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President Warren Petersen Provides Update on Standing Committee Chairmanships
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 28, 2023
President Warren Petersen Provides Update on Standing Committee Chairmanships for Fifty-sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— In response to the resignation of Senator Steve Kaiser and the appointment of Senator Shawnna Bolick, President Warren Petersen is making changes to chairmanships and members of standing committees for the Fifty-sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session. Additionally, in an effort to improve efficiency and maximize member expertise in each committee, the Senate Committee on Commerce is being dissolved. Bills relating to this subject matter will be assigned to the remaining committees.
Committee on Appropriations
Chair- Senator John Kavanagh
Vice Chair- Senator Jake Hoffman
Committee on Education
Chair- Senator Ken Bennett
Vice Chair- Senator Justine Wadsack
(*Senator Bolick replaces Senator Kaiser as member*)
Committee on Elections
Chair- Senator Wendy Rogers
Vice Chair- Senator Ken Bennett
Committee on Director Nominations
Chair- Senator Jake Hoffman
Vice Chair- Senator Sine Kerr
Committee on Government
Chair- Senator Jake Hoffman
Vice Chair- Senator Wendy Rogers
Committee on Finance
Chair- Senator J.D. Mesnard
Vice Chair- Senator Shawnna Bolick
Committee on Health & Human Services
Chair- Senator T.J. Shope
Vice Chair- Senator Janae Shamp
Committee on Judiciary
Chair- Senator Anthony Kern
Vice Chair- Senator John Kavanagh
Committee on Military Affairs, Public Safety, Border Security
Chair- Senator David Gowan
Vice Chair- Senator David Farnsworth
Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, Water
Chair- Senator Sine Kerr
Vice Chair- Senator T.J. Shope
Committee on Transportation & Technology
Chair- Senator David Farnsworth
Vice Chair- Senator Frank Carroll
Committee on Rules
Chair- President Warren Petersen
Vice Chair- Senator Sonny Borrelli
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
Senate Rep. Condemn UArizona Nursing School Curriculum Aimed at Stealing the Innocence of Children
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, September 8, 2023
Senate Republicans Condemn University of Arizona Nursing School Curriculum Aimed at Stealing the Innocence of Young Children
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are outraged over the troubling curriculum being taught at the University of Arizona Nursing School, aiming to cater to the radical left agenda, and to steal the innocence of our young children through the next generation of medical professionals.
Senate Republicans reached out to UArizona, and it’s our understanding an image shared by a whistleblower and posted to social media this week depicting a lesson plan on “asking pediatric patients about gender identity” is in fact from inside a classroom at UArizona Nursing School. The image reveals nursing students are being taught to start asking patients as young as three years of age if they “feel like a girl on the inside, feel like a boy on the inside, neither, or both.”
“I’m absolutely sickened that this institution of higher learning is perpetuating the lie that a person’s gender is based on feelings and not their God-given biological sex established upon conception,” said Senator Janae Shamp (R-29), Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. “This is completely groomer garbage that strives to confuse our kids in an effort to cater to the evil that is being accepted by today’s society. As a nurse, I am so disheartened that the next generation of nurses are being hijacked of their capabilities to deliver ethical care.”
“This is a disgusting use of your taxpayer dollars. Every single parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or anyone with a heart for children should be infuriated that this is happening at one of our prestigious universities,” said Senator Justine Wadsack (R-17), Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. “No student seeking to become a medical professional should ever be taught to victimize our kids, and this is exactly what is happening here. UArizona is finding itself in hot water over a number of issues, but this is the straw that broke the camel’s back. I’m a UArizona Wildcat. It’s where I went to college. It’s in my backyard. I’m not happy.”
“It is our obligation as lawmakers to stop this extremist agenda that continues to target minors in a predatory fashion,” said Senator Ken Bennett (R-1), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. “I’m looking forward to seeing what action President Robbins takes to ensure that this immoral curriculum being taught, with the use of state funding, never reaches another classroom again.”
“If this issue is not immediately resolved by the university, Senate Republicans will weigh all options to make certain tax dollars are no longer used in such an egregious fashion,” said Senator T.J. Shope (R-16), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services. “The mental health of our children and the state of our health care industry are being threatened by this radical ideology.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Senator Shamp Reminds Arizonans of Safeguards Enacted to Protect Against Mask Mandates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 24, 2023
Senator Shamp Reminds Arizonans of Safeguards Enacted
to Protect Against Mask Mandates
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— As fear over mask mandates and the politicization of COVID-19 from the Left once again become a focal point heading into the upcoming 2024 election cycle, Registered Nurse and State Senator Janae Shamp is reminding Arizonans of the safeguards put in place by Republicans at the Legislature to protect against future outrageous overreach and scientifically baseless restrictions.
In 2021, A.R.S. 44-7951 was enacted to protect businesses in Arizona from being required to enforce a mask mandate established by state, city, county and town governments, or any other jurisdiction within Arizona.
In 2022, A.R.S. 1-611 was enacted to protect students under the age of 18 at public district or charter schools from being required to wear a mask without the express consent of the child’s parent or guardian.
Additionally in 2022, A.R.S 36-681 was enacted to protect the public from forced masking at any government building or premises, except where long-standing workplace safety and infection control measures that are unrelated to COVID-19 may be required.
Furthermore, should the Governor implement a state of emergency for “public health” reasons, last year’s enacted A.R.S 26-303 would require the Governor to first get permission from the Legislature in order to extend the emergency past 120 days.
“With election season upon us, we’re once again witnessing COVID-19 fearmongering from the Left as liberal entities in Georgia, New York and California are now once again overstepping their authority in dictating mask mandates,” said Senator Shamp. “As a registered nurse who has been detrimentally impacted by government infringement not based on scientific evidence, I want you to rest assured that I will fight tooth and nail to make sure you’re protected from this gross overreach. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you don’t want to wear a mask, don’t wear one. This is a personal choice that our citizens are allowed to make. If a business wants to force you to wear a mask and you don’t wish to, you have the right to take your business elsewhere. I will work to provide more guidance for you and your family as needed, and I vow to craft more legislation next session that further protects your God-given freedoms.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Secretary of State Must Correct Elections Procedures Manual Draft or Face Legal Action
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 14, 2023
Secretary of State Must Correct Elections Procedures Manual
Draft or Face Legal Action
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate President Warren Petersen is warning Secretary of State Adrian Fontes of legal action following his proposed draft of the 2023 Elections Procedures Manual (EPM), which misinterprets Arizona election laws, unlawfully expands the powers of the Secretary of State, and subjects elections to a greater potential for voter fraud.
After the Secretary deliberately shortened the typical public comment period on the EPM from one month to two weeks, limiting meaningful feedback, President Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma today submitted their assessment on the manual that serves as a rulebook for how county officials must administer elections in accordance with state law.
One of the most notable errors presented by the Secretary in this manual is his unlawful delay in the implementation of a 2021 state law that helps prevent voter fraud by requiring county recorders to remove any voters registered on the active early voter list who have not cast a ballot during two consecutive election cycles and have not responded to notification from the recorder that they wish to continue participation. By delaying this state law, he continues to perpetuate the issue of ballots being sent to the homes of voters who may have moved or no longer wish to participate in this process, opening the door for ballots getting into the hands of unintended individuals.
Other key corrections submitted to the Secretary of State on the draft EPM include:
- · The Secretary does not have the legal authority to regulate voter registration procedures or deadlines on his own accord.
- · The Secretary does not have the legal authority to extend the early voting period for UOCAVA voters.
- · The Secretary inappropriately decrees that counties do not have the authority to conduct hand count audits.
- · The Secretary improperly perpetuates the use of ballot drop boxes, which have no basis in statute. Ballot drop boxes encourage illegal ballot harvesting and could present security risks.
- · The Secretary ignores directives from a law passed this year requiring instructions of Arizona’s prohibition on illegal ballot harvesting to be provided to voters who are casting early ballots.
“Our current Secretary of State has a history of distorting our elections laws and pushing the envelope on questionable procedures,” said President Petersen. “My hope is that he will update the EPM with our corrections before submitting to the Attorney General and Governor for approval. Failure to do so will result in legal action.”
To read the comment submitted to the Secretary in its entirety, click here.
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Hobbs Ignores Opportunity to Provide Election Oversight
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 8, 2023
Hobbs Ignores Opportunity to Provide Election Oversight
PHOENIX, ARIZONA — In an effort to provide more oversight and transparency into the Arizona Elections Procedures Manual, Senator Anthony Kern (R-27) sponsored SB 1213. However, the Governor unreasonably vetoed this bill today.
SB 1213 would have required that the Elections Procedures Manual, which helps ensure consistent and efficient election practices, be approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) in addition to the Governor and the Attorney General. The purpose of JLAC is to direct the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) to conduct audits of state agencies on behalf of the Legislature, oversee audit functions of the state and other agencies, and appoint the Auditor General. The committee also has the power of legislative subpoenas and requires agencies to comply with findings.
“This bill presented a great opportunity for both Republican and Democrat legislators to provide input on this document which is important to our elections process,” said Senator Kern. “We as legislators create the laws that ultimately form the manual, so it makes complete sense that we’d also provide oversight for it. I’m incredibly disappointed the Governor chose to label this as an effort to ‘meddle’ with Arizona’s elections in her veto letter when there is a serious need for more oversight within many aspects of our state’s elections process.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Governor Refuses Commonsense Solution to Prevent Conflict of Interest in Arizona’s Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 9, 2023
Governor Refuses Commonsense Solution to Prevent Conflict of Interest in Arizona’s Elections
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator J.D. Mesnard (R-13) is expressing disappointment that Governor Hobbs vetoed a bill with bipartisan support aimed at ending a conflict of interest currently allowed with those who oversee our elections.
Senator Mesnard sponsored SB 1264 which prohibits an elected elections officer or their appointee who oversees aspects of an election from being a member of a Political Action Committee (PAC), since the purpose of PACs is to influence elections.
“The fact that individuals who have the sacred duty of overseeing the integrity of our elections are also permitted to simultaneously influence those elections through a Political Action Committee is disastrous public policy,” said Senator Mesnard. “Allowing such a conflict of interest to persist seriously undermines public trust. This legislation not only had bipartisan support, it was an absolute no-brainer. In her veto letter, the Governor claimed, ‘There are few, if any, examples of election-related issues’ from current policy, but in fact, examples do exist. And even one is too many. Regardless, why wait for there to be ‘issues’ when the conflict of interest is obvious and is itself a problem? Again, this is terrible public policy and allows for both parties to play games, which I fear will only escalate in light of her misguided veto.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Hobbs Allows Males to Intrude on Young Girls in K-12 Public School Restrooms, Showers, Locker Rooms
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Hobbs Allows Males to Intrude on Young Girls
in K-12 Public School Restrooms, Showers, Locker Rooms
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— In an effort to protect the privacy and safety of young girls in public school bathrooms, showers and locker rooms, while still providing separate designated spaces for transgender students, especially males who identify as females, Senator John Kavanagh sponsored SB 1040, the Arizona Accommodations for All Children Act.
After every Democrat in both the Senate and the House voted against the bill, Governor Katie Hobbs disgracefully vetoed it today, once again displaying a lack of care or concern for the safety and wellbeing of our Arizona kids.
SB 1040 would have limited access to public school restrooms, locker rooms, showers and hotel rooms on overnight school trips to members of the same biological sex at birth. However, the bill would have also required schools to provide access to single-occupancy restrooms, changing areas or showers for those students who don’t feel comfortable using facilities that match their biological sex, while also safeguarding female-only and male-only facilities. Additionally, the bill would have granted a private cause of action to individuals who encounter a person of the opposite sex in specified areas at public schools.
“Women and young girls deserve privacy and their own protected bathrooms, showers and locker rooms where they can have such privacy and are safe from the risk of sexual harassment or sexual violence. Unfortunately, Democrat Legislators and Governor Hobbs are catering to an extremist culture by pushing ‘gender neutrality’ as a means to win political points from their liberal base while stealing dignity away from women and girls in the process,” said Senator Kavanagh. “SB 1040 is about protecting our children while respecting the natural privacy rights of students. A 14-year-old female high school coed should not be forced to stand next to a naked, transgender female, who is actually an 18-year-old biological male. In a rush to become ‘trans inclusive,’ Governor Hobbs and fellow Democrats have forgotten about the needs of innocent young girls. This veto shows exactly how little they care to protect our female citizens.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
Hobbs Allows Pornography to be Filmed in Arizona’s K-12 Public School Classrooms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 5, 2023
Hobbs Allows Pornography to be Filmed in
Arizona’s K-12 Public School Classrooms
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator Jake Hoffman is calling out Governor Hobbs for her outrageous veto of a bill that would have made it a crime to film pornography in any buildings funded by taxpayer dollars, including the classrooms of our K-12 public schools.
Seven months ago, local media reported two teachers in Mohave County were fired after students and parents found easily accessible pornographic material posted online, made by the couple, some of which was created in the very classroom one of those teachers was working in. Unfortunately, current state law does not establish this as an illegal practice.
SB 1696 (sexually explicit materials; government; prohibition) would have prohibited government property from being used as a site to film or facilitate sexually explicit acts and would have established a violation as a class 5 felony.
“Once again, Katie Hobbs is spotlighting Democrats’ far-left extremism by vetoing yet another bill intended to protect our children from exposure to sexually explicit materials at the hands of Arizona governments,” said Senator Hoffman. “It’s absolutely sickening that Katie Hobbs is allowing pornography to be filmed in our state’s taxpayer funded classrooms. These should be safe spaces for our kids to learn in, not venues for the sexually explicit adult entertainment industry. No 12-year-old child should ever have to worry that their middle school desk was the location of a porn shoot, yet because of Hobbs’ actions, this is precisely the case. Hobbs should be ashamed of herself, and every parent in the state of Arizona should be outraged. This is a despicable use of government resources, and there should be legal repercussions in place to discourage these types of practices from ever occurring again.”
For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov