Arizona State Representative Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was recognized as Legislator of the Year on Saturday at the 40th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) in Salt Lake City. The award highlights Nguyen’s role in advocating for Second Amendment protections at both the state and national levels. The GRPC, founded by Alan Gottlieb of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), brings together legal scholars, public officials, authors, and activists to address firearms policy and constitutional rights. Each year, SAF honors individuals who have made significant contributions to defending the right to keep and bear arms.
Gottlieb praised Nguyen during the ceremony, saying, “I have rarely encountered a public servant as principled and tireless as Representative Quang Nguyen of Arizona. Since his first day in office, Representative Nguyen has stood as a stalwart voice for your rights and mine, not just voting the right way, but leading from the front, shaping the debate, and holding the line against those who would erode our freedoms incrementally.”
Nguyen was joined at the conference by Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Representative Nick Kupper. Montenegro participated in a “Fireside Chat” moderated by Armed America Radio host Mark Walters, highlighting Arizona House Republicans’ record on gun rights.
In accepting the award, Nguyen emphasized his commitment to constitutional protections: “It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Second Amendment Foundation as Legislator of the Year. I will always defend the Constitution as written and protect Arizonans’ right to self-defense. I am grateful to Speaker Montenegro and Representative Kupper for standing with me in defense of the Second Amendment. House Republicans will continue to lead Arizona in the fight to preserve our rights.”
The 2025 conference featured dozens of speakers addressing issues surrounding firearms law, policy, and the future of the Second Amendment.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) has stepped up to the ongoing controversy surrounding the hacking of the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. The lawmaker has requested a formal briefing from Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to account for the attempted breach of security to all members in the legislature, not merely the “select members” already discussing the matter.
The incident was reportedly carried out by Iranian hackers, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, who replaced images of the candidates on the website with images of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
In a letter to Fontes, Kupper wrote in part: “While I understand your office has communicated with select members of the Legislature regarding this issue, I believe that all lawmakers should be afforded the opportunity to receive a comprehensive briefing on the nature of the attempted breach, any data or system vulnerabilities identified, and the steps you have taken to ensure the integrity and security of our electoral infrastructure.”
Kupper referenced reported failures in the AZSOS candidate portal noted by Turning Point Action’s Tyler Bowyer last week, writing, “Since the incident, the candidate portal has experienced noticeable slowdowns, which have affected accessibility and overall functionality.”
In a statement released alongside the letter to Fontes, Kupper noted, “Arizona’s election systems should never be this easy a target for foreign adversaries. This wasn’t a prank — it was a politically motivated act of cyberwarfare, and we deserve answers. Every legislator has a responsibility to understand what happened and what’s being done to keep it from happening again.”
Kupper has called for “a comprehensive briefing on the breach, including how it occurred, what systems or data may have been accessed, and what steps are being taken to prevent future incidents.”
🚨Rep. Nick Kupper Calls for Full Legislative Briefing on Iranian Cyberattack Targeting Secretary of State Website
“Arizona’s election systems should never be this easy a target for foreign adversaries. This wasn’t a prank — it was a politically motivated act of cyberwarfare,… pic.twitter.com/XeebAzgECy
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) July 21, 2025
The Arizona Representative even offered to arrange the logistics of “a full in-person briefing that will be open to all Arizona House Members and State Senators,” with the reservation of a conference room in the Arizona House of Representatives. He added that the briefing should occur in the next two weeks.
Reporting from KJZZ revealed that the images uploaded by the hackers were also linked to social media accounts, including a Telegram account which wrote, “We were not looking for war or adventure. However, President Trump’s flagrant violation of the agreement, through his aggressive attack on the nuclear and civilian infrastructure of the great nation of Iran, has forced us to face a difficult and regrettable confrontation. Now the American people share in the consequences of his risky decision. Our erosion revenge has begun.”
The attacks persisted for approximately a week, according to Arizona Department of Homeland Security Spokesman Aaron Thacker: “What this incident has done is it’s created — it’s not just an attack on the Secretary of State’s Office. It’s also an attack on government as a whole. We are not the only agencies that are being attacked.”
Thacker added, “When it comes to our overall collective security, this isn’t really something we should be playing politics with, and there have been a few folks that are being unnecessarily critical.”
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.
✅Arizona Legislature Passes Bipartisan Bill to Block Adult Content Access for Minors
“There’s no excuse for letting kids have unlimited access to hardcore pornography. HB2112 puts the responsibility where it belongs—on the companies making money off this material. If they… pic.twitter.com/uVsP5G8IP0
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) May 7, 2025
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.
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.”
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. pic.twitter.com/Hu5UUV9vkD
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.
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.
House Democrats are shenanigating to try and bring forward for a floor vote Assistant Leader Nancy Gutierrez’s HB2816 to provide the supplemental funding to keep the program for developmentally disabled children and adults, and paid parental caregivers. Rather than support a… pic.twitter.com/lJ1VHS0mRC
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.
At the risk of getting gaveled down if she mentions developmental disability funding or her bill to save the families who need it, Assistant Democratic Leader Nancy Gutierrez artfully argues against the Republican countermove to block her motion to bring her HB2816 to a floor… https://t.co/52V2zpnkJ1pic.twitter.com/nsBByuiyHe
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.
BREAKING: 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. pic.twitter.com/dD0BtYCLJA
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.”
NEW: Republican lawmakers are lying to their constituents instead of negotiating a budget. Today, we called on them to pass the Governor’s budget. And if they don’t like that, then they need to show Arizonans their plan. pic.twitter.com/KhFzrNlMS0
