Legislative schedule - week starting 12/28/2025

This is New Year's week, so there's nothing going on at the AZ state legislature.

I expect the following week to be busier, as the 2026 session of the AZ starts on 1/12/2026.

Of course, I could be wrong (shockingly, it DOES happen.  On rare occasion. ☺

Last year, during the week before the start of the session, there was one meeting -

In 2024, during the period, there were five meetings - 

Either way, the week before the start of the legislative session should be best described as "The Calm Before The Storm."

Note: As of this writing, legislators have "prefiled" 183 measures for the coming session -

Like sands through the hourglass, the Arizona State Legislature will return. It's inevitable.

Something else is inevitable, too - They won't do their job, starting on 1/12/2026.

Thus far, they've introduced 182 measures (bills or memorials/resolutions).  Most of those won't be approved by both chambers and of those that do, many won't make it past the governor's veto.

Some fall into the "Culture War" category (aka - "the GOP's War on America") -

Some fall into The "Fear the Other" subcategory (Rep. John Gillette's [R-Shameless Bigot] HCM2001)

Some into the "Anti Early Voting" subcategory (Rep Alexander Kolodin's [R-Running for AZ Secretary of State in order to upend elections] HCR2001)

Some into the "Anti LGBTQ+" subcategory (Rep Selina Bliss' [R- I thought she was less insane than the others. I was wrong) HCR2003)

Some into the "Anti-Vaxxer" subcategory (Rep Nick Kupper's [R-Don't Know Much About Him, But I'll Have to Start Paying More Attention) HB2005)

Some into the "Anti Choice" subcategory (Bliss' HB2043)

Some into the "Anti Public Education" subcategory (Rep. David Livingston's [R-Heavily Armed] HB2075)

Some into the "Anti Poor People" subcategory (Sen. John Kavanagh's [Center for AZ Policy's Water Carrier] SB1002)

Some into the "Anti Fluoride" subcategory (Sen. Janae Shamp's [R-Just Plain Nuts] SB1019]

Some into the "Anti Science" subcategory (Sen. David Farnworth's [R-Foisting His Fundie Religious Dogma of the Rest of Society] SB1025)

Some into the "Trump Worship" subcategory (Shamp's SB1070)

...You get the idea.  Republican legislators will do a LOT of Culture War preening in 2026.  It's an election year, and they want to win any primaries.

GOP state legislators aren't ALL about Culture War issues, though.

Rep. Gail Griffin (R-W2 or 1099?) has already introduced her usual spate of bills to protect and even enhance industry profits, not to help the people of AZ.

Sen. John Kavanagh is a multitasker - he hates pretty much EVERYTHING.  Including public disclosure of misdeeds by scofflaw legislators.  In addition to his various Culture War measures, he's introduced SB1022, intended to stop disclosure of images from "photo enforcement systems."

He *really* doesn't like it when legislators are shown to be hypocrites who believe that laws don't apply to them.

He's also introduced a "protect the wealthy" measure.  His SB1033 seeks to exempt the sales of vacation homes from municipal sales tax.

Of course, some of the proposals seem to be mildly contradictory.  Kupper's HB2059 seeks to remove speed limits, under certain circumstances, while Kavanagh's SB1073 seeks to impose them, under certain circumstances.

To be fair, the bills may not be totally contradictory - their "circumstances" aren't the same.

Lastly, legislators are specifically barred from creating legislation that is targeted at a specific municipality.  One of the ways they get around this requirement is by being hyper-specific, crafting language in a bill that doesn't mention a municipality by name but can only apply to one city.  Bliss' HB2080 seems to be a very example of this.  The language from her bill:  "In a city or town with a population of more than two thousand five hundred persons but less than ten thousand persons, whose population growth rate did not exceed an average of two percent per year for the ten-year period before the most recent United States decennial census and whose current general plan was approved by the voters..."

Hmmm...

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday, I wrote a post listing all of the folks who have expressed an interest in being a candidate for Congress in AZCD1.  That's already changed.

From AZFamily -

Former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely switches congressional districts in Arizona race

Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely has switched his congressional campaign from the East Valley to Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, joining a crowded Republican primary in Scottsdale.

The move comes after President Donald Trump endorsed former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the Fifth Congressional District last month, sending Feely a message to run in a different district.

I think that Feely is able to utilize the same federal committee that he used for his CD5 run as for his CD1 run.  However, I'm not a lawyer, so I could easily be wrong about that.

If he can, he hasn't updated his committee yet.

From the FEC -

Get your popcorn and shock absorbers out - it's going to be entertaining though bumpy ride

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/21/2025

 This is Christmas week, so there's nothing going on at the AZ state legislature.

Horse Race time - Chaplik is in the AZCD1 race

News broke this week that Republican state representative Joe Chaplik (LD3) has entered the race the outgoing member of Congress in CD1, David Schweikert.  

Schweikert is running for governor of Arizona.

The person most hurt by his entry into the CD1 race may be Gina Swoboda.  She's the current chair of the AZGOP, and prior to Chaplik's entry, the biggest "name" in the race (quotes used because while they have more notoriety/name recognition than the other candidates, it's limited [not everyone is a political geek like me and know who major party chairs and members of the state legislature are])

The person most helped by his entry into the CD1 race may be one of those low name rec candidates.  If Swoboda and Chaplik spend the primary season launching political haymakers at each other, it may open up a path to victory in that race for one the others.

Also, while nominating signatures are due to be submitted by April 6, 2026, it's still early enough for a well-funded "big name" to enter the race.

Currently 12 Democrats and 10 Republicans have filed a Statement of Interest (SOI) in the race (filed with the Arizona Secretary of State)and/or formed a committee for run with the FEC (one Libertarian has an open committee, but is was formed in 2024 and has been receiving letters about a failure to file reports, so that person may not be running this year).

Below is a list of folks who have filed an SOI and/or formed a committee for a run next year.  In the date section, if no year is specified, the year is 2025.  Also, one date format is month (as text) followed by date.  That's because my spreadsheet program kept changing 3/4 to a fraction.

The vast majority of potential D candidates here filed their paperwork before Scheikert exited the race; the vast majority of Rs did so after.

Not all people who express interest/form a committee will be on a ballot.

I'm not going make any prediction regarding the outcome of race for the R nomination here - my prognosticating ability in R races is almost nonexistent.

As for the D race, no prediction until I see who's actually going to be on the ballot.

Caveat: CD1 in my district.

Dear Cheeto: Please visit Arizona

Democratic candidates here need the boost.

From The Hill -

Trump’s ramped up travels pose risk, reward for GOP ahead of 2026

President Trump is set to ramp up his appearances on the campaign trail in support of Republicans ahead of next year’s midterms, with the White House and its allies banking on his ability to turnout low-propensity voters.

Trump traveled to Pennsylvania this week for what is expected to be the start of an increasingly busy travel schedule as the calendar turns to 2026. That appearance showcased both the risks and rewards for the GOP of putting Trump front-and-center: Trump turned out an enthusiastic crowd in a key Pennsylvania county, but his remarks garnered attention for his tirades against immigrants and his dismissive comments about affordability.

My guess is that his handlers/sycophants will advise him to make campaign appearances during primary season in order to support his preferred candidates, but in general elections, his presence won't help.

Many of the R nominees, even some of his "preferred" candidates, in the general, will look to distance themselves from his policies, his grifting, his pedophilia, and him personally.  Especially if those candidates believe they have a chance of winning their general election contests.

Initially, he'll ignore his handlers, but then general election candidates will stop extending invitations to him.

It's easy to be a Democrat

[rides tall equine animal up to blogging platform and begins spouting off]

...For me, anyway.

I always* vote for the better human being in any election, and the next time the R nominee in any race is even a decent human being will the first time in a very long time.

* caveat - To show voting is an ongoing learning process, I have decided that I won't vote for someone,  even the better human being in a race, if I have to hold my nose in order to vote for that person.  Better to just skip that race.

It's called "The Sinema Rule."

Some people (OK, *me* :) ) think of a political campaign as an extended group job interview and too many candidates are elected/hired after promulgating a platform of "You should hire me because I'm not gonna do the job."

It's not a partisan thing - I hope that ALL elected officials are decent human beings (OK, you can stop laughing at my wide-eyed idealism now :) ).

I don't expect that all will agree with me one everything (though they should because I'm always right.  Just ask me.  For readers who don't have an onboard sarcasm detector, and need it pointed out - that was sarcasm.  I'm not always right.)

[/gets off high horse]

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/14/2025

There's one meeting on the legislature's schedule next week.  I admit, I thought there would be more during the last full week before Christmas.  I was wrong (It happens, just not often. 😁 )

On Monday, 12/15 and Tuesday, 12/16 - Nada.

On Wednesday, 12/17 

-

Obesity Treatment Study Committee meets at 12 p.m. (noon) in SHR1.  On the agenda: no bills; one presentation, discussion, and some recommendations.

On Thursday, 12/18 - Nada.

ICE welcomes Adelita Grijalva to Congress with pepper spray

Of course, if asked about it, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Cheeto's pet) will probably do his best Sgt. Shultz imitation and claim to "know nothing" (yes, I'm showing my age with that reference 🤣)

From Pinterest -

From CNN -

Democratic congresswoman says she was pepper-sprayed during 

ICE raid in Arizona

Rep. Adelita Grijalva said Friday she was pepper-sprayed and pushed around during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in Tucson, Arizona, a claim that the Department of Homeland Security swiftly disputed.

The Arizona Democrat said in a video on X the incident occurred near a restaurant she frequents and that she came upon a scene of “maybe 40 ICE agents, most of them masked, in several vehicles” who had been “stopped” in the street by people who she said “were afraid they were taking people without due process.”

Legislative schedule - week starting 12/7/2025

There is some intersession activity at the state legislature this week as they careen toward the 2026 session.

On Monday, 12/8 

-

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.

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.