This week again, most of the oxygen was sucked out of the air by the contentious debate over abortion. We now have two bills in connection with this issue. One is a House bill HB2677 and the other is Senate bill SB1734. Their language is identical. It is quite customary for controversial bills to be introduced in both chambers.
SB1734 – abortion ban; repeal This bill had its first reading in the Senate. There was an attempt to fast-track this bill, but it failed when a lot of Republicans did not go for it. It appears now that this bill will go through the usual process. Concerned citizens may express their opinion on both SB1734 and HB2677 via the RTS system or via email. Emailing is easy using this link HERE.
Despite the abortion hoopla, the Senate passed about a dozen bills. Among the bills that we are tracking, two merit mention here.
SB1129 – (NOW: unlawful occupants; property; removal) This bill protects property owners by making it easier to remove squatters. It passed 16-14-0, along party lines.
SB1182 – public schools; showers; reasonable accommodations. This bill is basically an attempt to restore some privacy to students that are not comfortable with the wave of unisex accommodations that are in vogue in many public schools. It passed 16-14-0, along party lines.
Elsewhere at the capitol, Hobbs continues to exercise her role as undisputed veto queen and Socialist gate-keeper by vetoing most bills that have any significant positive effect. The veto count is now 42 of the 231 that have been sent to her. These are some of the more high-profile bills she vetoed this week:
SB1628 – sex-based terms; laws; rules; regulations
This bill is being referred to as the Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights. Its purpose is to push back against the current assault on females under the guise of equality and by creating “genders” that go contrary to basic anatomy. More may be read about this bill HERE.
SB1189 – political subdivisions; gun shows; preemption
This bill prevents the trashing of Second Amendment rights by municipalities that simply do not like firearms.
SB1151 – school classrooms; ten commandments; posting
If public schools were neutral, this bill would be out of order. But district schools routinely post all kind of materials that undermine morality and religion. This bill is just an antidote to that.
SB1097 – school districts; partisan elections
This is simply a transparency bill. School district elections are very much partisan. Disclosing party affiliation of candidates makes it easier for voters to assess candidates and more difficult for unscrupulous candidates and supporters to fool voters.
For a list of all the bills that Hobbs has vetoed, go HERE.
To find out what bills have been sent to the governor, click on this link.
Then click on “Select Bills to Display” and choose “Sent to Governor”
Those folks who wish to contact the governor regarding these and other bills may do so by using this contact information:
CONTACT GOVERNOR VIA EMAIL:
https://azgovernor.gov/contact/form/contact-governor-hobbs
CONTACT GOVERNOR VIA TELEPHONE:
Phoenix: 602.542.4331 Tucson: 520.628.6580