Arizona Legislature Passes Bipartisan Bill Targeting Adult Content Access For Minors

Arizona Legislature Passes Bipartisan Bill Targeting Adult Content Access For Minors

By Jonathan Eberle |

In a move aimed at tightening online protections for children, the Arizona House of Representatives has passed HB2112, a bipartisan bill that would require pornography websites to verify users’ ages before granting access.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Nick Kupper (R-LD25), targets commercial pornography platforms that fail to implement “reasonable” age verification systems—an approach proponents say balances child safety with user privacy. Under HB2112, companies could face civil penalties up to $250,000 if minors are able to access explicit content due to a lack of proper age checks.

“There’s no excuse for letting kids have unlimited access to hardcore pornography,” said Kupper in a press release. “HB2112 puts the responsibility where it belongs—on the companies making money off this material.”

Kupper, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, emphasized that the bill does not store or share personal user data, a provision designed to address privacy concerns. HB2112 also gives parents the right to take civil action against companies that fail to comply.

While the bill does not replace existing parental controls, it adds what Kupper called “another layer of protection” against minors’ exposure to online pornography. “Arizona families want action, not excuses,” he said. “The Governor has a chance to do the right thing. This bill defends children’s safety and puts Arizona on the right side of a growing national effort.” The Arizona House GOP echoed the message in a social media post accompanying the announcement.

The bill has attracted support from both sides of the aisle, a notable development in a polarized legislature. If enacted, HB2112 would make Arizona one of the first Western states to adopt legally enforceable age verification requirements for adult websites.

Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

AZ Legislator Seeking Additional Work, Highlights Part-Time Nature Of Lawmaking

AZ Legislator Seeking Additional Work, Highlights Part-Time Nature Of Lawmaking

By Matthew Holloway |

An Arizona legislator has put out the call: he needs a second job. Arizona Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) put out posts to LinkedIn and X on Tuesday announcing that he is seeking to start a new role in addition to his work as a lawmaker.

Writing in a post to X, Kupper explained, “If you’re wondering, state reps make ~$35k with base pay/per diem. Once I got elected I was laid off for being a legislator. That sucks, but I’d rather go bankrupt than give up on my constituents. That being said 4 kids eat a lot, so if you know of any remote jobs I’m all ears.”

In his post to LinkedIn, he wrote, “My role as State Rep is great, but pays very little and timing wise effectively only allows me to work remote roles.”

In Arizona, the state legislature has been traditionally viewed as a part-time job. With the session running from January often through June or even July, it’s easy to see why. And while strange compared to more populous states, this is a very common system.

In Texas for example, the legislature is only convened for a maximum of 140 days every odd-numbered year, barring special sessions called by the Governor for 30-day stretches. Montana, Nevada, and North Dakota, have similar odd-numbered-year arrangements.

Salary-wise, Arizona ranks near the middle of the pack with its $24k plus per diem ranking 24th out of the fifty states. In neighboring New Mexico, the legislature receives no salary at all, only earning a $161 per diem during session. By contrast, a New York legislator earns a salary of $110k per year with per diem, totaling approximately $142k annually.

As reported in early March by AZ Free News, Arizona Legislators have taken considerable heat over Senate Concurrent Resolution 1003, a measure to effectively double their salaries to $48k along with increases in per diem payments and benefits.

One major point of contention is a disparity in pay between members who live within Maricopa County versus outside of it.

“I think there’s discrimination happening currently (with) the way members of this body and Senate are paid, when you have members that literally could get three times the total pay package because they live outside of Maricopa versus inside,” Representative David Livingston (R-LD28) told AZ Capitol Times. “This needs to be fixed.”

Sen. John Kavanagh (R-LD3) proposed a salary plan linked to inflation and dating back to 1998 in its calculations explaining, “We’re not asking the voters to really in real dollars increase our pay. We’re asking them to keep our pay at the same real dollar amount that they thought it was worth in 1998.”

The bill has passed the Senate and House Appropriations Committee and will now go to the floor of the House before potentially going to the voters in November.

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.

Arizona House Democrats Use Disabled Children For Emotional Appeal

Arizona House Democrats Use Disabled Children For Emotional Appeal

By Staff Reporter |

Arizona House Democrats brought disabled children to the state capitol in an attempt to portray their Republican colleagues as uncaring.

State Rep. Nick Kupper pointed out that only he and one other member of the House have children in wheelchairs — and neither are Democrats. 

“I will not be shamed by people with no skin in the game!” said Kupper. 

On Tuesday, House Democrats took to the House floor to recognize their invited families with disabilities to push the passage of HB2816, a bill to provide funding for the Department of Economic Security (DES). The agency runs out of funds in May.

The bill from Assistant Minority Leader Nancy Gutierrez appropriates $122.3 million in state general funds and nearly $403 million in developmental disabilities Medicaid expenditure authority funds to the DES for developmental disabilities program expenses. 

HB2816 did not make it past introduction. However, that didn’t stop House Democrats from attempting to bypass regular processes to get it heard on the floor on Tuesday. 

“Republicans are blocking needed supplemental funds to keep the program going past May,” said Arizona House Democrats. 

House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos accused House Republicans of being against funding children’s disability services.

“Arizona House Republicans just KILLED the bill to fund lifesaving disability services for children with Down syndrome, autism, and other developmental disabilities. All while heartbroken families watched from the gallery,” said De Los Santos. 

House Republicans said Governor Katie Hobbs’ mismanagement was to blame for the budget shortfall and constricted timeline. Majority Leader Michael Carbone alleged to ABC15 that Hobbs had stretched disability services beyond their capabilities without the legislature’s consent.

“She expanded the scope and raised rates, all without the consent of the legislature of the necessary funding to meet her policy changes, and it now threatens the viability of the entire program,” said Carbone.

This wouldn’t be the only area of alleged mismanagement by Hobbs. House leaders addressed the pending shutdown of the Department of Child Safety’s Congregate Care program, which Speaker Steve Montenegro attributed to poor budgeting by Hobbs. 

“The governor spends beyond her budget. She waits until it fails, and then she declares an emergency. In January, we were told by the governor’s staff that they needed supplemental funding for DCS,” said House Speaker Steve Montenegro in Monday’s press conference. 

Hobbs’ spokesman, Christian Slater, said Republican lawmakers were “lying” about the governor’s budget handling. Slater accused Republicans of attempting 50 percent cuts to the Department of Developmental Disabilities. 

“Governor Hobbs produced a balanced budget proposal that secures the border, raises pay for State Troopers and firefighters, combats Veterans homelessness and protects Arizonans with autism, cerebral palsy, and Down Syndrome,” said Slater. “Instead of showing Arizonans a budget plan of their own, Republican lawmakers have gone to the press to lie about the Governor’s budget, refused to enter negotiations, and are holding kids in foster care and Arizonans with disabilities hostage to their political games.”

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.