five years. This includes anything given—directly or indirectly—by the company, its officers, directors, or their family members to the Governor; entities controlled by the Governor (such as campaign committees, joint fundraising committees, or inaugural funds); or organizations advocating for the Governor’s election or opposing their opponents, including political committees or nonprofits that make independent expenditures.
These disclosure obligations extend to companies currently holding state contracts, promoting ongoing transparency during the term of taxpayer-funded agreements. The bill also amends procurement record retention rules by prohibiting the destruction of notes taken during RFP evaluations. If such notes are destroyed in violation of the provision, related contracts awarded after the effective date may be resolicited.
The legislation addresses documented concerns from high-profile cases, including the Sunshine Residential Homes controversy—where the group home operator received a significant rate increase from the Department of Child Safety following substantial political donations tied to Governor Hobbs—and issues with a multibillion-dollar Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Medicaid contract award.
In the latter, an administrative law judge highlighted serious flaws in proposal evaluation, scoring, fairness, and record-keeping, prompting questions about the integrity of the state’s procurement practices.
“What we have seen under the Hobbs administration exposed serious weaknesses in how state contracts are awarded and monitored,” stated bill sponsor President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R-LD16). “When billions of taxpayer dollars are involved, transparency cannot come after the fact. The public deserves to know who is seeking state contracts, what relationships exist, and whether decisions are being made fairly before money goes out the door. This legislation closes those gaps by requiring disclosures upfront, preserving critical records, and creating clear accountability standards so Arizonans can have confidence that contracts are awarded based on merit, not political connections.”
Supporters argue that SB 1186 modernizes oversight by focusing on pre-award transparency, in contrast to post-award reporting proposals. The bill amends Title 41 of the A.R.S., adding sections on disclosures for contracts and grants while strengthening record retention in procurement.
The measure now heads to the Arizona House for further consideration.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
