Senate Dems in the News

Arizona Mirror: 

Two top Arizona Senate Democrats have filed an ethics complaint against Senate President Warren Petersen and President Pro Tem T.J. Shope for violating procedures by shutting down Democrats’ attempts last week to repeal the 1864 abortion ban.

The complaint addresses an occurrence on the Senate floor on April 10, where Democrats claim Shope failed to recognize Sen. Anna Hernandez and Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstien after both had made proper attempts to speak. Rather than recognizing the several motions made by the Democratic senators, the body instead adjourned.

The Daily Independent: 

House Republicans are weighing putting one or more of their own abortion measures on the ballot in a bid to undermine an initiative to enshrine the right to terminate a pregnancy in the Arizona Constitution.

The plan, obtained by Capitol Media Services, starts with one option that would appear to look like the Arizona Abortion Access initiative, but with additional restrictions. But its wording also would appear to preserve the right of lawmakers to enact new regulations of their own, something the initiative would not permit.

Arizona Capitol Times: 

Democrat leaders in the Senate are filing an ethics complaint against two GOP leaders in the chamber for what they call a violation of rules during an attempt April 10 to repeal the pre-statehood ban on abortion.

The complaint alleges that Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, violated a Senate rule relating to proper procedures in the chamber. Sen. Mitzy Epstein, D-Tempe, said Shope violated practice that is outlined in Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure by refusing to acknowledge the multiple substitute motions made by Democrats after Borrelli made a motion to adjourn. Because the motion to adjourn had been made but not voted on yet, Epstein said Mason’s rules outline that the substitute motions should have been heard. She said Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, was included in the complaint because Shope “broke the rules under the direction of the Senate President.”

The Center Square:

Arizona Senate Democrats are filing an ethics complaint against Senate President Warren Petersen and President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope for allegedly violating "parliamentary procedures" on Wednesday, specifically referring to Mason's Rules and the chamber's own guidelines.

The Democrats say that their attempts to motion were not properly recognized, including a motion that Sen. Anna Hernandez, D-Phoenix, tried to make for a late introduction of bills that would allow a process to kick off for a bill that would repeal the 1864 abortion law.

ABC News: 

When Democrats in the state house tried to move forward with a vote to repeal the bill one day after the Supreme Court’s controversial ruling, Republicans blocked their efforts.

“They do not want to repeal the pre-Roe law, end of sentence. They know what we were asking, we were moving to repeal the 1864 ban.”  

Senate Democratic Leader Mitzi Epstein speaks with Maritsa Georgiou on Scripps News Tonight about the Arizona total abortion ban and how AZ Legislative Republicans refused to help repeal it.

“[There is] a trend over here where we are silenced and we are not allowed to move solutions forward.”   

Senator Anna Hernandez joined Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC to discuss the 1864 abortion ban and how Republican lawmakers shut down Democrats trying to repeal it.

The Guardian: 

Arizona’s state Republican leadership halted an effort by Democrats on Wednesday to repeal an 1864 law banning almost all abortions, which the state supreme court this week ruled could go into effect.

The move came after Republican lawmakers in the state had denounced the court’s decision, including some who previously expressed support for the law. Donald Trump and other high-profile Republicans, such as the Senate candidate Kari Lake, had also declared their opposition to the ruling with Lake urging lawmakers to “come up with an immediate commonsense solution that Arizonans can support”.

The Hill: 

Democrats in Arizona attempted Wednesday to repeal a law banning nearly all abortions in the state that is set to take effect because of a state Supreme Court decision a day earlier, but they were blocked in both chambers by Republicans.

The action took place in both chambers of Arizona’s Legislature.

In the House, Phoenix Republican Rep. Matt Gress joined Democrats in seeking to bring up a bill to repeal the ban, set by an 1864 law the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled must be enforced.

NewsWeek:

Arizona Republicans have blocked an initial attempt to repeal a 160-year-old abortion ban that was controversially revived by the state's top court earlier this week.

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday a near-total abortion ban enacted in 1864, decades before Arizona even became a state, was still enforceable. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to dismantle federal abortion protections by overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022, the procedure remained legal in Arizona through 15 weeks of pregnancy.

AZ Mirror:

A day after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled to reinstate a near-total abortion ban from 1864, Republican lawmakers in the legislature blocked multiple efforts to repeal the law, saying they need more time to consider the repercussions of doing so.

On Tuesday, the state’s high court overturned the decision of an appeals court that preserved a 2022 law limiting abortions up to 15 weeks and concluded that a Civil War-era law which punishes doctors with prison time for performing an abortion should be the law of the land.

The Daily Beast: 

Arizona Republicans refused to vote on a bill to repeal the state’s extreme abortion ban Wednesday, a day after Republicans—including President Donald Trump—attempted to distance themselves from the decision.

State Rep. Matt Gress (R) moved Wednesday to bring a Democratic bill repealing the ban, which outlaws all abortions except to save the life of the mother, to a House vote. Before a vote could be called, Rep. David Livingston motioned for a recess and all Republicans in the House—including Gress—voted to table the proceedings.

HuffPost: 

“By their actions, the message from this chamber is that they are so pro-life they will kill you,” a state senator wrote.

Arizona Democrats tried to repeal a controversial, 1864 law set to take effect that will effectively block almost all abortions in the state, but were stymied by Republicans in both chambers of the legislature on Wednesday.

AZ Central: 

Chaos erupted in the Arizona House on Wednesday as Democrats attempted to repeal the 1864 near-total abortion ban, only to be thwarted by the Republican majority.

The raucous event, unusual for the chamber, came a day after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Arizona's Civil War-era abortion law stands and laid bare the raw feelings and political divisions swirling around the issue.

Arizona Daily Star:

House Republican leaders used procedural maneuvers Wednesday — twice — to block lawmakers from deciding or even debating whether to repeal the state’s 1864 law banning abortions except to save the life of the mother.

And one of those maneuvers was to adjourn until next Wednesday, so that means it will be at least a week before legislators have the chance to address whether women in Arizona will again be denied the right to terminate a pregnancy in all but the narrowest circumstances.

Axios: 

Republican lawmakers blocked a legislative attempt to repeal the state's ban on nearly all abortions, one day after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that it's the law of the land.

Why it matters: Abortions are likely to become unavailable within two months if the ban isn't repealed. If it is repealed, a 2022 law allowing abortions through 15 weeks of pregnancy would go into effect — though that likely wouldn't be for a few months.

NY Times: 

A decision by Arizona’s highest court upholding an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions created chaos and confusion across the state on Wednesday. As abortion providers were flooded with phone calls from frantic patients, Republican lawmakers at the State Capitol blocked efforts to undo the ban, prompting angry jeers from Democrats.

Democrats, who seized on the decision to resurrect the 160-year-old ban as a pivotal election issue, tried to push bills through the Republican-controlled Legislature to repeal the ban, a move they said would protect women’s health and freedom, and also force Republicans to take a formal vote on the law.

Arizona Capitol Times: 

A Republican in the state House of Representatives attempted to put up a bill for a vote Wednesday that would repeal the 1864 state ban on abortion procedures, leading to chaos on the House floor after the chamber went into recess instead of voting on the measure.

Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, made the motion for the chamber to vote to suspend its rules and place HB 2677 up for a vote. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, D-Tucson, never received a committee hearing during the session, requiring a motion to suspend House rules and have the bill skip committee hearings.

La Voz (AZCentral): 

La Cámara de Representantes de Arizona, que está controlada por el Partido Republicano, rápidamente suspendió su sesión del miércoles luego que legisladores demócratas intentaron derogar la prohibición casi total del aborto de 1864 que la Corte Suprema del estado dictaminó podía entrar en vigor.

La acción por parte de los demócratas, respaldados por un solo legislador republicano, fue frendada por la mayoría republicana de la Cámara.

Arizona Central: 

Counting undocumented residents and noncitizens in Arizona in the U.S. Census helps set the boundaries of legislative districts, often concentrating Democratic power in areas with more immigrants.

But a proposed ballot measure by Republicans to have Arizona conduct its own census, tallying only citizens, could tip the balance of the Legislature toward the GOP.

White Mountain Independent:

Senate Republicans continue to thwart efforts to allow the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to operate for more than just the next few years.

As senators discussed a bill reauthorizing the board that oversees charter schools in Arizona earlier this week, Democratic Sen. Priya Sundareshan proposed an amendment to secure an eight-year continuation for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.

Tucson Sentinel: 

Senate Republicans continue to thwart efforts to allow the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to operate for more than just the next few years.

As senators discussed a bill reauthorizing the board that oversees charter schools in Arizona earlier this week, Democratic Sen. Priya Sundareshan proposed an amendment to secure an eight-year continuation for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.

Yahoo! News UK:

Senate Republicans continue to thwart efforts to allow the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to operate for more than just the next few years.

As senators discussed a bill reauthorizing the board that oversees charter schools in Arizona earlier this week, Democratic Sen. Priya Sundareshan proposed an amendment to secure an eight-year continuation for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.

Arizona Mirror: 

Senate Republicans continue to thwart efforts to allow the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to operate for more than just the next few years.

As senators discussed a bill reauthorizing the board that oversees charter schools in Arizona earlier this week, Democratic Sen. Priya Sundareshen proposed an amendment to secure an eight-year continuation for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind.

ELLE: 

Last week, Arizona state Sen. Eva Burch did the unthinkable: She announced her decision to get an abortion on the floor of the Arizona Senate. In her speech, which quickly went viral, Burch talked about the importance of access to abortion care in America and why she, as a politician, felt compelled to share her story in such a public manner. Now, in an exclusive essay for ELLE, Burch writes about that emotional moment on the Senate floor—and why she wants to “change the narrative about what abortion care looks like.”

NPR: 

For the first 25 minutes, the Arizona Senate's floor session on March 18th was unremarkable.

Then, state Sen. Eva Burch stood up and announced to her colleagues that she was pregnant, and planned to get an abortion.

Detailing a deeply personal medical history of past miscarriages, Burch told her fellow lawmakers that she made the decision to seek an abortion after discovering that her fetus is not viable.

Arizona Horizon: 

It’s time for our weekly legislative update. This week, we’re joined by Arizona State Representative Nancy Gutierrez (D) and Arizona State Senator Priya Sundareshan (D).

Cronkite News: 

On Tuesday morning, health care advocates and others gathered at the Valle del Sol Community Health Center in central Phoenix to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act is a comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 and is sometimes known as ACA or “Obamacare.” During the 2024 open enrollment period, a record 21.3 million people across the country selected an ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan. The number of Arizonans covered by the ACA rose more than 110,000 during the year, to 348,055, also a record.

Telemundo AZ:

La semana pasada Ylenia Aguilar de Moms Clean Air Force se unió a Senador Juan Mendez, Senador Flavio Bravo y ANHE para instar a EPA que completen estándares de vehículos limpios más estrictos.

12News Sunday Square Off: 

Eva Burch is a mom to two young boys, a registered nurse, and, for just more than a year, an Arizona state senator.

Then, this past week, she made a very personal decision public on the Senate floor: Burch planned to have an abortion.

"After numerous ultrasounds and blood draws, we had determined my pregnancy is not progressing and not viable," Burch said, surrounded by fellow Democrats during a time reserved for senators' statements.

MSNBC AYMAN: 

“Crickets." State Senator Eva Burch says her GOP colleagues showed zero compassion for her after she took to the floor to share her experience trying to obtain an abortion under Republicans' restrictive laws.

Rolling Stone:

On Wednesday, Arizona State Senator Eva Burch had an abortion. 

Deciding to terminate a pregnancy is a highly personal decision, one that usually takes place quietly, with the involvement of the patient, their medical providers, a cadre of loved ones, and — to the bewilderment and frustration of those seeking the procedure — the government.

Arizona Capitol Times:

The Department of Child Safety will likely be granted a four-year continuation, following significant concerns from lawmakers as to how it operates. However, its lifeline comes with a set of conditions.

A large part of the Legislature’s job includes keeping a close eye on the function of state agencies. However, there are hundreds of agencies that the chambers are responsible for overseeing, so the relationship reflects more of a distant oversight dynamic.

CNN News Central: 

"I'm not expecting things to change within the chamber, I'm expecting things to change in Arizona."   

Senator Eva Burch joined Kate Bolduan on CNN News Central this morning to discuss her personal abortion story and the Arizona Legislature's failure surrounding abortion policy.

KJZZ:

Democratic lawmakers walked out of a vote at the state Capitol Wednesday to protest the latest immigration bills moving through the Arizona Senate.

House Bills 2748 and 2821 would make it a state crime to cross the southern border illegally and give local and state police the power to enforce immigration laws. The bills are nearly identical to a measure Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed earlier this month.

PBS NewsHour: 

The patchwork landscape of abortion restrictions in post-Roe America can be both confusing and dangerous. This is true even for some lawmakers, one of whom took to the floor of the Arizona state Senate to describe her experience with a non-viable pregnancy. Amna Nawaz discussed that with Eva Burch, the Democratic Whip of the Arizona Senate.

Arizona Mirror: 

As Republican lawmakers unanimously greenlit bills to jail and deport migrants in the state Senate on Thursday, Arizona immigrants and Latino voter advocates rallied outside, vowing to unseat them for pushing “racist” policies.

Inside, the four GOP members of the Senate Military Affairs and Public Safety committee cast their votes in favor of House Bill 2821 and House Bill 2748. The bills mirror a Senate version vetoed just two weeks ago by Gov. Katie Hobbs that would punish migrants who cross Arizona’s southern border anywhere but at a port of entry with up to 6 months in jail.

Fronteras: 

Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, Democratic lawmakers in states across the country have focused on protecting other reproductive rights like contraception, sometimes preemptively.

We saw this on display last week at the Arizona Legislature when Democratic lawmakers attempted to force a vote on a bill to guarantee the right to contraception in our state, only to be blocked unanimously by Republicans.

Fronteras Desk:

Democratic lawmakers walked out of a vote at the state Capitol Wednesday to protest the latest immigration bills moving through the Arizona Senate.

House Bills 2748 and 2821 would make it a state crime to cross the southern border illegally and give local and state police the power to enforce immigration laws. The bills are nearly identical to a measure Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed earlier this month.

AOL: 

Should state and local police be able to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the country illegally? That’s the question at the heart of a proposed bill at the Arizona State Capitol.

The Republican-sponsored bill closely resembles a Texas law that is currently tied up in a national legal battle with whip-lash rulings. If passed, House Bill 2748 would authorize state and local police to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally.

Fox 10: 

Should state and local police be able to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the country illegally? That’s the question at the heart of a proposed bill at the Arizona State Capitol.

The Republican-sponsored bill closely resembles a Texas law that is currently tied up in a national legal battle with whip-lash rulings. If passed, House Bill 2748 would authorize state and local police to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally.

Arizona's Family: 

Some Arizona state lawmakers walked out the House floor Wednesday during a committee hearing for two immigration bills, HB 2748 and HB 2821,

The measures would authorize state and local police to arrest migrants suspected of living in the country illegally.

Both have drawn comparisons to the controversial SB 1070 immigration law that passed over a decade ago, requiring law enforcement to ask people for proof of immigration status.

Yahoo! News: 

Should state and local police be able to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the country illegally? That’s the question at the heart of a proposed bill at the Arizona State Capitol.

The Republican-sponsored bill closely resembles a Texas law that is currently tied up in a national legal battle with whip-lash rulings. If passed, House Bill 2748 would authorize state and local police to arrest migrants suspected of crossing the border illegally.

El Pais: 

Eva Burch, senadora del Estado de Arizona, declaró en una audiencia legislativa que planeaba abortar, en un discurso donde defendió los derechos reproductivos de las mujeres. Durante la sesión realizada este lunes en la legislatura estatal, Burch describió en detalle su trayectoria de fertilidad, en la que ha tenido que lidiar con abortos espontáneos y problemas para concebir. Durante su discurso, la senadora destacó que no considera que las mujeres deban justificar sus abortos, pero buscaba alentar una reflexión entre los legisladores sobre el impacto que tienen las decisiones que toman en la Cámara alta.

The Cut: 

Democratic lawmaker Eva Burch stood on the Arizona Senate floor on Monday and did something unprecedented: She announced to her colleagues that she’ll have an abortion this week for her nonviable pregnancy. Burch, a 43-year-old nurse practitioner who was elected to her seat in 2022, says she chose to share her experience on the record to remind her colleagues of the harm abortion restrictions cause to pregnant people and their families. “I am a typical person seeking abortion care,” she tells the Cut. “There’s nothing extraordinary about my situation.”

The Independent: 

An Arizona lawmaker made headlines when she announced her plans to get an abortion on the state Senate floor - in an effort to shed light on the state’s restrictive abortion laws.

US News & World Report: 

A pregnant Arizona lawmaker who revealed in a speech at the state Senate that she was planning to get an abortion says she wanted to share with her colleagues and the public the practical effects of abortion restrictions passed over the years.

Washington Times: 

An Arizona lawmaker announced Monday on the state Senate floor that she plans to have an abortion after learning that her pregnancy is not viable.

State Sen. Eva Burch, a registered nurse known for her reproductive rights activism, was surrounded by fellow Democratic senators as she made the announcement, The Arizona Republic reported.

Arizona Central: 

An Arizona lawmaker known for her activism on reproductive rights announced on the floor of the state Senate Monday she was preparing to have an abortion.

Arizona's Family:

A survey from the Keiser Family Foundation found one in eight registered voters say abortion is one of the most important issues driving their vote.

Here in Arizona, we can expect abortion rights to be on our ballot this November, and a state lawmaker is throwing her support behind a ballot measure after giving a speech on the state senate floor sharing her personal experience with abortion.

ABC News:

An Arizona state lawmaker revealed she is pregnant with a nonviable fetus and said she plans to get an abortion, taking the floor in the state Senate to detail her experience seeking care in the state.

PBS NewsHour:

An Arizona lawmaker announced Monday on the state Senate floor that she plans to have an abortion after learning that her pregnancy is not viable.

Politico: 

A pregnant Arizona lawmaker who revealed in a speech at the state Senate that she was planning to get an abortion says she wanted to share with her colleagues and the public the practical effects of abortion restrictions passed over the years.

Yahoo! News Australia: 

An Arizona lawmaker made headlines when she announced her plans to get an abortion on the state Senate floor - in an effort to shed light on the state’s restrictive abortion laws.

Arizona Central: 

On Monday, Democratic state Sen. Eva Burch took to the Senate floor and told her colleagues something that no one should need to discuss in public.

And she did so for the very best reason.

KTAR:

An Arizona Democratic lawmaker took to the Senate floor Monday to criticize the state’s abortion laws, sharing her own ongoing experience to demonstrate the real-world impact of the Legislature’s actions.

The Canadian Press:

A pregnant Arizona lawmaker who revealed in a speech at the state Senate that she was planning to get an abortion says she wanted to share with her colleagues and the public the practical effects of abortion restrictions passed over the years.

12News:

As the Arizona Supreme Court weighs whether or not to uphold an abortion ban from 1864, state Sen. Eva Burch (D-District 9) shared to her colleagues that she plans to get an abortion.

Scripps News:

Arizona state Sen. Eva Burch announced on the Senate floor Monday her plan to have an abortion due to a nonviable pregnancy, highlighting what she sees as Arizona's "cruel" laws.

USA Today:

An Arizona lawmaker shared plans to terminate her pregnancy during an emotional speech on the state Senate floor on Monday aimed at supporting a ballot measure that would enshrine the right to abortion.

Axios:

Democratic Arizona Sen. Eva Burch plans to get an abortion after learning her pregnancy "is not progressing and is not viable," she told her colleagues in the state Senate Monday.

ABC15: 

An Arizona state senator told her fellow lawmakers Monday afternoon that she needs an abortion, using her experience to criticize restrictions on the procedure passed by the Legislature.

Washington Post:

When Eva Burch learned recently that she would lose another pregnancy, she felt exhausted.

The Arizona state senator had struggled with fertility for years, suffering a miscarriage more than a decade ago and getting an abortion after experiencing a nonviable pregnancy in 2022. She and her husband knew there was a chance her current pregnancy would not be viable. And after a medical provider told her that she would not be able to deliver a healthy baby, she knew she would seek another abortion.

Copper Courier: 

A pregnant Arizona lawmaker who revealed in a speech at the state Senate that she was planning to get an abortion says she wanted to share with her colleagues and the public the practical effects of abortion restrictions passed over the years.

The Daily Mail:

A Democratic Arizona state senator announced on the chamber floor she needs an abortion - then slammed her Republican colleagues for enacting laws that she said has made it difficult for her to obtain one.

AP News:

A pregnant Arizona lawmaker who revealed in a speech at the state Senate that she was planning to get an abortion says she wanted to share with her colleagues and the public the practical effects of abortion restrictions passed over the years.

Fox News:

An Arizona lawmaker announced on the state Senate floor Monday that she plans to have an abortion after learning that her pregnancy is not viable.

State Sen. Eva Burch, a registered nurse known for her reproductive rights activism, was surrounded by fellow Democratic senators as she made the announcement, The Arizona Republic reported.

CNN Politics: 

Arizona State Senator Eva Burch speaks with CNN's Abby Phillip about announcing her intention to terminate her pregnancy during a floor speech.

Arizona Mirror: 

Arizona’s anti-abortion laws impact women across the Grand Canyon State, and one Democratic state senator spoke out about how those laws have hurt her as she seeks to end an unviable pregnancy, urging GOP lawmakers to consider the harm caused by the restrictive laws they support.

Yahoo! News Singapore

An Arizona lawmaker shared that she plans to get an abortion during a powerful speech she gave on the state Senate floor Monday afternoon.

HuffPost:

An Arizona lawmaker shared that she plans to get an abortion during a powerful speech she gave on the state Senate floor Monday afternoon.

State Sen. Eva Burch (D) stood at the end of Monday’s session to make a point of personal privilege, a right afforded to Arizona lawmakers when they would like to make a personal remark. Burch, who for the last 12 years has worked as an emergency room nurse and nurse practitioner at a women’s health clinic, shared that a few weeks ago she and her husband found out she was pregnant. Burch described how she’s had “a rough journey with fertility,” miscarrying many times, and recalled how she got an abortion two weeks before Roe v. Wade fell in 2022 due to a nonviable diagnosis of a wanted pregnancy.

The Daily Beast:

Part of Eva Burch’s job is to make policy decisions as an elected senator in the Arizona State Legislature. But earlier this month, she found herself on the receiving end of her colleagues’ strict laws on abortion.

MSNBC: 

Senator Sundareshan joined Jonathan Capehart to discuss the Arizona Right to Contraception Act and the Republican majority’s move to block the bill.

HuffPost:

After refusing to have committees take up two bills that would enshrine access to contraceptives in state law, Arizona Republicans on Wednesday blocked a Hail Mary effort by Democrats to force a hearing on the legislation.

Arizona Mirror: 

Arizona Democrats are calling on President Joe Biden to pass the “strongest-ever” federal clean air regulations as Republican proposals in the state legislature continue to threaten efforts to reduce pollution.

Arizona Horizon:

It’s time for our weekly legislative update, this week focusing on the Democratic party, and we were joined by District 21 Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D) and District 23 Sen. Brian Fernandez (D).

Arizona Capitol Times: 

House and Senate Republicans used their rules Wednesday to block a vote – or even a debate – on a proposal to enshrine the right to contraceptives in Arizona law.

Arizona Mirror:

Arizona Republicans unanimously blocked an effort by Democratic lawmakers to force a vote on legislation guaranteeing the right to access contraception in the Grand Canyon State.

Daily Independent:

Two Democrat lawmakers are lashing out at Republicans for refusing to even consider their measure to enshrine the right to contraceptives in Arizona law. The twin measures would create a law saying individuals have the right to obtain “any drug, device or biological product intended for use in the prevention of pregnancy.” Senate Bill 1362 and House Bill 2678 then lists various items ranging from oral contraceptives to mechanical devices.

Arizona Mirror:

A bid to make birth control a right in Arizona that was a top policy priority for Gov. Katie Hobbs has stagnated in the Republican-controlled legislature and is likely dead.

The Democrat lashed out at the GOP on Thursday, questioning its support for contraceptive access. Republicans hold a one-seat majority in each legislative chamber, and every legislative committee chair is a Republican. Those chairs choose which bills get heard and which don’t move forward.

KJZZ:

A package of bills designed to improve housing affordability for Arizonans passed out of the state Senate today after similar housing proposals failed to gain traction last year.

Tucson Sentinel: 

The Arizona Senate will soon consider a bill that would turn the clock back more than 10 years on state election procedures. The state Senate Committee on Elections voted Monday to advance a bill that would ban countries from using widely available voting centers for all elections, instead returning to precinct-based voting.

Arizona Daily Star:

Republicans who control the Arizona House and Senate are advancing a slew of measures asking the state’s voters to directly enact laws on subjects ranging from elections to immigration to making it easier to sue over citizen initiatives.

Copper Courier:

There’s a chilling familiarity to this story coming out of Alabama. I remember all too well when, in June of 2022, abortion clinics closed down all across the state of Arizona. It was two weeks after my own procedure, following a failed pregnancy that my husband and I desperately wanted.

Arizona Horizon: 

This week, we’re joined by Rep. Mariana Sandoval (D) of District 23, and Sen. Flavio Bravo (D) of District 26 to discuss various legislative updates.

Arizona Central:

There’s a good reason the population of our state grew at nearly double the national average over the last decade and was ranked among the top five fastest-growing states: Opportunity.

Arizona Central:

Republicans who control the Arizona Senate — on a party-line vote — pushed through a bill that would allow the Ten Commandments to be posted in Arizona’s public schools.

Arizona Mirror:

Jacob Chansley, more commonly known as the QAnon Shaman, was a guest of Glendale Republican Anthony Kern at the Arizona Capitol this week, allowing Chansley access to areas where the public is generally prohibited.

Cronkite News:

House Speaker Ben Toma says his latest immigration bill could save Arizona billions in welfare benefits annually, but small-business owners rallied Monday to say it will cost the state instead, by driving out businesses and workers.

Phoenix Business Journal:

In this guest column, Sen. Bravo and Rep. Blattman criticize a proposal to sunset the Arizona Commerce Authority, which they argue would hamstring the state's rapidly growing economy.

Arizona Daily Star:

Saying the federal government has failed Arizona, state lawmakers voted Wednesday to let police here start arresting people who have entered the country illegally.

Arizona Central: 

Arizona's massive Medicaid fraud scandal involves multiple reports of "horrific" human trafficking and kidnapping, but so far, known criminal indictments connected to the case concern financial crimes only.

Arizona Central: 

Republican lawmakers hope to add teeth to a 2022 law that bans public school teachers from referring students to or using sexually explicit material, making violations of the law a felony.

Arizona Horizon: 

Arizona Horizon provided an in-depth look into new Democratic legislative updates. We were joined by Sen. Priya Sundareshan (D) of District 18 and Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D) of District 17.

Arizona Central:

Arizona lawmakers pushed forward a bill on Monday that would stop landlords from refusing to rent to tenants with certain dog breeds.

Yahoo! News: 

Arizona lawmakers pushed forward a bill on Monday that would stop landlords from refusing to rent to tenants with certain dog breeds.

The bipartisan Senate Bill 1439, sponsored by Sen. Brian Fernandez (D-Yuma) mainly targets restrictions placed most commonly on owners of pit bulls, German shepherds, and Rottweilers. It passed its first hearing in a 5-2 vote.

Copper Courier:

Republican legislators have expelled three members of the public from state committee meetings this week, and have cut off or silenced the testimony of several others in a draconian exercise of power.

Arizona Central:

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says a candidate who has previously taken an oath of office can be disqualified from the ballot if they participated in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.

Arizona Central:

A joint legislative bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature aims to make illegal immigration a state crime, bypassing federal judicial processes and authorizing local and state police to enforce federal immigration law — a proposed legislation that has received strong opposition as critics say it mirrors what once was Senate Bill 1070, the controversial "show me your papers" law.

Bloomberg:

You really have to hand it to Arizona: Even as its population has doubled and it has suffered through a decadeslong megadrought, the state uses less water today than it did 40 years ago.

Telemundo Arizona:

Los republicanos de Arizona están siguiendo los pasos de Texas al presentar un proyecto de ley inconstitucional, SB1231, que aumentará la discriminación racial al igual que SB1070. Los demócratas de Arizona prometen hacer todo lo posible para luchar contra la inequidad racial en nuestro estado.

Arizona Daily Star:

On a party-line vote, an Arizona Senate Committee approved a bill Wednesday to establish a rural groundwater management setup that’s favored by many farming interest groups but opposed by many environmentalists and some rural community leaders.

Arizona Capitol Times:

Republican lawmakers’ plan to increase teacher pay by extending Proposition 123, which uses state land trust funds, passed out of a Senate committee Wednesday.

The passage came with a caveat that the current resolutions are still working drafts given ongoing negotiations with Democrats, the teacher’s union and education stakeholders.

Arizona Central:

A legislative committee advanced three proposals targeting transgender youth on Wednesday.

All were sponsored by John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, and passed the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote, with Democrats opposed.

Copper Courier:

Being poor in Arizona is expensive, and despite the single-party control Republicans have had at the legislature, they have been unable—or more realistically—unwilling to do anything about it.

Last year, we had a budget surplus and the opportunity to make reality significantly better in Arizona for all people. But rather than work on honest, common-sense solutions to Arizona’s ongoing affordable housing crisis, our lack of groundwater management protections, and public school funding, the Arizona Freedom Caucus raised federal taxes on working families instead of investing in initiatives to make life in Arizona more affordable.

Arizona Mirror:

Republican lawmakers are gearing up for a showdown with Gov. Katie Hobbs over creating a fix for an impending election timeline issue created by Republican changes to the state’s recount law which could lead to overseas and military voters becoming disenfranchised and the state’s choice for president not being counted.

KOLD:

On Tuesday, Feb. 6, Arizona lawmakers met in a joint session to talk about changing the primary election dates.

It could alter the dates for this year but will happen in 2026 at the latest. The lawmakers have said they will have a final decision by the end of the week.

Blog for Arizona:

In 2022 when it was becoming increasingly clear in the Cyber Ninjas fiasco that there was no fraud in the Presidential Elections in Arizona, Republican lawmakers and Governor Doug Ducey, largely at the behest of their Trumpets-MAGA masters passed a election law that would trigger more automatic voter recounts if the margin of victory is 0.5 or less.

Arizona Central: 

The Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday unanimously advanced a bill that would ban brass knuckles after hearing passionate testimony from a teen who was attacked in the Gilbert In-N-Out Burger parking lot.

Phoenix New Times:

Democratic lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature filed bills on Tuesday that would guarantee better access to paid medical and family leave for workers.

Navajo Hopi Solidarity:

Yee Ha’ólníi Doo received a historic $2 million grant from the Arizona Department of Housing State Housing Trust Funds (HTF). This marks the first-ever HTF allocation directly to a nonprofit and aims to address the critical need for safe and healthy housing on the Navajo Nation.

Arizona Capitol Times:

The flying cars that The Jetsons made us believe we would all have by now haven’t quite materialized.

But a veteran state lawmaker wants to be sure Arizona is ready for them when they finally do arrive.

Arizona Horizon:

Our weekly legislative update is with the Democrats. Each week we invite a state senator and a representative from a single party, either Republicans or Democrats, to join us to discuss the latest news.

Senator Juan Mendez (D) of District 26 and Representative Oscar De Los Santos (D) talked about current events in the Arizona legislature.

Arizona Central:

The face of leadership in Arizona is evolving.

“Clearly, there are more African Americans interested in public service,” said Karl Gentles, a leader in the Maricopa County Democratic Party and co-chair of the Black Engagement Committee. “It’s showing up in the number of individuals who are running for office or seeking appointments.”

Daily Independent:

Julie Willoughby says state legislators shouldn't be making laws while on drugs for the same reason they shouldn't be driving.

She says they make bad decisions.

Arizona Capitol Times:

A bill to make school district elections explicitly partisan passed the Senate Education Committee on party lines, though the sponsor already noted the need to strike a provision requiring board members to run in partisan primaries.

KOLD:

On Monday, Jan. 22, the Senate Elections committee met for the first time in the new legislative session by teeing up a couple of bills that did not make it into law last year.

Tucson Sentinel: 

Sen. Rosanna Gabaldon represents District 21. The Democratic lawmaker has represented the area since 2020 and previously served four terms in the Arizona House of Representatives. Before serving in the Legislature, Gabaldon worked as a clerk for Pima County and in various private-sector jobs, including a stint in banking.

Arizona Central: 

Sen. Anna Hernandez wants to give families whose loved ones have been killed by police greater access to investigations and allow them to petition county attorneys to reopen cases.

The Center Square:

Arizona House Democrats outlined their legislative priorities this session as they deal with a narrow Republican majority in the Legislature, but Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs remains at the helm.

KJZZ:

The 2024 legislative session kicks off next week at the Arizona Capitol. Gov. Katie Hobbs will give her State of the State address on Monday and, from a budget shortfall to school vouchers to affordable housing, lawmakers have a lot on their minds.

AZ Luminaria:

Leaders from Arizona’s largest school for deaf and blind students are working with state Democratic senators on a bill they hope will extend its current funding from four years to 10 years after Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman shocked leaders of the school last session by refusing to extend its eight-year funding continuation.

Arizona Mirror:

In Arizona, the state’s highest court is considering whether to restore a near-total abortion ban from 1864, and in the Dominican Republic, women are fighting against an all-out ban from 1884.

The Gaggle: 

Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, spent years as a computer systems analyst before turning to a career in politics. Finding a lack of support and finances for her children's education inspired her to change paths.

Arizona Daily Star:

Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva and Arizona Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón advocated Wednesday for stronger federal laws to shift Americans to electric vehicles.

Arizona Capitol Times:

What were the best and worst moments of the session? Biggest successes, biggest issues? I felt our biggest win was the budget, because it ought to be. It’s the biggest thing we do. For me, K-12 education is paramount. It’s our number one duty and responsibility, I feel. We worked very hard, as a Democratic caucus to make sure that at least we met inflation, so that the dollars they receive are still enough to buy the same number of pencils as last year, and that we actually achieved, which is something that has not been done every year. Over time, the funding for K-12 has fallen behind. Our teachers suffered an eight and a half percent decrease in the real value of their dollars over the time of 2009 to 2022, I think. And, of course, we’re very proud of the homeless and housing investments. We hope to see those helping people.

Arizona Central:

The illusion of school choice empowering parents through universal vouchers while saving the state money is the most expensive dishonesty peddled by the Republican legislative majority since the Alt Fuels Fiasco.

Arizona Mirror:

The Arizona legislature has been in session for 184 days with no end in sight. Of the many things one could say about this unique session, which has been filled with a half-dozen extended breaks, one thing has been certain for many Capitol regulars: This session has been more tense, more partisan and contentious than previous sessions.

Daily Kos:

Remember when Republicans were all, “Oh, man, this inflation is just the worst thing ever. Better elect a bunch of us so we can get those egg prices down. All you gotta do is cede control of your own eggs—plus your uteri, genitalia, et. alia—to us! Don’t fret! We got you! Sure, 10-year-old rape victims are being forced to give birth, but have you seen the price of diapers lately? Unwilling preteen mothers can’t afford to take care of their own kids! Thanks, Biden!”

AP News:

Navajo leaders on Friday unveiled an operation to find and get needed services to hundreds of tribal members they predict will soon be on the streets of metro Phoenix amid a state crackdown on Medicaid fraud that affected as many as 7,000 Native Americans recruited to illegitimate sober living homes in recent years.

Arizona Horizon:

It’s our weekly legislative update! Today, we hear from Representative Laura Terech and Senator Christine Marsh of District 4 to discuss the fight Democrats faced to hammer out the new state budget.

Arizona Horizon:

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for the weekly legislative update. This week, it’s the Democrats’ turn. Senator Anna Hernandez of District 24 and Representative Melody Hernandez of District 26 joined Arizona Horizon host Ted Simons to discuss the latest news from the capitol including updates on the budget.

Arizona Horizon:

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time for our weekly legislative update, in which we hear from lawmakers on the latest activity at the State Capitol. This week it’s the Democrats’ turn. This week Senator Juan Mendez and House Representative Analise Ortiz joined Ted to discuss the latest news including updates on the budget and House Bill 2427.

Arizona Mirror:

Republican state legislators keep sending bills to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and she keeps vetoing them, including one she struck down Monday that critics say would have helped to codify fetal personhood.

Arizona Horizon:

It is the weekly legislative update. This week Assistant Senate Minority Leader, Senator Juan Mendez and House Minority Leader, Representative Andrés Cano join Ted to discuss the latest news from the Capitol including budget updates.

Arizona Central:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made his second trip to Arizona's southern border Tuesday, a return visit that highlighted a shift in approach from the state’s top office — from combat to collaboration.

Arizona Daily Star:

State senators gave preliminary approval Thursday to a measure directing the Education Department to come up with a list of books to ban in public schools.

Arizona Daily Star:

The Arizona Senate voted Tuesday to ask voters to wipe out the ability of cities to have home rule through their own charters.

Arizona Horizon:

Senator Juan Mendez and Representative Alma Hernandez join Ted to discuss the recent updates of the Arizona Legislator including lifting of the spending cap for education.

KJZZ:

Republican Arizona lawmakers are so angered at new Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' state budget proposal that one GOP lawmaker likened it to "poking the bear."

Arizona Agenda:

If you’re wondering why Arizona keeps bumping into a school spending limit each year, you can blame California.

Well, not just California, but the whole debacle started there, back in 1978.

Arizona Horizon:

On this week’s legislative update, Ted sat down with democratic party leaders, Sen. Mitzi Epstein of District 18 and House Democratic Whip Rep. Marcelino Quiñonez of District 11, to discuss current issues in the State Capitol.

Arizona Mirror:

Arizona Democrats have big plans for the new legislative session — and with a Democratic governor to back them, those plans have a better chance of being implemented than they have in recent memory.

“By their actions, the message from this chamber is that they are so pro-life they will kill you,” a state senator wrote.

Arizona Democrats tried to repeal a controversial, 1864 law set to take effect that will effectively block almost all abortions in the state, but were stymied by Republicans in both chambers of the legislature on Wednesday.

Lawmakers tried to repeal the law, which dates to the Civil War era and predates Arizona’s statehood, in both the state’s House and Senate on Wednesday. During a fiery moment, state House Rep. Matt Gress (R) tried to initiate a vote on the matter before he was shot down by others in the GOP who then called for a recess and adjourned until next week.