The Legislature is back in session; "ugly" season has already started

I was going to refer to it as "silly" season, but that name is reserved for the time in the legislative session when all Democrats and rank-and-file Republicans go into "hurry up and wait" mode, waiting for the R leadership and the governor to hand down the state's budget.  A lot of bad bills are passed during this period of boredom.

Introduced today are

HB2059, by Rep. Walt Blackman, an attack on democracy. 

HB2061, also introduced by Blackman, an attack on every school's sex ed curriculum, including a section that removes language in the state law regarding discussion of AIDS (to be fair, language about AIDS is included in other parts of the bill).  It also includes a section that would mandate that abstinence-only be taught in schools.

HB2064, also introduced by Blackman, a pro-Covid and exposure to cervical cancer in schools bill

HB2065, also introduced by Blackman, removing a section of state law barring students who can't show that they've been vaccinated from attending class

HB2071, by Rep. David Cook, putting language in state law about mail in ballots being valid if they are postmarked early enough and received not later than the fifth day after election day...but does NOT remove language saying that ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on election day.

HR2001, a resolution, also introduced by Blackman, that's full of anti-Planned Parenthood/choice propaganda masking itself as a pro-African-American measure.

HB2080, by Rep. Mark Finchem, another anti-democracy measure.

HCR2003, by Rep. Gail Griffin, declaring the the legislature loves remaining unvaccinated in the age of Covid-19.

HB2112, by Rep. Michelle Udall, barring the teaching of critical race theory

HCR2001, by Steve Kaiser, asking the voters to alter the state's constitution to ban the teaching of CRT.

HB2107, by Rep. Leo Biasiucci, repealing the section of state law that allow for the ordering of business closures during declared emergencies

HB2115, also introduced by Udall, is a broadly-written measure that would enable the use of a filter to block the downloading of material that is "harmful to minors" on personal electronic devices.

And to think, at one point, I thought that Udall was one the saner Rs in the legislature.

I was wrong about that.

And that's just the House of Representatives.  In the Senate, they've already introduced

SB1123, by Sen. Wendy Rogers. A pro-concealed weapons in universities, colleges, and community colleges measure

SB1124,  also introduced by Rogers, ending fees for concealed weapons permits for actively serving members of the military or retired veterans who were discharged under certain conditions, and for active or retired LEOs.  It would also create an expedited application process for the same.

SB1125,  also introduced by Rogers, that would legalize all non-fully automatic firearms and equipment and ammunition for the same.

SB1131, also introduced by Rogers, expanding school vouchers

SB1132, also introduced by Rogers, barring municipalities from issuing bonds to finance green projects

SB1133, also introduced by Rogers, barring municipalities and school districts from holding all mail elections.  Given that the early vote in 2020 was overwhelmingly Democratic, this one isn't much of a surprise.

SB1134, also introduced by Rogers, barring the use of photo radar.

SB1135, by Sen. Warren Petersen, removing the ability of courts to evaluate change of judge affidavits

SB1138, also introduced by Petersen, basically barring all "gender transition" procedures for those under 18, and barring the use of public funds for the same, and creating an ability for anyone to sue over this.

Expect a bumpy ride from the legislature, with LOTS of red meat for MAGA/GQP types.

We've already seen that on the first day of the session.