Senator Sally Ann Gonzales

Democrat, LD-3

2022 Legislative Score

90.91%

10 out of 11 votes matched Secular AZ positions

 

2022 Vote Summary:

HB2707: moment of silence; quiet reflection

What it did: Required teachers to have students recite the Pledge of Allegiance and observe a two-minute moment of “silent reflection.” Required teacher to “encourage” parents to instruct their children on how to use the silent reflection.

Why we opposed it: Mandatory recitation of the Pledge including the phrase “under God” in public schools constitutes religious coercion. Silent reflection provisions also create conditions in which children may be coerced into prayer in classrooms.

Outcome: Signed into law

Voted Yes (against Secular AZ)

 

SB1211: Materials; activities; review; posting; schools

What it did: Forced schools to publicly post all materials intended to be used for teaching online before their implementation.

Why we opposed it: Law would be a severe administrative burden on teachers and staff in order to discourage the teaching of subjects that do not conform to white Christian nationalist views

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House.

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1707: ESAs; grant recipients; qualified students

What it did: Expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (school vouchers)

Why we opposed it: School voucher programs funnel public money into religious schools and private schools that may discriminate for religious reasons.

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1657: ESAs; STOs; student empowerment fund

What it did: Expanded Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (school vouchers)

Why we opposed it: School voucher programs funnel public money into religious schools and private schools that may discriminate for religious reasons.

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House.

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1567: Employers; vaccinations; religious exemptions

What it did: Exempted Arizonans from being subject to vaccination requirements by the employers if they refuse to be vaccinated for religious reasons

Why we opposed it: Endangered the public health to encode special privileges for religious individuals into law.

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1514: Hospitals; visitation; policy

What it did: Granted clergy special privileges to enter health care facilities and ignore their safety protocols.

Why we opposed it: Encoded special privileges for religious individuals into law.

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1399: Foster care; religious foster care; adoption;

What it did: Banned the state from taking action against foster care agencies on the basis that they discriminate for religious reasons.

Why we opposed it: Constituted a state endorsement of religion-based discrimination.

Outcome: Signed into law

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1211: Materials; activities; review; posting; schools

What it did: Forced schools to publicly post all materials intended to be used for teaching online before their implementation.

Why we opposed it: Law would be a severe administrative burden on teachers and staff in order to discourage the teaching of subjects that do not conform to white Christian nationalist views

Outcome: Passed Senate, held in House.

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1165: interscholastic; intramural athletics; biological sex

What it did: Banned transgender female students from participating in girls’/women’s sports teams.

Why we opposed it: Perpetuated religious-based discrimination against transgender youth.

Outcome: Signed into law

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1164: abortion; gestational age; limit

What it did: Banned all abortions that happen after 15 weeks of gestation.

Why we opposed it: Restricted healthcare for religious reasons.

Outcome: Signed into law

Voted no (with Secular AZ)

 

SB1138:  irreversible gender reassignment surgery; minors

What it did: Banned gender reassignment surgery for minors.

Why we opposed it: Perpetuated religious-based discrimination against transgender youth

Outcome: Signed into law

Voted no (with Secular AZ)