by Staff Reporter | Mar 1, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona House has passed a bill banning gender transitions for minors.
HB 2085 not only bans gender transition procedures to minors, it bans referrals and distribution of public funding to gender transition procedures. The bill defined procedures to include puberty blockers and hormone replacement drugs.
The legislation did include exemptions for individuals who were born with sex development disorders; who were endangered due to a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness; or who sustained an infection, injury, disease, or disorder caused or exacerbated by a gender transition procedure.
It is likely this bill is dead on arrival should it pass the Senate and hit the governor’s desk. Gov. Katie Hobbs supports gender transition procedures for minors, and her husband, Patrick Goodman, assisted children with gender transitions as a Phoenix Children’s Hospital Gender Support Program counselor.
The partisan divide was clear during House floor arguments for and against the bill.
Democrats argued HB 2085 violates parental and medical freedom.
Rep. Nancy Gutierrez (D-LD18), assistant minority leader, claimed parents had the right to decide for their children to transition their children.
Rep. Betty Villegas (D-LD20) argued puberty blockers and hormone therapies should be acceptable for gender transitions since they’re used to treat other ailments and defects.
Rep. Janeen Connolly (D-LD8) said gender transitions were a personal decision that should be beyond the scope of lawmakers. Connolly shared that one of her grandchildren, now 17 and identifying as “they/them,” had transitioned genders at 12 years old.
Rep. Stephanie Simacek (D-LD2) argued these decisions to transition genders weren’t made in haste since minors relied on parental consent to make the decision.
Across the aisle, Republicans argued the gender transitions of minors amounted to child abuse.
Rep. Lisa Fink (R-LD27), the bill sponsor, argued that allowing the puberty process to occur uninhibited was the prevailing treatment for gender dysphoria. Fink read off the myriad adverse health effects of puberty blockers and hormone replacement medications when applied to healthy children seeking gender transitions.
Rep. Rachel Keshel (R-LD17) accused those in support of gender transitions for minors of being inconsistent in their logic.
“It is my opinion that a parent that allows a child to permanently alter their body and potentially take away their ability to be parent one day, that is child abuse,” said Keshel.
Rep. Pamela Carter (R-LD4) countered that gender transitions don’t qualify as valid healthcare, and therefore not within the acceptable bounds of health decisions parents may make on behalf of their children.
“The physicians even now are stopping some of these procedures because they see the results of what happens to a minor when they realize what has happened: they cannot have children, or they are marred physically, emotionally for life,” said Carter. “Parents should be in charge of their children’s health, but to me this is not healthcare.”
Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-LD3) questioned how Democrats could support irreversible procedures for minors given the universal agreement on age limits for other activities.
“Point of fact, there are many things our society does not allow minors to do: we don’t allow minors, at least up to a certain age, to drive. We don’t allow them to vote. We don’t allow them to drink. We don’t allow them to smoke,” said Kolodin. “We don’t even allow them to get tattoos because we’re worried that one day they will regret that decision. How much more so then should we not allow minors to engage in elective surgery that permanently disfigures them?”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Feb 26, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona House lawmakers advanced a package of Department of Child Safety (DCS) reform bills following a special oversight hearing led by House Committee on Government Chairman Walt Blackman (R-LD6) and Vice Chair Lisa Fink (R-LD27).
The Feb. 19 hearing focused on legislative oversight and proposed structural reforms to the state’s child welfare system. According to reporting from State Affairs, several of the measures discussed during the hearing have since advanced through committee and moved forward in the legislative process.
Blackman and Fink convened the hearing at 1:00 p.m., with lawmakers reviewing testimony and examining proposals addressing accountability, placement stability, child protection procedures, and oversight mechanisms within DCS.
In a news release, Blackman stated, “Arizona’s child safety system exists for one reason: to protect children. When the state takes custody, there is no room for excuses. This hearing is about accountability and enforceable change. We will put facts on the record, press for answers, and advance reforms that put child safety ahead of bureaucracy.”
Vice Chair Fink said lawmakers would examine how DCS responds to abuse reports, how placements are selected and monitored, and why “preventable failures keep reoccurring.” She added, “We are advancing reforms that strengthen kinship care, raise standards in group settings, and require action when credible abuse is reported.”
Reform Measures Advance
Six reform-related bills were advanced by the House committee amid continued scrutiny of foster care oversight.
- HB 2035 (Fink): Expands eligibility for kinship placement, requires timely identification and notice to relatives and significant connections, and increases transparency when kinship placement is denied.
- HB 2041 (Fink): Clarifies that a parent’s inability to provide basic necessities based solely on lack of financial resources should not be treated as neglect.
- HB 2611 (Blackman): Establishes enhanced safety requirements for group care settings, including employee screening and training standards, and protections focused on youth safety and continuity of care.
- HB 2860 (Blackman): Creates an independent oversight committee to review DCS performance and critical incidents, including reporting requirements and dedicated funding for oversight operations.
- HB 4004 (Keshel): Requires DCS to respond to credible abuse or neglect reports and prohibits screen-outs when an alleged abusive parent has parenting time or legal decision-making authority.
- HB 4049 (Fink): Adds DCS to the list of agencies exempt from restrictions on employing legal counsel outside the Attorney General’s Office.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety has faced sustained legislative scrutiny in recent years related to foster placements, case management workloads, and agency oversight following a series of tragic deaths, which led to a Senate investigation in August of 2025. The agency committed to a series of internal reforms during a September 2025 stakeholder meeting convened by State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4).
The reform bills now move forward in the legislative process for further consideration.
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 | Feb 8, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona House Republicans on the Natural Resources, Energy, and Water Committee have taken action to address skyrocketing gas prices and utility bills, passing a sweeping package of bills designed to lower fuel costs, enhance energy reliability, and defend ratepayers.
Under the leadership of Chairman Gail Griffin (R-LD19), the measures align with the House Republican Majority Plan’s core priorities of unleashing economic prosperity, promoting government efficiency, and protecting individual rights and liberties.
The legislation, which advanced on a party-line vote with Democrats in opposition, targets the challenges faced by Arizona families, particularly in Maricopa and Pinal Counties, where severe summer fuel blend requirements have driven up prices at the pump. By prioritizing affordability and reliable power, these bills aim to ease the financial burden on households amid rising energy demand.
“The cost of living for Arizona families, including gas and electricity, continues to increase, and Republicans are acting,” stated Chairman Griffin. “This package puts affordability first by lowering fuel costs, protecting ratepayers from higher utility bills, and making sure Arizona has dependable power as demand grows. The Majority Plan is clear: government should work to ease the cost burden on families, not make them worse.”
Bills Tackling High Gas Prices
- HB 2145 (Rep. Griffin): Amends motor fuel statutes to empower the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House to jointly request EPA fuel waivers during shortages if the Governor does not act, providing a defense against price surges.
- HB 2400 (Reps. Willoughby, R-LD13, and Biasiucci, R-LD30): Implements a seasonal suspension of the state’s 18-cent gas tax from May through September in Maricopa and Pinal Counties. The bill ensures local governments are reimbursed for lost highway revenue through allocations from the Arizona Highway User Revenue Fund, including $27.588 million to counties, $39.93 million to cities and towns, and $5.082 million to larger municipalities. It also includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation and exempts the Department of Transportation from rulemaking for one year.
- HB 2696 (Rep. Willoughby): Directs the Arizona Commerce Authority to prioritize reducing fuel and gas prices as its primary objective for two years, expiring December 31, 2029. The authority must collaborate with the oil and gas industry to study repealing the cleaner-burning gasoline blend, building new pipelines, establishing a strategic reserve, and exploring in-state refineries, including reviving a proposed facility in Yuma County. Status updates will be provided to legislative committees, with a final report due by October 1, 2026.
- HB 2955 (Rep. Willoughby): Amends motor fuel standards to end the expensive summer fuel blend in populous counties, subject to EPA waiver under the Clean Air Act. It allows for gasoline compliant with ASTM D4814 and vapor pressure limits, addressing supply shortages and enabling lower-cost alternatives.
- HCM 2008 (Rep. Willoughby): A concurrent memorial urging Congress and the EPA to eliminate the federal gas tax on Arizona’s cleaner-burning gasoline in Maricopa and Pinal Counties from May to September or grant the EPA administrator emergency waiver authority for costlier blends. This recognizes Arizona’s progress toward National Ambient Air Quality Standards while highlighting the undue tax burden on specialized fuels.
Supporting these efforts are additional bills to promote long-term solutions:
- HB 2014 (Rep. Fink, R-LD27): Requires the Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Arizona Department of Agriculture to conduct air emissions modeling and feasibility studies on alternative gasoline blends, including federal reformulated, California phase 3, and conventional options. Reports must be published by September 30, 2027, with $100,000 appropriations each for modeling and studies.
- HB 2401 (Willoughby and Biasiucci): Mandates biennial reviews by ADEQ of fuel formulations available under federal standards, assessing air quality impacts in regulated areas, and submitting recommendations to the Department of Agriculture, the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of State by December 31 of each review year.
- HB 2428 (Griffin): Authorizes voluntary mobile emissions reduction credit programs, permitting emissions credits for nonroad engines under Clean Air Act guidelines, with permits issued by ADEQ for up to 20 years, supported by chambers of commerce, utilities, and Maricopa County.
“Today we heard from organizations with the time and resources to lobby against affordable prices for Arizona families, but not from the families paying more at the pump,” explained Majority Whip Julie Willoughby. “Working families cannot take time off to come to the Capitol and ask for relief; that is why we are here to help be their voices.”
“Eighteen cents a gallon may sound small to some, but it matters to families trying to make ends meet,” Willoughby added. “I will do everything in my power to deliver relief now while we continue working to fix the fuel blend and supply problems. Families need lower prices, not excuses.”
Bills Ensuring Energy Reliability and Ratepayer Protections
- HB 2331 (Reps. Marshall, R-LD7 and Heap, R-LD10): Renames and expands energy reliability statutes to require public power entities and service corporations to prioritize domestically produced fuels, minimize foreign reliance, and evaluate resources for affordability, reliability, and cleanliness. Defines “clean energy” to include low-emission sources like nuclear and natural gas, with reliable sources needing at least 50% capacity factor and rapid ramp-up capabilities. The bill emphasizes hydrocarbons and finds domestic sourcing essential for public health and safety.
- HB 2756 (Reps. Griffin and Blackman, R-LD7): Adds provisions for public power entities and electric corporations to report quarterly on new extra-high load factor customers, including interconnection requests and completions. These customers must be factored into load growth projections. The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is directed to adopt rules on contracts, minimum billing, and pre-execution reviews to protect other ratepayers, excluding member-owned cooperatives. Requires cost-of-service studies within 180 days and an ACC workshop within 90 days to assess impacts on residential bills and potential new customer classes.
These bills now advance for further legislative consideration.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Dec 14, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A Republican state lawmaker is urging the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to follow the new federal guidance on hepatitis B shots for newborns.
State Representative Lisa Fink (R-LD27) published a press release directing ADHS to align its guidance on hepatitis B newborn vaccinations with the newly updated federal recommendation.
The new recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) suggests only newborns born to women who test positive for hepatitis B should receive the vaccination. Mothers who test negative are advised to consult their doctor otherwise.
“Arizona’s health department should not stand alone defending an outdated one-size-fits-all policy when the federal advisory panel and the President are urging a more cautious, evidence-based approach,” said Fink. “For healthy babies born to hepatitis B-negative mothers, the updated guidance returns the decision to parents and their doctors, who can determine what is best for that child without pressure to accept an automatic birth shot.”
The updated recommendation reflects a return to a risk-based approach for the vaccine.
ACIP favoring an updated recommendation emerged from the cited lack of trial data and serious tracking on adverse events to prove safety and efficacy beyond simple real-world observation. ACIP did discuss the smattering of adverse reactions that resulted from the few, limited trials that did occur back in the late 20th century.
ACIP first recommended hepatitis B vaccines for all newborns in 1991.
Per ACIP research, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program has paid out $18 million for hepatitis B vaccine injuries in combination with other vaccines for children.
Joel Terriquez — ADHS medical director of the Bureau of Infectious Diseases Services as well as the Bureau of Immunization Services — told KTAR on Monday that the agency rejects the new federal guidance.
“We would like to make sure that parents understand the importance of this birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine based on the safety, efficacy as well as historic benefits associated with prevention of infection,” said Terriquez. “That will create a window period where we could potentially have transmission of infection without having the ability to protect these babies based on that knowledge of a positive test.”
Terriquez argued that some women may become infected during their pregnancy, and the nine weeks it would take for the disease to show up in a test result would result in a false negative for the mother.
Most Hepatitis B carriers are individuals who engage in sex with multiple partners — mainly males who have sexual intercourse with males — and intravenous drug users. Transmission from mother to child mainly occurs within countries with high rates of hepatitis B. America was not one of these countries prior to 1991 and didn’t become one after 1991. The disease is most common throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Ahead of ACIP’s changes to the recommendation, ADHS issued a press release advocating for the continued practice of universal hepatitis B vaccinations.
Likewise, other health organizations and state health authorities are rejecting ACIP’s new recommendation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics described ACIP’s recommendation as “irresponsible,” and claimed delayed hepatitis B vaccine administration “has no clear benefits” but only makes children vulnerable to the disease.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 4, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Eight Arizona state lawmakers have joined Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in demanding immediate action to revise the Structured English Immersion (SEI) framework, warning that the current language, loaded with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideology, violates state law, undermines classroom neutrality, and jeopardizes $866 million in federal education funds.
In a November 25 letter to the State Board of Education, Representatives Michele Peña (LD-23), David Marshall (LD-7), Michael Carbone (LD-25, Majority Leader), James Taylor (LD-29), Leo Biasiucci (LD-30), Lisa Fink (LD-27), and Senators Hildy Angius (LD-30) and Tim Dunn (LD-25), threw their full support behind the Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) proposed revision.
The legislators accused universities and institutions of exploiting “vague and permissive language” to inject “ideological, divisive, and race-based content” into mandatory SEI coursework—material that has no place in research-based English language instruction.
The lawmakers cited constituent complaints that SEI courses, intended solely for neutral English acquisition methods under A.R.S. § 15-756.01, have instead become vessels for racialized theories that divide classrooms, distract educators, and shift instructional time away from statutory requirements.
The letter also highlighted a direct threat to federal funding. President Trump’s recent Executive Order explicitly prohibits the use of federal dollars for DEI programming. The existing SEI Endorsement Course Framework is not compliant, and keeping it as-is exposes Arizona to unnecessary and avoidable risk, the legislators warned, urging the Board to authorize ADE to open the rulemaking process immediately.
Superintendent Horne echoed the urgency in a statement released December 2, praising the legislative coalition. “I am very thankful to the eight lawmakers who sent a letter calling on the Board to start the process to revise Arizona’s teaching standards and remove DEI language,” Horne said. “This is essential not just because DEI language improperly emphasizes race over individual merit, but it threatens $866 million in federal education funds under the President’s recent Executive Order.”
He added, “Removing DEI terms from state teaching standards is the right thing to do. We must rid race-based ideology from the classroom and ensure teachers spend their time teaching math, science, language, history, and the arts. The support of these legislators is especially helpful to convey the importance and urgency of this task, and I urge my fellow board members not to further delay this process.”
The lawmakers criticized the Board’s decision to table the issue at its October 27 meeting and form a study committee, calling the move a delay tactic designed to slow or obstruct needed reforms. They insisted that the question before the Board was never about voting on specific changes but simply whether to begin the public stakeholder process to restore instructional neutrality and legal compliance.
ADE has prepared to launch the month-long rulemaking process covering teacher standards at Arizona’s three public universities. The State Board of Education is scheduled to revisit the proposal at its December 8, 2025, meeting.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
