by Ethan Faverino | Jul 22, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona Republican Assembly (AZRA) has released its Final Legislative Scorecard for the 2025 Arizona State Legislative Session.
This scorecard evaluates Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives members based on their voting records and alignment with AZRA’s core principles of limited government, individual liberties, and fiscal responsibility.
As primary elections approach, this scorecard is a critical tool for voters to distinguish authentic conservatives from those who merely claim the label.
The AZRA Legislative Scorecard is the only one, not only in Arizona but in the nation, where a committee of twelve members from across the state invest thousands of hours analyzing over 1,800 bills annually, rating more than 250 bills.
AZRA then publishes these bill ratings before legislative votes, notifying every legislator in advance and inviting feedback to ensure fairness. To maintain integrity, AZRA contracts a national data firm that receives daily voting data from the Arizona Legislative Council, updating results without manipulation or bias.
The scorecard lists 30 State Senators and 60 State Representatives, providing numerical scores out of 100 based on weighted votes on key bills. Scores are presented alphabetically by last name for letter grades, in descending order, along with party affiliation and legislative district.
Among senators, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) earned the highest score of 98.5, followed by Senator Wendy Rogers (R-LD7) at 96.9, Senator David Farnsworth (R-LD10) at 95.9, and Senator Timothy Dunn (R-LD25) at 95.5.
The highest-ranking Democrats were Senator Brian Fernandez (D-LD23) at 40.5 and Rosanna Gabaldón (D-LD21), at 34.1. The lowest scoring Democrats were Lauren Kuby (D-LD8) at 25.4 and Priya Sundareshan (D-LD18) at 23.8.
Representative Selina Bliss (R-LD1) led the House with a score of 96.8, followed by a four-way tie at 96.1 among Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-KD25), John Gillette (R-LD30), Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), and James Taylor (R-LD29).
Rep. Bliss recognized AZRA’s Scorecard saying, “It is an honor to be recognized, along with seatmate Quang Nguyen, by the Arizona Republican Assembly for our work at the Capitol!”
Out of the Democrat Representatives, Alma Hernandez (D-LD20) scored the highest with a 49.4 and Consuelo Hernandez (D-LD21) with a 48.8. The lowest ranked Democrats are Quantá Crews (D-LD26) with a score of 26.6 and Mariana Sandoval (D-LD23) with a 25.5.
The AZRA scorecard reveals a significant divide in voting patterns between Republican and Democratic legislators in the Arizona State Senate and House, with Republicans ranging from 78.7 to 98.5 and Democrats scoring from 23.8 to 49.4.
Correction: This story originally stated that there are 50 State Representatives. The story has been updated to reflect the correct number at 60 State Representatives.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 7, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
After years of legal wrangling and stalled progress, Arizona State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss have announced the allocation of $15 million in state budget funding to renovate Prescott’s historic rodeo grounds—just in time for the World’s Oldest Rodeo.
The funding, part of the newly signed state budget, is designated for infrastructure upgrades at the city-owned site, including restrooms, parking facilities, drainage, and water and sewer systems. The rodeo grounds, which have not seen significant improvements in four decades, are set to receive an overhaul that lawmakers say will benefit both locals and the thousands of visitors who flock to the annual event.
“This funding finally delivers the economic benefits we fought for two years ago,” said Rep. Nguyen, reflecting on the legislative battle. “If the city hadn’t taken this to court, we could have been celebrating this year’s rodeo in a fully updated arena.”
Nguyen and Bliss originally secured the funding in 2023, but litigation surrounding the project delayed its implementation. The representatives revisited the issue this year, revising the language to ensure the funds were reapproved and their use clearly mandated.
“This is a win for Prescott and all of Arizona,” said Rep. Bliss. “The rodeo grounds are a cornerstone of our community and a symbol of our western heritage. The improvements will enhance the visitor experience while preserving an important cultural and economic asset.”
The World’s Oldest Rodeo, in operation since 1888, is one of Yavapai County’s most significant tourism draws. The grandstands currently in use were constructed in 1933, and local leaders have long called for modernization of the venue.
“This project preserves our western roots and ensures the rodeo will thrive for generations to come,” Bliss said. “Quang and I are proud to have delivered for District 1.”
Under the terms of the budget, the City of Prescott is required to begin upgrades promptly. The funds must be directed toward infrastructure improvements and enhancements that promote continued use of the rodeo grounds.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 10, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona has enacted a new law that aims to boost the state’s environmental health workforce and combat foodborne illness by making it easier for health professionals to become registered sanitarians.
HB 2145, sponsored by Representative Selina Bliss (R-LD1), was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs following unanimous passage through the legislature. The bill shortens experience requirements and clarifies educational standards for those seeking to register as sanitarians in Arizona.
Under the new law, aspiring sanitarians can qualify for registration with three years (reduced from five) of experience as a sanitarian aide in a public health agency or related private sector role; three years (down from five) of full-time military duty in environmental health; or 30 semester hours of college credit in relevant subjects, including 22 hours in natural sciences (clarified from a general 30-hour natural science requirement).
“I have had food poisoning five times in my life, so I can testify that this is important!” Bliss posted on X. “This law addresses our workforce shortage to protect the public from food-borne illness.”
These updates aim to expand the pool of eligible candidates while maintaining rigorous standards for public health professionals.
Sanitarians play a critical role in public safety, conducting environmental health investigations, evaluating hazardous agents, ensuring compliance with public health regulations, and advising on disease prevention efforts. The Arizona Sanitarians’ Council sets the standards for registration and professional practice.
The need for reform became apparent as agencies across Arizona cited difficulties recruiting qualified professionals, especially in rural areas and during public health emergencies. Advocates for the bill said modernizing the law would help meet demand without compromising safety.
Environmental health staffing shortages are not unique to Arizona. Across the United States, state and local agencies have struggled to fill roles vital to preventing outbreaks and ensuring food safety. The COVID-19 pandemic further strained these systems, bringing renewed attention to public health infrastructure and prompting efforts to expand the workforce.
Arizona’s passage of HB 2145 signals a bipartisan acknowledgment of the need for proactive measures to strengthen the state’s public health readiness. The new law will take effect later this year.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Mar 3, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One chamber in the Arizona Legislature is taking action over environmental issues with abandoned mines.
Last week week, the Arizona House of Representatives approved three pieces of legislation with the purpose of “ensuring accountability and environmental responsibility when dealing with hazardous and abandoned mine sites.” The bills were HB 2127, HB 2128, and HCM 2007. According to the press release announcing the bills’ progress in the state legislature, the three proposals were introduced as “a direct response to a troubling situation in Yavapai County involving the Senator Mine, where a Chinese-owned company abandoned its operations after causing widespread public safety risks.”
The bills were all sponsored by State Representative Selina Bliss. In a statement accompanying the press release, Bliss said, “We cannot allow foreign entities and bad actors to exploit our natural resources, and violate our laws, only to skip town while Arizonans are left holding the bag. These bills ensure that Arizona communities aren’t left vulnerable to environmental hazards, while also giving good actors an opportunity to earn support in our local communities. I’m proud to see them pass the House, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to support them.”
Bliss added, “Right now, there are groups willing to step up and help clean Arizona’s environmental messes, but they’re afraid of being saddled with liability for problems they didn’t cause. These measures fix that. They open the door for more voluntary remediation, allowing experts to restore these sites without fear of legal repercussions. This is a win for Arizona’s environment and our economy.”
HB 2127 would “establish clear notification requirements when regulated entities seek to sell their contaminated properties to third parties in order to avoid pending litigation, ensuring that buyers, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and the State Mine Inspector are aware of the potential sale.”
HB 2128 would “expand Arizona’s existing Prospective Purchaser Agreement program to allow responsible third parties – such as environmental organizations and reputable mining companies – to clean up contaminated sites without being held liable for the damage caused by previous bad actors.
HCM 2007 “is a legislative memorial that urges state officials to take advantage of the newly established Good Samaritan Act, created under federal law. The program works in tandem with HB 2128 to enable nonprofit groups and private entities to clean up abandoned mines without facing regulatory roadblocks.”
The three bills will now be considered by the State Senate.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jan 11, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A report released by the Arizona Child Fatality Review Team (CFRT) has generated severe backlash from Arizona State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss, who serve as Chair and Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee. The backlash came after the CFRT made the blatant unconstitutional recommendation to “remove all firearms in households with children,” claiming that “the presence of firearms in a household increases the risk of suicide among adolescents.”
According to a press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, Reps. Nguyen and Bliss penned a letter to Jennie Cunico, Cabinet Executive Officer of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), voicing in the strongest possible terms their objections to the CFRT’s report.
In their letter, Nguyen and Bliss wrote:
“We are appalled that the CFRT, speaking on behalf of the Arizona Department of Health Services, is actually advocating for stripping Arizonans of their Second Amendment rights in their own homes. This radical proposal is reminiscent of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2023 gun control order, which attempted to prohibit carrying of firearms in public for self-defense. You may recall that Governor Grisham’s order—accurately characterized as ‘insanely unconstitutional’ and ‘outrageous’—was swiftly blocked in court.
“The CFRT’s ‘do something’ approach to child-fatality legislation would not only violate the constitutional rights of millions of Arizonans; it is also irrational from a policy perspective. The CFRT’s Report notes that 31 children drowned in 2023 and that the majority of these deaths occurred in pools and hot tubs. Yet the CFRT does not recommend the elimination of pools and hot tubs. Instead, the CFRT advocates for common-sense ideas: ‘close, constant supervision of children when around water, increased availability and affordability of swim lessons for children, and proper pool enclosures.’
“Effective policy solutions—even for problems that are difficult and complex—must be designed to fully protect constitutional rights and liberties. We urge you to direct the CFRT to reconsider its unjustified attack on the Second Amendment and amend its Report.”
“Proposals to strip citizens of their firearms are not only unconstitutional but also lack common sense,” Nguyen explained. “While the report suggests reasonable safety measures for other risks, such as drowning, the CFRT overreaches by advocating for the elimination of firearms entirely from homes with children.”
“Our state should focus on education and safe practices, not on extreme measures that undermine individual liberties,” Representative Bliss agreed. “We stand firm in defending the Second Amendment rights of Arizona families.”
In a later post to X, Nguyen acknowledged an op-ed from AZCentral’s Laurie Roberts criticizing him for his stance writing, “Anytime Roberts writes about my work negatively, I know I’m doing the right thing. I’m very sure she’s okay with abortion of innocent children.”
Roberts suggested the report’s call to remove guns from Arizona homes does not violate the Constitution and “goes on to recommend that ‘parents of adolescents should remove all guns from their homes, especially if there is a history of mental health issues or substance abuse issues.’ This because more children are dying by suicide, with close to half killing themselves with guns.”
However, as the Representatives point out, the language explicitly used by the report is as follows:
“Since the CFRP determined that access to guns was the biggest risk factor for firearm deaths, CFRP believes that the most effective way to prevent firearm-related deaths in children is to remove all firearms in households with children because the presence of firearms in a household increases the risk of suicide among adolescents.”
The recommendation of the CFRT is direct, unambiguous, and lacks the nuance suggested by the local columnist.
The CFRT is comprised mostly of appointees nominated by the state officers who were in turn appointed or nominated by Democrats Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
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.
