Secular AZ is continuing to testify against numerous bills seeking to undermine democracy and advance the interests of Christian nationalism. Here’s a breakdown of what happened last week, and what’s coming up:
Top secular bills for the week of 2/14/22:
HB2707 would require teachers to have students say the Pledge of Allegiance and have a two-minute moment of silent reflection. It also burdens teachers with a requirement to “encourage” parents to instruct their children on how to use the silent reflection.
HB2314 forces students to make a written request to use a gendered school bathroom (or similar accommodation) not consistent with their gender at birth. And it creates a “separate but equal” system for these facilities.
You can read more and send messages to lawmakers about these bills using our form here.
Request to Speak—bills coming up next week:
The following is a full list of bills that, while not all explicitly relating to secular government, impact the the private and public lives of all Arizonans. We urge constituents who are signed up for Request to Speak to sign in before next week.
Monday, 2/14/22:
Senate Government
SB1063: legislative vacancies; precinct committeemen OPPOSE
SB1169: email; prohibition; political campaigns OPPOSE
SB1198: limiting school board associations’ ability to pay for lobbying OPPOSE
SB1255: lieutenant governor; duties; ballot OPPOSE
SB1259: recounts; requests; procedures; audits OPPOSE
SB1338: paper ballots; hand count; precincts OPPOSE
SB1346: state employees; vaccinations inquiries OPPOSE
SB1460: voting law amendments OPPOSE
SB1465: voting equipment; requirements OPPOSE
SB1476: public meetings; in-person mandate OPPOSE
SB1478: elections; county supervisors; ballots; markers OPPOSE
SB1509: state officers; residency requirements; a deputy or assistant does not have to be a resident of the state OPPOSE
SB1570: election equipment; security; results; no internet access for voting equipment OPPOSE
SB1571: ballot drop boxes; surveillance OPPOSE
SB1572: voting lists; images; cast votes OPPOSE
SB1574: voting irregularities; report; Class 2 misdemeanor OPPOSE
SB1576: tabulating equipment; fractional votes OPPOSE
SB1577: elections; adjudicated ballots OPPOSE
SB1578: legislative district committees; committee members OPPOSE
SB1592: governor’s declaration; fiscal impact analysis OPPOSE
SB1609: election contests; invalidated election; sanctions OPPOSE
SB1625: public officers; announcements; restrictions OPPOSE
SB1629: registration; verification; images; audits; boxes OPPOSE
SB1638: early ballots; visually impaired voters OPPOSE
SB1642: election management systems; security OPPOSE
SCR1012: legislature; 90 House districts OPPOSE
SCR1024: lieutenant governor OPPOSE
SCR1032: plenary legislative authority; elections OPPOSE
SCR1048: article V; term limits OPPOSE
House Military Affairs
HB2448: mandatory gun training in schools OPPOSE
HB2471: State of emergency; termination OPPOSE
Tuesday, 2/15/22:
House Education
HB2179: School district accounting reporting; responsibility OPPOSE
HB2314: bathroom bill for public schools; single occupancy; accommodation OPPOSE
HB2325: schools; instruction; 9/11 OPPOSE
HB2426: Arizona online instruction; cost-study OPPOSE
HB2026: literacy endorsement; requirement for non-certified teachers OPPOSE
HB2086: DHS; immunizations; exclusions OPPOSE
HB2707: moment of silence; quiet reflection OPPOSE
HB2739: school board associations; open meeting OPPOSE
HB2800: concurrent coursework; average daily membership OPPOSE
HB2808: schools; operations; improvements; letter grades; superintendent penalty/closures; Arizona Achievement Network establishment OPPOSE
Senate Education
SB1329: Arizona national rankings; ranked states OPPOSE
SB1361: schools; certificates of educational convenience OPPOSE
SB1617: school districts; property; peaceful protesting OPPOSE
SB1682: juveniles; educational classes SUPPORT
SB1683: education programs; county jails; appropriation; increases age from 18 to 21: SUPPORT
SB1510: bullying policy; schools; definition SUPPORT
Wednesday, 2/16/2022
House Government (22 bills)
HB2009: school violations; fines OPPOSE
HB2041: ballot fraud countermeasures; paper/ink OPPOSE
HB2240: elections; voting centers; validation requirements OPPOSE
HB2239: electronic ballot adjudication OPPOSE
HB2242: voter registration; validation OPPOSE
HB2276: state law; violations; schools; universities OPPOSE
HB2377: polling places; photographs OPPOSE
HB2378: election lawsuits OPPOSE
HB2491: elections; signature matching OPPOSE
HB2492: voter registration; citizenship OPPOSE
HB2567: nominating petitions; multiple petition signatures OPPOSE
HB2578: emergency executive powers; legislative oversight OPPOSE
HB2619: post vaccine injuries; COVID; posting OPPOSE
HB2637: divestment; K-12; abortion; explicit materials – investments in any org that provides abortion or sex ed to K-12 OPPOSE
HB2703: auditor general; audits; county elections OPPOSE
HB2710: registrations; counting procedures; observers; verification OPPOSE
HB2780: voter lists; images; voting records OPPOSE
HB2783: election law violations; procedures manual OPPOSE
HB2786: voter registrations; ballot requests; source OPPOSE
HB2787: dividing Maricopa County into four separate counties OPPOSE
HB2837: district committees; reapportionment; reorganization OPPOSE
HCR2025: government-issued voter identification OPPOSE
House Judiciary
HB2608: gender transition; prohibition (mirror bill of SB1138, which died in Senate) OPPOSE
HB2811: unlawful abortion medication (complete prohibition of abortion medication) OPPOSE
Senate House & Human Services
SB1044: sex education; planned parenthood OPPOSE
SB1138: Gender transition restriction OPPOSE
Continuing work:
- The Christian nationalist “Pine Tree” flag is still flying in the State House. It has now been three weeks with no response to our letter to Speaker Bowers. Please call House Speaker Rusty Bowers at 602-926-3128 as well as your own Representative demanding its removal.
This week, we’ll continue to testify in committee on your behalf and will be working furiously with partners to strategize on major pieces of religious-based legislation coming up. We also will have some updates to share shortly about Secular Day at the Capitol on March 14th.
