by Matthew Holloway | Mar 13, 2026 | Must Read, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate Republicans advanced several election-related measures this month aimed at addressing foreign influence in ballot initiatives, strengthening election system monitoring, and improving signature verification for early ballots.
The legislation was passed by the Arizona Senate on Monday and includes SB 1647, SCR 1005, SB 1654, and SB 1634. The bills now advance to the Arizona House of Representatives for further consideration.
One measure, SB 1647, sponsored by Sen. Mark Finchem (R-LD1), would prohibit foreign corporations, individuals, and nongovernmental entities from contributing money or in-kind resources intended to influence the outcome of Arizona ballot measure elections.
The proposal would also require campaign finance filers to certify under penalty of perjury that prohibited foreign contributions were not accepted or used in connection with ballot initiatives.
A related proposal, SCR 1005, would place the same prohibition before Arizona voters for approval on a statewide ballot, allowing voters to decide whether to enshrine restrictions on foreign-funded ballot measure activity in state law.
“Arizonans expect their elections to reflect the will of American voters, not foreign money or outside influence,” Finchem said in a statement. “These measures protect the integrity of our ballot initiatives and ensure decisions affecting Arizona’s future are made by our citizens alone.”
Another bill, SB 1654, would appropriate $100,000 to reimburse counties for implementing endpoint monitoring systems intended to detect signal interception or other attempts to interfere with election equipment.
According to the Senate Republican Caucus, the funding would support counties in identifying potential threats and monitoring election-related systems used during voting operations.
SB 1647, SCR 1005, and SB 1654 passed along party-line votes, 16-13.
Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-LD3) sponsored SB 1634, which would require the Arizona Department of Transportation to provide county recorders with a copy of a voter’s handwritten signature collected during driver’s license transactions.
The change would allow election officials to compare Motor Vehicle Division signatures with those submitted on early ballot envelopes during verification.
“Signature verification is one of the most important safeguards we have to protect early voting,” Kavanagh said in a statement. “Providing county recorders with direct access to handwritten signatures strengthens election security while helping officials verify ballots quickly and consistently.”
SB 1634 passed unanimously, winning bipartisan support.
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 27, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Senate approved legislation to facilitate coordination between law enforcement and federal immigration agents.
SB 1055 passed 16-11, with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against.
The bill requires law enforcement to notify either Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) immediately following the arrest of an individual who is discovered to be an illegal alien.
The bill sponsor, Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), says this will give law enforcement the sense of security they deserve to appropriately process individuals with deportation orders. Rogers said her legislation was necessary to support safe neighborhoods and consistent enforcement within public safety.
“When someone is under arrest and unlawfully present in our country, law enforcement should never have to hesitate, second-guess, or worry about whether doing the right thing will jeopardize their career,” said Rogers. “For too long, unclear policies and political pressure have created confusion that undermines public safety and puts officers in an impossible position.”
Given the partisan nature of the bill, it’s highly likely the legislation will die under Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto pen should it pass the House.
The first to speak against the bill during Monday’s floor vote was Assistant Minority Leader Catherine Miranda (D-LD11). She said the bill wasn’t needed. Miranda discouraged the idea that Arizona law enforcement needs to support ICE in deportation proceedings, since ICE agents were “terrorizing” communities across the nation.
“[SB1055 is] unnecessary and strives to increase fear in communities and empowers all law enforcement to act as ICE agents,” said Miranda.
During the committee hearing on the bill last month, Miranda said she carries all of her sensitive personal documents in her car — her birth certificate, Social Security card, and passport — just in case law enforcement questions her citizenship.
Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) claimed the bill would cause racial profiling.
“Our communities are already, you know, not feeling well, not wanting to go to work, school, or otherwise because of what is happening in our communities with the federal immigration process that’s happening in and around our communities,” said Gonzales.
Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-LD24) called it an “anti-public safety bill” and “cruel.” Ortiz said the detainment facilities were “death camps.” She opposed the concept of deporting illegal aliens
“It is going to invite a violent, armed paramilitary force to have more unnecessary interactions with our communities,” said Ortiz. “ICE out of Arizona, ICE out of our communities.”
Similarly, Sen. Lauren Kuby (D-LD8) said ICE was too dangerous and relying on poorly trained and violent forces.
Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-LD3) said it was effective government to have local law enforcement cooperating with federal law enforcement. Kavanagh lamented the likely veto from Hobbs.
“People who are accused of being here illegally need to be brought to justice,” said Kavanagh. “We shouldn’t be trying to hamper [the lawful execution of our laws].”
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-LD15) reminded his colleagues across the aisle that the bill impacts individuals who were already arrested for committing a crime and in custody.
“It’s absurd that you would not want the criminals who come over illegally removed from this country. Apparently it’s just lawlessness run amok in this chamber. We are hearing [Democrats] advocate for not turning over illegal alien criminals to federal immigration law enforcement,” said Hoffman.
As a response to Democratic lawmakers citing the Minnesota deaths of anti-ICE activists Alexi Pretti and Renee Good, Hoffman read off a handful of the names of individuals murdered by illegal aliens, which prompted an outburst from the audience.
Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-LD18) dismissed Hoffman’s list of victims, saying all illegal aliens who committed those crimes were facing charges unlike the officers involved in the Pretti and Good deaths. Sundareshan took issue that individuals arrested for civil violations, not just criminal violations, may face deportation.
“In this country we are innocent until proven guilty,” said Sundareshan.
Sen. Mitzi Epstein (D-LD12) said this would allow “perfectly innocent” individuals to be arrested and attacked.
“ICE has become an agency of thugs who do not follow the law,” said Epstein. “I am afraid of ICE agents.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 23, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Republican-led Senate is poised to vote on multiple bills that would impose greater restrictions on gender transition procedures in Arizona.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed four bills targeting different aspects of gender transition procedures: Senate Bills 1014, 1177, 1094, and 1095. All with the exception of SB 1095 were heard in committee last week. All were passed without the support of Democratic lawmakers.
Progressive activists lined up to testify against the bills during the several committee hearings.
SB1095, which would ban gender transition procedures for minors, provoked testimony from several activist adults who identify as transgender.
Former Liberty Elementary School District governing board member, Paul Bixler, said SB1095 would harm, not help, children. Bixler, a man, identifies as a transgender woman.
Ruth Carter, an attorney, said SB1095 amounted to discrimination. Carter, a woman, identifies as a nonbinary individual.
Marilyn Rodriguez, Creosote Partners founder and lobbyist representing the ACLU, said SB1095 was impermissibly broad as written.
Sen. Lauren Kuby (D-LD8) called the bill discriminatory, and argued that lawmakers shouldn’t ban gender transition procedures since certain healthcare experts support those procedures as treatments for gender dysphoria.
“These are private, personal decisions, healthcare decisions, we shouldn’t be discriminating against transgendered youth or those who have gender dysphoria as is described,” said Kuby.
Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-LD24) said the legislature would be better focusing on making healthcare more affordable. Ortiz said the legislation was not only discriminatory but violative of parental rights laws.
“It bans healthcare for a specific group of people solely based on gender identity; that is discrimination no matter how you want to paint it,” said Ortiz.
Sen. Mark Finchem (R-LD1), the bill sponsor, disputed the narratives of his Democratic colleagues that healthcare experts were to be trusted fully and that gender transition procedures were appropriate for minors.
“To those who worship the grounds that doctors walk on: they also said cigarettes were good for you,” said Finchem. “[Permanently altering treatments like mastectomies] are decisions that kids are being talked into, in some cases. I didn’t just dream this bill up myself. This came from kids and parents. More kids than parents.”
Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-LD3) questioned the logic of his Democratic colleagues that parents had a right to submit children to irreversible medical treatments, but not the right to decide whether their children should be called by certain pronouns or alternative names in school.
SB 1014 would require health insurers to offer coverage for detransition procedures should those insurers provide coverage for gender transition procedures. It would also issue reporting requirements on insurance claims for gender detransitions.
“Detransitioners are people too; they deserve the same care as those who are manipulated into believing they have gender dysphoria, which leads them to undergo gender transition surgery that they later regret,” said the bill sponsor, Sen. Janae Shamp (R-LD29), in a press release. “This legislative package puts their long-term well-being above politics and ideology.”
Jeanne Woodbury, a lobbyist for the ACLU, argued the reporting requirements within the bill would result in discriminatory outcomes.
Bixler, the transgender-identifying former school board member, claimed the bill would result in providers refusing to provide gender transition procedures.
SB 1177 would ban public funding for gender transition procedures.
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), the bill sponsor, explained during Wednesday’s HHS hearing that she discovered taxpayers were funding gender transition treatments for prisoners. Rogers also discovered that individuals were being arrested on purpose in order to receive free gender transition treatments.
“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to bankroll irreversible procedures on children,” said Rogers in a later press release. “This legislation draws a hard line and makes clear that public funds will not subsidize experimental or life-altering interventions on minors.”
Ashton Allen expressed support on behalf of Center for Arizona Policy. Allen said subsidies should be tied to valid medical treatments, which he said gender transition procedures weren’t.
Woodbury, the transgender-identifying ACLU lobbyist, argued against Rogers’ claims and said the treatments were affordable. Woodbury also said an end to subsidization would lead to excessive medical risks associated with forced detransitions.
Minority Whip Rosanna Gabaldon (D-LD21) said ending subsidies was “extreme and punitive,” as well as “unfair and dangerous.”
Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) accused Rogers of faking a story that individuals were getting themselves arrested in order to receive free gender transition treatments. Gonzales called the bill discriminatory.
Sen. Shamp questioned why drugs historically considered to be dangerous were suddenly ethical in the context of gender reassignment.
“Lupron was deemed cruel and unusual punishment being utilized in the prison system for sex offenders, rapists. But now we want Arizona taxpayers to pay for that drug to be utilized for gender reassignment? How the heck did we get here?” said Shamp.
SB 1094 would allow individuals to seek damages in court against physicians who performed gender reassignment surgeries on them as minors. Kavanagh sponsored the bill.
“When permanent procedures are performed on minors who suffer harm, there must be consequences,” said Kavanagh in a press release. “These reforms restore transparency and provide a pathway to just compensation for those harmed.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 20, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Republican-led Arizona Senate is advancing legislation aimed at increasing oversight of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ handling of contracts.
On Wednesday, the Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee passed Senate Bill 1186 (SB1186) along party lines: Republicans in support, Democrats against.
State Sen. Mitzi Epstein (D-LD12) said she opposed the bill because it wasn’t “ready for primetime.” Epstein raised a concern that private companies could be impacted under the current way the bill is written. Epstein was the only one to explain her vote.
“Influence peddling is a bad thing, and we want to make sure in all aspects of government, including in this body, that people cannot pay for play,” said Epstein.
The bill would require companies currently holding or vying for state contracts or grants to disclose anything of value provided within the preceding five years to the governor, including anything beneficial provided to campaign or inauguration-related activities or outside organizations supporting or opposing the governor politically.
It would also prohibit state agencies and state employees from destroying any notes taken during evaluation of a company responding to a request for proposal on a state contract or grant. Should any state agency or state employee destroy their notes, any agreed-upon contracts could be solicited again.
Gov. Hobbs remains under legislative investigation over allegations of a “pay-to-play” relationship with Sunshine Residential Homes. That company received a unique rate increase following their donations to Hobbs. This legislation was inspired by that ongoing controversy.
Senate leadership to include President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R-LD16), Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28), and Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-LD3) all issued statements endorsing the legislation preceding the committee vote.
“State government has a responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are awarded through a fair and competitive process people can trust,” said Petersen. “When billions in public funds are at stake, the rules must be clear, consistent, and focused on delivering the best value for Arizona families.”
“After vetoing our bill last year, the Governor came back this session with her own proposal, but it still leaves the biggest gap untouched,” said Shope. “Her plan focuses on releasing information after contracts are awarded. Our bill requires transparency before decisions are made, when it actually matters.”
“The scandals we’ve seen show what happens when government oversight fails,” said Carroll. “When billions of taxpayer dollars are being spent, mistakes or favoritism don’t just stay inside government, they affect services families rely on and erode public confidence.”
“Arizona’s contracting laws were written for a different era and leave gaps that agencies can’t effectively police today,” said Kavanagh. “SB 1186 modernizes the rules by setting clear disclosure standards and establishing enforceable safeguards that strengthen the contracting process itself.”
Earlier this month the bipartisan advisory team put together by the Republican-led Arizona House brought on outside counsel from out of state for an independent investigation of the connection between Hobbs and Sunshine Residential Homes. The counsel, Justin Smith, is representing President Donald Trump in his defamation lawsuit against E. Jean Carroll; Smith’s law group was founded by Trump’s solicitor general, D. John Sauer.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 1, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Senate Republicans are refusing to let a parental rights bill die under Gov. Katie Hobbs’ heavily-used veto pen.
Senate Republican leadership revived the legislation through a concurrent resolution, passed out of committee on Wednesday. This legislative pathway allows the slim Republican majority to avoid another inevitable veto from the governor.
SCR 1006 from Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R-LD3) directly challenges the supremacy of transgender-affirming policies and practices within schools.
“Parents have a fundamental right to know what’s happening with their kids at school, and students deserve privacy and safety. No 14-year-old girl should be forced to stand naked in a shower with an 18-year-old man who thinks he’s a girl,” said Kavanagh. “Families shouldn’t be sidelined, and schools shouldn’t be forced into confusion. This reflects what most Arizonans already believe, and it gives them the final say.”
If passed, the resolution would have voters decide whether to require schools to obtain parental permission prior to engaging in transgender-affirming behaviors: referring to a minor student by a name other than the one listed on school records, or referring to a minor student using pronouns that differ from that student’s biological sex.
Voters would also decide whether public schools must provide reasonable accommodations: access to a single-occupancy or employee restroom or changing facility for any individual unwilling to use the facility designated for their biological sex.
Lastly, voters would decide whether individuals could sue public schools for subjecting them to transgender-affirming policies, such as encountering an individual of the opposite sex in a restroom or changing facility designated for their biological sex, or being required to share sleeping quarters with a person of the opposite sex.
Gov. Hobbs vetoed two bills that contained these legislative provisions last year (SB 1002 and SB 1003). In identical letters, Hobbs said the state had more pressing matters than asserting parental rights over transgenderism within schools.
“[These] bill[s] will not increase opportunity, security, or freedom for Arizonans. I encourage the legislature to join with me in prioritizing legislation that will lower costs, protect the border, create jobs, and secure our water future,” said Hobbs.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
