There is some intersession activity at the state legislature this week as they careen toward the 2026 session.
Joint Legislative Audit Committee meets at 1 p.m. in SHR109. On the agenda: no bills; reports on special audits of one state agency and four schools and/or districts and assorted other items.
On Tuesday, 12/9 - Nada.
On Wednesday, 12/10
Vulnerable System Study Committee meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1. On the agenda: no bills.
On Thursday, 12/11 - Nada.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Rerun: Back to the normal intersession schedule at the Arizona Legislature - nothing is on the schedule this week.
Back to the normal intersession schedule at the Arizona Legislature - nothing is on the schedule this week.
Wow! There's another WHOLE meeting this week!
Of course, I expect that this one will be all about Senate Republicans using the meeting as a platform for bashing the things they want bash - public schools in general, and Tolleson Union High School District in particular (and truth be told, they seem to have earned some bashing) and the Arizona Department of Housing.
On Monday, 10/6 - Nada.
On Tuesday, 10/7
Joint Legislative Audit Committee meets at 9:30 a.m. in HHR1. On the agenda: no bills, just some bashing.
On Wednesday 10/8 and Thursday, 10/9 - nada.
Wow! There's another WHOLE meeting this week!
Of course, I expect that this one will be all about Senate Republicans using the meeting as a platform for bashing the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS, or Arizona's version of Medicaid).
On Monday, 9/29 and Tuesday, 9/30 -
Nada.
On Wednesday, 10/1
Senate Health and Human Services meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1. On the agenda: no bills, no presentations.
Just comments about AHCCCS.
On Thursday, 10/2 -
Nada
The isn't much going on at the legislature, but there are signs of life down there.
On Monday, 9/22 and Tuesday, 9/23 -
Nada
On Wednesday, 9/24
Vulnerable Adult System Study Committee meets at 1 p.m.in SHR1. On the agenda: no bills.
On Thursday, 9/25 -
Nada.
Or either the AZ State Senate President has wayyyyy too much time on his hands.
From KXNV (Phoenix channel 15) -
Arizona senate president proposes renaming Valley highway in honor of Charlie Kirk
Arizona's state senate president is proposing new legislation to rename a Valley freeway to honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Senate President Warren Petersen says he will introduce legislation to rename Loop 202 in the Phoenix Metro area to the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Loop 202."
Apparently, Arizona's water problems (both quantity and quality), air problems (quality), and heat-related deaths problems have been solved and there's no need for the AZ legislature to consider substantive legislation at this point.
OK - Petersen is running for AZ Attorney General and may wish to secure the MAGA vote is the primary.
Newbies at the Arizona State Legislature (or perhaps people who are newly-minted lege-watchers) may have an idealized view of it, thinking that it's a legislative body looking out for the best interests of the people of AZ.
The reality of the AZ lege is somewhat different.
If there were a course on it, the syllabus for that course would include a section on "The Double Standard."
To whit (because this stuff would be certain to be covered in such a course) -
From KXNV (Phoenix channel 15), written by Rachel Louise Just, dated 9/5 -
Sen. Analise Ortiz faces ethics investigation over ICE warning repost
State Senator Analise Ortiz is facing an ethics investigation and calls for expulsion from the Arizona Senate after she reshared a post that included the location of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation.
This week, State Senator Jake Hoffman, R-LD12, formally asked for an ethics investigation into Ortiz, hoping it would lead to her expulsion.
"I think it's a clear violation of that oath of office," Hoffman told ABC15.
Yet,
From AZMirror, written Jerod MacDonald-Evoy -
Ethics Committee won’t investigate Islamophobic comments from Republican representative
The House Ethics Committee will not investigate an ethics complaint by Democratic leaders against Kingman Republican John Gillette, after he called Muslims “f***ing savages” and posted a series of Islamophobic comments on social media calling members of the faith “terrorists” from “sh*t hole countries” intent on destroying America.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Lupe Diaz, R-Benson, said he would not be taking the matter further and claimed that Democratic leaders were “weaponizing” the House Ethics complaint process. Diaz has not responded to multiple requests for comment about Gillette’s comments or the ethics complaint from the Arizona Mirror.
Whatever could be the difference between the two members? (that's sarcasm folks - I know what the difference is)
Did anything interesting happen this week or is expected to happen next week? :)
Nothing is on the schedule at the Arizona Legislature -
Basically, a rerun of last week's post -
Nada is scheduled for the week...
