Ol' Reliable, State Sen. John Kavanagh (R-LD3), is back for yet another legislative session

Of course, that may not be a good thing, as he's getting his hate on for poor people, elections, and public schools.

His SB1002 is all about adding verification requirements to TANF/SNAP fund disbursements and prosecuting certain recipients.

His SB1003 proposes to add one phrase to election law in many places (re: canvasses of elections) - 

"ACKNOWLEDGE WITHOUT PREJUDICE"

His using the phrase "without prejudice" probably doesn't mean "without regard to a candidate's ethnicity, race, gender, or gender preference."

Nope.  Not from one of the Center for Arizona Policy's (CAP) favorite legislators (he's already stated he wishes to propose sending CAP's anti-LGBTQ bathroom measure directly to the voters and bypass Governor Katie Hobbs' veto pen).

My guess is that the phrase is his way of saying "if voters don't the way we want, we'll just say the results don't count."

His SB1004 proposes to further the ESA (school voucher) budget-busting scam by mandating that students whose parents are recipients of ESAs be allowed to participate in/try out for "interscholastic activities"  (aka - sports) in the school district that covers the area of their residence (with certain exceptions).

While I don't believe that people, in this case, students, should be punished for the actions of others, neither should they be rewarded.

Bottom line: the parents of the students decided to weaken public schools in order to enhance their personal financial positions, and their children should not be rewarded for that.

Not allowing them to participate in public school sports (et. al.) doesn't qualify as "punishment" because it doesn't take away anything from them that they already have.

Kavanagh is consistent - my guess is that he'll propose many anti-poor people, anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-public education bills...as well as one (or more!) bill that's both pro-police and anti society.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/30/2025

While there is nothing on the legislature's schedule at this point, that may change. We're in the post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas period - there are many intersession meetings now.

In other words, keep an eye out for changes.

AZ legislature 2026: And the first one out of the gate is...

In normal years, sitting legislators usually don't start "prefiling" measures for an upcoming session until December of the prior year.

This year, however, some members have already started filing measures.

While it is still early (obviously), the measures offer some insight into the content of the coming session.

The 2026 session of the Arizona State Legislature will be loaded with MAGA/anti-democracy/anti-society propaganda.

In the House -

The first "Concurrent Resolution" (intended to bypass a gubernatorial veto and go directly to the voters) is HCR2001, prefiled by Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-LD3) and co-sponsored by a rogues' gallery of extremist Rs on 11/15.  Among other things, it would serve to greatly reduce mail-in voting.  One HCR has been filed thus far.

The first "Memorial" (aka - a love letter to Congress, asking them to do something in particular about a specific topic) is HM2001 prefiled by Rep. Khyl Powell (R-LD14) on 11/17.  It asks Congress to withdraw the United States from the UN.  Other HMs from Powell seek to go after the International Monetary Fund, the Bureau of Industry and Security, and the US-Mexico-Canada agreement   Four HMs have been filed thus far.

The first "Bill" (a proposed change to AZ law) is HB2001, prefiled by Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD1) on 11/17.  It proposes to all but eliminate early voting.  20 HBs have been filed thus far.

There is also some "sneaky" language in the HB2001 -

I expect that if bill fails or otherwise doesn't move forward, this particular language [removal] will be inserted into another bill.

In the Senate -

The first Concurrent Resolution is SCR1001, prefiled by Sen. Shawnna Bolick on 11/15.  It looks to be a duplicate of the previously mentioned HCR2001.  One SCR has been filed thus far.

As of this writing, no Memorials have been filed in the Senate.

The first Bill is SB1001, prefiled by Sen. Frank Carroll on 11/17.  It proposes -

That's it; that's the entire bill.

Note: DES doesn't have a specific program by that name, though if the bill moves forward, it could be amended to include a specific name.

One SB has been filed thus far.

In other words, get ready for a bumpy ride when the lege returns to Phoenix.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/23/2025

Shockingly, their *is* something on the legislature's schedule during the holiday week.

On Monday, 11 24 - Nada.

On Tuesday, 11/25 

-

Obesity Treatment Study Committee meets at 1 p.m.in SHR1.  On the agenda for this joint committee: no bills; five presentations related o obesity and/or insurance coverage for the same.

On Wednesday, 11/26 and Thursday, 11/27 (the Thanksgiving holiday) - Nada.

Biggs claims that he will vote to release the Epstein files

I recommend filing that one under "believe it when you see it."

From KJZZ, written by Wayne Schutsky,

Biggs says he will vote to release the Epstein files

Congressman Andy Biggs says he will vote to release the Epstein files despite efforts by President Donald Trump to keep lawmakers from forcing the Justice Department to disclose the records.

Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced a petition in July to force a vote on their bill, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson, who would not bring the legislation to a vote.

Biggs is a Cheeto-endorsed 2026 candidate for AZ governor and he wouldn't do this without specific permission from Cheeto himself.

Which Cheeto probably wouldn't give unless he thought that the Epstein files couldn't hurt him - if the files are released, all references to him will certainly be edited out by his pets in the DOJ.

Of course, if his DOJ can't release falsified files (I'm guessing that someone, perhaps Vlad, had evidence tying Cheeto to Epstein, and will counter any false story), he'll simply veto any legislation that Congress passes re: releasing the Epstein files.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/16/2025

Like two weeks ago, nothing is on the schedule..

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/09/2025

Wow!!!

There's five whole meetings on the lege's schedule this week...it's almost as if they're trying to fit them in before taking time off for Thanksgiving..

On Monday, 11/10 

-

Joint Committee on Capital Review meets at 1 p.m. in SHR109. On the agenda: no bills, 11 reviews of agency capital expenditures and/or projects.

Joint Legislative Budget Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109.  On the agenda: no bills: one executive session and a "public" session with 13 items on the agenda...and 12 are on the "consent" agenda, and no public comment will be taken.

On Tuesday, 11/11, Veterans Day - Nada.

On Wednesday, 11/12 -

Senate Health and Human Services meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: no bills; receiving testimony from AHCCCS, the state Department of Health Services, and providers (while the agenda doesn't specify, I presume that those will be *healthcare* providers).

On Thursday, 11/13 

-

Obesity Treatment Study Committee meets at noon in SHR2.  It's a joint committee.  On the agenda:  no bills.

On Friday, 11/14 

- 

House Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity and Florida-Style Voting Systems meets at 9:30 a.m. in HHR4.  On the agenda: no bills.  Not on the agenda, but will happen anyway: boosting committee chair Alexander Kolodin's campaign for AZ Secretary of State.

Mostly great news: Election results 2025

Nationally, it was a very good day for Democratic candidates.  There are many articles on that available.

Suffice to say, yesterday was an example of most Americans saying "Up Yours" to Cheeto et. al.

This post will focus on some Maricopa County results; the vote total could/will change, but the results aren't close enough for the outcome to change.  Any that look to be close enough to change will be noted.

All pics and numbers are from Maricopa County Elections.

First, the big one (for this county anyway.)

Proposition 409, authorizing the Maricopa County Special Health Care District to sell some bonds passed, just not by as wide a margin as it should have.

There were 31 school-related questions, 20 passed.

One that might change is in Chandler -

There was one piece of bad news - Republican Mesa City Council member Julie Spilsbury was recalled in favor of Turning Point USA's preferred candidate.

Her offense?

Being an apostate woman.

To memorialize Charlie Kirk, Rs wish to use public resources for partisan purposes

From KJZZ, written by Wayne Schutsky, dated 10/27 -

3 Arizona municipalities to consider moving forward with Charlie Kirk memorials

Several cities and towns across the Valley will consider requests to officially memorialize conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed by a gunman last month.

Fountain Hills Vice Mayor Allen Skillicorn asked the council to consider building a statue to Kirk at a meeting last week. A similar effort backed by Skillicorn and Town Councilwoman Hannah Larrabee to rename the town’s community center after Kirk failed to gain traction last month, but this time the council agreed to consider Skillicorn’s request.

Mayor Gerry Friedel says the item likely won’t make it onto an agenda until next year due to a backlog of items the council needs to address at upcoming meetings.

The Scottsdale City Council will also discuss whether it wants to look into constructing a Kirk memorial at a meeting next week.

According to the agenda for the Nov. 3 meeting, the Scottsdale council can vote to add the item to an agenda for a future meeting or ask city staff to investigate the proposal further and deliver a report to the council.

The Phoenix City Council will consider a citizen petition at its meeting on Wednesday that asks it to rename a Seventh Street bridge near Chase Field after Kirk. The petition was filed by controversial activist the Rev. Jarrett Maupin.

This article was written before the Phoenix City Council considered, and rejected, Maupin's scheme.

The video of the 10/29 meeting is here.  The consideration of the Kirk petition begins at approximately the 45:51 mark of the video recording.

Two takeaways:

1.  The proposer of the petition, Republican gadfly Jarrett Maupin, didn't bother to show up and support his petition.  Not a good look for the erstwhile candidate for Congress.

2. The council denied the petition on a 7-1 vote.  The one supporter?  Republican former legislator Jim Waring.

The Scottsdale City Council will consider a memorial to Kirk on Monday, 11/3.

That one may pass without much comment - the proposal itself is limited (emphasis added by me), with them taking no public comments -

The scheme was proposed by Republican former legislator Adam Kwasman (notice a pattern?)

The Fountain Hills Town Council has not put the matter on a posted agenda as yet, but when it is, I expect the measure to pass.  The town is a R stronghold.

From Maricopa County Elections -

Let me be clear - I don't wish death on anyone, even someone like Kirk, who trafficked in and profited from hate.

The act of murder diminishes a society.

However, creating publicly-funded memorials and naming public infrastructure after murder victims is something that should be reserved for those who made a positive contribution to society, people whose loss diminishes society.

His spouse and offspring may find their lives are worse off without him; society is not.

Legislator wants to install speed inhibitor devices into the vehicles of speeders

Could someone please explain to me how devices installed into cars are less intrusive than traffic enforcement cameras, which Republican legislators absolutely *hate* (but never go into a vehicle)?

From Arizona Capitol Times , written by Jakob Thorington

Arizona to consider speed-limiting devices to improve road safety

An Arizona representative is trying to make the state’s roads safer by using new technology to tether excessive and frequent speeders to the posted speed limits. 

Rep. Quang Nguyen, R-Prescott Valley, said on Oct. 27 that he’s introducing a bill next session that would allow courts to order a speed-inhibitor device to be installed in the vehicles of motorists who frequently or excessively violate speeding laws. 

The "money line" in the article is the last one in the article...and the emphasis is on "money".

If the bill becomes law next session, Arizona would launch a competitive procurement process for companies to bid and become approved providers of devices that can be used.

 

Don't be shocked if the 2026 bill doing this is written in such a way that only one or two companies can meet the conditions that "approved" device providers will be required to meet.

An enterprising prosecutor could try to establish their professional bona fides by looking for financial ties between those companies and supporters of the measure.

During the 2025 session, Rep. Nguyen introduced HB2786, designed to mandate the installation of such devices.  It failed in the House.  Twice.

Actually, I think I know why Republican legislators hate traffic cameras so much.

They keep catching them doing bad things.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/02/2025

Like last week, nothing is on the schedule...but two weeks from today, Republican Representative Alexander Kolodin will use his position to campaign for Arizona Secretary of State.

On the taxpayer dime.

Thank you, RFK Jr.: Measles comes to Arizona

Fortunately, thus far, it's limited to an enclave in the northern part of the state.

Of course, the airborne illness travels.

From the Arizona Department of Health Services -

[snip]

It's a national problem.

From the CDC -

From NBC News, dated 10/22 -

Measles spreading beyond the center of the Utah-Arizona outbreak

The nation's second-largest measles outbreak this year is spreading beyond its epicenter along the Utah-Arizona border.

Most of the known measles cases — 123 as of Wednesday — are linked to a tight-knit community of twin towns: Colorado City, in Mohave County, Arizona, and Hildale, which is in Washington County, Utah. Within the past few weeks, there have been three cases in nearby, larger towns, such as Hurricane and St. George, Utah. Those exposures occurred in hospital and urgent care settings, according to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department.

Independent voters in AZ want to watch their registrations

I watched KPNX's Sunday Square Off with Brahm Resnik today (I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm a politics geek :) ).

Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Secretary of State was on.  At approximately the 5:30 mark of the linked YouTube video, he informed viewers that the state's No Labels party would be changing its name as of 12/1/2025.  

To "Arizona Independent" party.

As most registrants put "Independent" instead of "Party Not Declared" (PND) on their voter registration forms, this reeks of being a dirty trick intended to falsely inflate that party's registration numbers.

Fontes did report that he and staff are looking for ways to minimize confusion.

In spite of that, voters should check their registrations, especially PND voters.

What wasn't covered, and what I don't know, was if this is happening in other states, or if Arizona is serving as the guinea pig/test case for this scheme, and if it works here, it'll be exported to other states.

If this "No Labels" candidate is on a ballot, they'll probably get more votes than all other NL candidates COMBINED

From the Arizona Secretary of State's Statements of Interest page -

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/26/2025

Nothing scheduled this week.