Secular AZ is continuing to work against numerous bills granting harmful religious exemptions and . Here’s a breakdown of what happened last week, and what’s coming up:
Movement on priority bills:
Four big Christian nationalist bills are scheduled for a second round of committee hearings next week:
- HB2161 – effectively requiring healthcare providers and schools to “out” LGBTQ+ youth to their parents
- SB1165 – banning transgender female students from participating in girls’/women’s sports teams
- SB1138 – banning gender reassignment surgery for all people under 18
- SB1164 – a ban on all abortions past 15 weeks gestation
The first bill is in Senate Education Committee on Tuesday and the other three are in House Judiciary on Wednesday. We’ve released an action form where you can quickly contact the appropriate lawmakers:
What happened this week:
Floor bills:
HB2009, sponsored by Steve Kaiser (R-15), would allow any single lawmaker to complain to the Attorney General if they feel a district or charter school is doing something illegal. The AG could then order school funding withheld. FAILED House Floor 2/28
HB2637, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-12), would require Arizona’s retirement system to divest from companies that “promote, facilitate or advocate for” abortions for minors, or for “the inclusion of, or the referral of students to, sexually explicit material.” TRANSMITTED TO SENATE.
Senate Judiciary Committee 2/21/22:
HB2316, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-23), would allow people with concealed weapons permits to bring guns into libraries, community centers, public pools, state museums, the DMV, government offices, block parties, marches and street fairs — even if asked to turn over their firearms for storage. PASSED
HB2414, sponsored by Jacqueline Parker (R-16), would allow parents to bypass gun-free zones at public schools and keep loaded and unlocked weapons within reach in their cars while dropping off and picking up children. The bill is moving despite federal law that protects nearly every school as a gun-free zone. PASSED
House education 3/1/22:
HB2439, sponsored by Beverly Pingerelli (R-21), would get Arizona into the book-banning business by requiring school boards to approve every single book purchase in advance and to publicize for 60 days what books the school libraries plan to buy while allowing public comment on the planned purchases. PASSED
Senate Education 3/1/22:
SB1131: ESA expansion for cops, first responders, vets, healthcare workers PASSED
SB1412: Lowering substitute standards for certification PASSED
SB1657: More ESA expansions PASSED
SB1707: More ESA expansions PASSED
House Government 2/16/2022
The following restrictions on voting rights passed committee and will proceed to the floor:
HB2009: school violations; fines
HB2041: ballot fraud countermeasures; paper/ink
HB2240: elections; voting centers; validation requirements
HB2239: electronic ballot adjudication
HB2242: voter registration; validation
HB2276: state law; violations; schools; universities – something about fining schools for constitutional violations?
HB2377: polling places; photographs
HB2378: election lawsuits
HB2491: elections; signature matching
HB2492: voter registration; citizenship
HB2567: nominating petitions; multiple petition signatures
HB2578: emergency executive powers; legislative oversight
Coming up next week
Senate Education 3/08/22:
HB2161: Parental rights: access to school communications including student club participation; consent for surveys related to gender expression, perceptions, stereotypes. Position: OPPOSE
House Judiciary 3/9/22:
SB1138: Gender transition restriction OPPOSE
SB1164: 15-week abortion ban OPPOSE
SB1165: Bans trans girls in sports OPPOSE
Senate Finance 3/9/22:
HB2166, sponsored by Steve Kaiser (R-15), would exempt guns and “firearm safety equipment” from sales tax OPPOSE
Senate Commerce 3/2/22:
HCR2031: strips municipalities of the ability to create policies for employees OPPOSE
Senate Health & Human Services 3/9/22:
HB2086: bans on vaccination requirements for HPV and COVID. OPPOSE
Status on major church/state bills:
HB2449: Clergy allowed in care facilities; SCHEDULED FOR SENATE SECOND READ
HB2507: Massive religious privilege expansion; SCHEDULED FOR SENATE SECOND READ
SB1399: Foster care; religious foster care; adoption TRANSMITTED TO HOUSE
