Sen. Kavanagh Celebrates Positive Effects Of His ‘Flagpole’ Bill
By Daniel Stefanski |
An Arizona lawmaker is championing the positive effects of one of his bills that went into effect this year.
Last week, state Senator John Kavanagh issued a statement about one of his bills from the most-recent legislative session, which had been signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs. This piece of legislation was SB 1016, which “allows a planned community association to adopt rules that limit a member’s number of wall mounted flagpole holders,” according to the overview provided by the Legislature. The bill “permits an Association to limit a member to two wall mounted flagpole holders.”
Kavanagh, a Republican shared an email from someone who had benefited from this law. That communication, in part, stated, “I finally now am able to honor both my country and my late husband’s service.” The longtime Arizona legislator explained, “That is a line from an email I received this month that reminded me even some of the ‘small’ bills I sponsor can have a significant impact on Arizonans. The picture on the right was taken on November 10, the 249th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. My constituent, Joyce, was able to fly both patriotic flags outside her house after being denied by her HOA for the past six years, thanks to a bill I sponsored this year.”
Senator Kavanagh added, “State law previously stated that an HOA cannot prohibit the outdoor display of various types of patriotic flags, including the American flag, an official or replica of a flag of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard, a first responders’ flag, and many others. However, I expanded on the law to allow for two of those flags to be flown at the same time. Every Arizonan should be able to freely show their support for our country, its military, and first responders without an HOA trying to stand in their way.”
SB 1016 passed the Arizona Senate with an overwhelmingly 24-4 vote in March (with two members not voting). It then surged out of the state House of Representatives the next month with a 42-13 tally (with four members not voting and one seat vacant). Governor Hobbs then signed the bill later that month.
In the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the Arizona Homeowners Coalition signed in to support the bill.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.