CEBV Weekly: January 22, 2024
CEBV Weekly: January 22, 2024
A legislative session that's #NotTheOnion
We spent lots of time this week shaking our heads at the foolishness coming from 1700 West Washington. Republican legislative leaders know Arizona voters are tired of extremist culture-war rhetoric, and with campaign season just around the corner, those leaders are struggling mightily to get their caucus to focus on more mainstream subjects like inflation, taxes and gas prices. But rank-and-file members are simply refusing to get off the culture-war train — leading to news that might as well be lifted from satire publication The Onion.
If this week’s bills are to be believed, our food is being injected full of vaccines; walkable cities are a communist government plot; "woke" banks are refusing service to anyone flying a MAGA flag; ranchers are suffering devastating harm from consumers foolish enough to buy Impossible burgers thinking they’re real meat; and Stalinist teachers are loading kindergarteners up with sexually explicit books. And don't forget, we’ve gotta ban vote centers, because that’s how the puppet masters get you.
Voters, are you rolling on the floor laughing at the absurdity? Living full-time in the la-la land that is the Republican state legislature must be exhausting. Fortunately, elections matter, and Arizonans’ rights are protected by a governor who will veto these bills. The extremists are left with messaging vehicles at best — but given voter disdain of extremism, it’s not the messaging they were hoping for.
As always, our involvement (and amplification) definitely matters. The more voters learn what’s happening at their state Capitol, the more they’ll vote for (to coin a phrase) “sanity over chaos.”
⏰ If you have 20 minutes: Use Request to Speak to oppose bills in committee.
⏰⏰ If you have 30 minutes: Share the Weekly with one person who “doesn’t do politics.” Reaching low-turnout and low-information voters is how we win in November!
⏰⏰⏰ If you have 60 minutes: Join us on Zoom at 4pm on Sunday for our next CEBV Happy Hour. This week’s featured guest is Jen Fifield of VoteBeat. Then, stay on for a presentation from Alex Gulotta with All Voting is Local. We’ll meet every Sunday at 4 PM through the end of session. Sign up in advance here.
Of greater concern is a flood of garbage that could be headed to the November ballot. Bills designated SCR or HCR are House or Senate Concurrent Resolutions. If passed by both chambers, these will head directly to the ballot without crossing the governor’s desk. This week, committees plan to consider the following:
SCR1001 (Rogers, R-7), asking voters to ban the use of photo radar
SCR1002 (Hoffman, R-15), asking voters to amend the state Constitution to ban government from trying to monitor or reduce vehicle miles of travel
SCR1006 (Petersen, R-14), asking voters to allow people to demand property tax refunds if cities refuse to criminalize common activities for people experiencing homelessness
SCR1007 (Carroll, R-28), asking voters to ban state government and public schools from signing contracts with companies unless they agree not to "discriminate" against gun manufacturers
HCR2032, Jones (R-17), asking voters to ban voting centers and limit precinct size to 1,000 voters
Remember, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto them.
But that’s not the only reason our Republican-led legislature wants to drown us in culture-war nonsense. Any time abortion is on the ballot — as it will likely be in Arizona in November — voters turn out to preserve their rights. Cluttering up our (already expected to be extra-long) ballot is a way to sow confusion and increase the chances that voters will be frustrated enough to say no to everything or skip over propositions altogether.
Put these SCR/HCR bills squarely on your own “photo radar” and let’s pull out the full toolbox of resistance: letters to the editor, social media ridicule (bonus points if you tag the sponsor and your own legislators), testimony if you can, phone calls, emails, airplane banner ads, and everything else you can imagine.
Need a little boost? Don’t miss our Messaging & LTE presentation this Thursday night. The registration link is here, or on our Linktree:
Monday
SB1010, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban government from setting goals to reduce vehicle miles of travel. Reducing vehicle miles burns fewer fossil fuels and extends road life, which is good for the state. Based on an absurd conspiracy theory that believes the “world government” wants to limit people’s freedom of movement and advance a totalitarian agenda. (Yes, really.) Hoffman introduced the same bill last year, which failed to pass. HELD last week, but once again scheduled for Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
SB1011, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would explicitly reject federal funding for biking and walking infrastructure, depriving Arizona communities of millions of available dollars. In 2017, Arizona received at least $18 million in federal funding for bike/ped work through the Transportation Alternatives program alone, only one of at least 14 potential federal funding programs for bike/ped safety projects. Hoffman introduced the same bill last year, which failed to pass. HELD last week, but once again scheduled for Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
SB1012, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban the Department of Transportation from setting goals to reduce vehicle miles of travel, and from taking race, color or ethnicity into consideration (even though nonwhite Americans rely on public transit at 2 to 3 times the rate of white Americans). Based on the same absurd conspiracy theories as SB1010. Held last week, but once again scheduled for Senate Transportation, Technology & Missing Children Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
SCR1001, sponsored by Wendy Rogers (R-7), would ask voters to ban the use of photo radar. Numerous studies have found both speed and red-light cameras offer many safety benefits. Conspicuous, fixed cameras reduce traffic crashes and injuries by up to 35 percent. Nobody likes a ticket, but Arizona has had speed cameras since 1987 for good reason. Repealing photo radar will lead to more dangerous roads and more collisions. Gov. Hobbs vetoed a similar bill last year, but because this measure would head directly to the ballot, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto it. HELD last week, but once again scheduled for Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
SCR1002, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ask voters to amend the state Constitution to ban government from trying to monitor or reduce vehicle miles of travel. Again, based on an absurd conspiracy theory that believes the “world government” wants to limit people’s freedom of movement and advance a totalitarian agenda. Because this measure would head directly to the ballot, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto it. Hoffman introduced the same bill last year, which failed to pass. HELD last week, but once again scheduled for Senate Transportation, Technology and Missing Children Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
SCR1006, sponsored by Warren Petersen (R-14), would ask voters to approve county or city property tax refunds for property owners if the county or city “declines to enforce” existing laws that criminalize common activities for people experiencing homelessness, and if the property is “reduced in fair market value or the property owner incurs expenses” as a result. The activities mentioned include illegal camping, obstructing public thoroughfares, loitering and panhandling. The State Treasurer would be required to withhold state funding for the refunds claimed. This bill is another in a long line of culture-war-driven attempts to criminalize homelessness rather than tackle the underlying issues. Because the measure would go straight to the ballot, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto it. Scheduled for Senate Finance and Commerce Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
HB2120, sponsored by David Marshall (R-7), would penalize cities and counties if they didn’t spend “enough” on law enforcement. It would deduct state funds from local governments that violate the measure, and redistribute those funds to other cities and counties. This fear-based bill is designed to hamstring efforts to redistribute law enforcement money to address the root causes of crime and poverty, such as education, health care, mental health programs and homeless services. This is the third straight year for the bill, which has failed to pass every year. Scheduled for House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
HB2183, sponsored by Julie Willoughby (R-13), would require health care entities to give parents access to all of their minor children’s medical records, even for services that don’t require parental consent. This effectively would strip minors of their right to medical privacy and strip medical professionals of the right to exercise their professional judgment on when to divulge information. Scheduled for House Health & Human Services Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
HB2244, sponsored by Quang Nguyen (R-1), would ban the “intentional misbranding or mislabeling” of vegetarian food products as “meat” or “poultry.” Violations would incur fines of up to $100,000 per day. Similar legislation has been introduced or passed in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Arkansas. Several years ago, a federal court blocked the Arkansas law for confusing consumers in order to benefit the state’s meat industry. Scheduled for House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
HB2406, sponsored by John Gillette (R-30), would allow meat, poultry and seafood products made from animals that were not given a mRNA vaccination to be labeled "mRNA free." The bill appears to be driven by a false conspiracy theory that mRNA vaccines have entered the US food supply. A similar bill was introduced last year in Tennessee. Scheduled for House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
Tuesday
HB2178, sponsored by Alexander Kolodin (R-3), would allow students at Arizona’s public universities to dedicate their student activity fees to specific university-recognized student organizations or clubs. A university should retain final say over the funding allocation for its programs, rather than the legislature inserting itself in the minutiae of university budgeting. Scheduled for House Education Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
Wednesday
SB1005, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban the state, including public schools, from requiring "diversity, equity, and inclusion programs" for its employees, spending public funds on such programs, or setting policies to influence the composition of its workforce on the basis of race, sex, or color. Any employee required to participate could sue. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a philosophy designed to harness the differences, talents and unique qualities of all individuals; this bill pretends our differences don’t exist. Hoffman introduced the same bill last year, which failed to pass. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1013, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban government from taking social or environmental values into consideration when investing. Driven by a panic that society will hold extremists accountable for their actions. One study says such efforts could cost Arizona millions. See our Substack explainer on ESG. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1014, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban financial institutions, insurers and credit reporting agencies from considering political affiliation, social or environmental values. Driven by a panic that society will hold extremists accountable for their actions. One study says such efforts could cost Arizona millions. Similar to a vetoed bill from last year. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1022, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would force homeowner’s associations to allow the “Appeal to Heaven” flag. The flag has been embraced by Christian nationalists, extremists, and far-right hate groups like the Proud Boys and neo-Nazi groups. It has also appeared in the Arizona House lobby, at the Arizona Senate security desk, and on at least one state senator’s desk on the floor. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1056, sponsored by Warren Petersen (R-14), would ban city and town councils from raising taxes or fees without a two-thirds supermajority vote. A similar provision in Arizona state law has made it nearly impossible to fund our state’s many needs and priorities. This top-down move would hamstring our cities with the same problem. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1097, sponsored by Justine Wadsack (R-17), would make school board elections partisan, a move being pushed by national extremist organizations. Local school boards are our most democratic institutions and should stay above party politics the same way judges are tasked to, in order to steer clear of conflict that would keep them from doing their job or force party politics into public education. Making school boards partisan would complete their transformation into just another venue for extremist conflict. A similar bill failed its very first committee hearing in 2022. Scheduled for Senate Education Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SCR1007, sponsored by Frank Carroll (R-28), would ask voters to ban “Arizona public entities,” including public schools, from signing contracts with companies unless they agree not to "discriminate" against gun manufacturers. This would create new hurdles for Arizona's neighborhood schools in everything from building facilities to purchasing supplies. Similar bills from previous years have been backed by the NRA. Because this measure would head directly to the ballot, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto it. Scheduled for Senate Military Affairs, Public Safety & Border Security Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2143, sponsored by David Cook (R-7), would waive fees for driver licenses and state IDs for people experiencing homelessness. This good idea, long championed by former House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, deserves to become law. The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee discussed the bill last week and did not vote; it’s back on the agenda for this Wednesday. SUPPORT.
HB2310, sponsored by Travis Grantham (R-14), attempts to define “grooming” in statute, and would ban “distributing photographs that depict a person’s sex organs” — essentially making it a felony to teach a health class. Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2380, sponsored by Neal Carter (R-15), would allow the state to deny an audit request from a city if the taxpayer conducts business in more than one city — basically defanging audits. We wonder which badly behaving taxpayer brought this bill to Rep. Carter to run. Scheduled for House Ways & Means Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2547, sponsored by Rachel Jones (R-17), would ban voting centers and limit precinct size to 1,000 voters. The voting center model allows voters to cast a ballot anywhere in the county — for example, near work or their child’s school — instead of being tied to a single precinct location, and has nearly eliminated the need for provisional ballots. Returning to a precinct model would raise the question of whether counties can find enough poll workers. This is at least the third year in which Arizona’s Republican-led legislature has attempted to ban voting centers. Scheduled for House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2595, sponsored by Jennifer Longdon (D-5), would authorize a memorial at the state Capitol for Don Bolles, a journalist who exposed corruption in Arizona and was murdered for it in 1976 by a car bomb. The UN and others warn that media freedom is declining worldwide, and that burgeoning threats to the safety of journalists carry worrying consequences for human rights and democracy. This memorial would honor the sacrifices of journalists and recognize the importance of a free press. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. SUPPORT.
HCR2032, sponsored by Rachel Jones (R-17), would ask voters to ban voting centers and limit precinct size to 1,000 voters. See HB2547 above for talking points. Because this bill would go directly to voters, Gov. Hobbs cannot veto it. Scheduled for House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
Thursday
SB1007, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would put Arizona public school teachers (but not teachers at ESA-funded private schools) behind bars for up to two years if they so much as recommend a book to students that lawmakers consider too “sexually explicit.” This would attempt to build on a 2022 ban which has already essentially frozen the teaching of books like “The Color Purple,” “The Canterbury Tales” and even conservatives’ darling “Atlas Shrugged,” preventing Arizona's students from getting a well-rounded education. State law already makes it a felony to show pornography to children. Hoffman introduced the same bill last year, which failed to pass. Scheduled for Senate Judiciary Committee, Thursday. OPPOSE.
Bills in Rules Committees
Rules exists only to consider whether a bill is constitutional and in the proper form for passage; the committee doesn’t take testimony and won’t read comments.
These bills will proceed to caucus (separate partisan meetings of all Democrats and all Republicans) and from there to a full floor vote. Contact your senator for Senate bills, your representatives for House bills.
SB1003, sponsored by Wendy Rogers (R-7), would ban the use of photo radar. Numerous studies have found both speed and red-light cameras offer many safety benefits. Conspicuous, fixed cameras reduce traffic crashes and injuries by up to 35 percent. Nobody likes a ticket, but Arizona has had speed cameras since 1987 for good reason. Repealing photo radar will lead to more dangerous roads and more collisions. Gov. Hobbs vetoed this bill last year. Scheduled for Senate Rules Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
HB2086, sponsored by Laurin Hendrix (R-14), would repeal the requirement that candidates for election as county school superintendent hold a basic or standard certificate to teach in Arizona schools. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
2024 Session Timeline
Monday, 1/29 Senate bill introduction deadline
Monday, 2/5 House bill introduction deadline
Friday, 2/16 Last day for a bill to get out of committees in its originating house
Monday, 2/19 Crossover Week begins (most committee hearings are suspended)
Friday, 3/22 Last day for a bill to get out of committees in its crossover house
(and the last day to use RTS until a budget drops)
Tuesday, 4/16 100th Day of Session (the stated end goal; can be changed) Flag this handy list of contact info, committee chairs and assignments, freshly updated for 2024.
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