Weekly Full Policy Report - 7/19

atenmorin0
Jul 18
4 min read

INTRO

This year, the Arizona Legislature introduced nearly 1,900 pieces of legislation, including memorials and resolutions—which aren’t technically bills and don’t require the governor’s signature. That averages about 21 proposals per lawmaker. A decade ago, the norm was closer to 1,300, or around 14 per legislator.

That’s the big picture.

Zooming in: of the 220 bills Governor Hobbs signed into law, local outlets LOOKOUT, Arizona Agenda, and Arizona Mirror identified several that directly reflect the language, ideas, or testimony of far-right groups like the Heritage Foundation, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Turning Point USA.

While many of the bills don’t appear extreme at first glance, reporting confirms Hobbs had been briefed on their origins. Some versions had already been used to implement fringe policies in other states. Advocacy groups, including Education Action Alliance, warned her administration about the potential harms—particularly for people of color, migrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and students’ civil rights.

Among the measures set to become law on September 25, 2025 (90 days after adjournment):

HB 2112 and HB 2195 aim to restrict online pornographic content. Their language is pulled from Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership, which proposes banning pornography and reclassifying LGBTQ+ content—especially transgender representation—as “adult” or pornographic material.
HB 2679 allows utility companies to recover coal-related debts by charging users of renewable energy. Environmental groups warn it could extend Arizona’s dependence on coal—echoing Heritage Foundation arguments to move away from clean energy despite a national trend in the opposite direction.
HB 2164 bans “ultra-processed” foods in schools and draws from Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” platform. It also echoes health-related initiatives promoted by Turning Point USA.

Many of these laws reflect language from Mandate for Leadership, a Project 2025 policy blueprint backed by the Heritage Foundation and allied hate groups including Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Family Research Council (FRC), and American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Originally designed to guide the first 180 days of the second Trump administration, the playbook also serves as a recruitment tool for ideologically aligned federal appointees.

HB 2112 is the most direct example. It mandates age-verification systems for websites where a third or more of content is deemed “sexual.” While not explicitly targeting LGBTQ+ content, the bill echoes Project 2025 language equating “transgender ideology” with sexual material—without using the word “pornography.”

Its vague definition of “sexual material” opens the door to broad interpretation and could chill access to queer and trans educational content. Similar laws have passed in four states since January, and HB 2112 closely mirrors a Texas law recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Notably, Gov. Hobbs vetoed an earlier version of HB 2112 last year, but signed the revised version this year—prompting backlash from us and other LGBTQ+ and civil rights advocates. Many warn the bill is part of a broader, coordinated effort to erase LGBTQ+ content from the internet under the guise of child protection.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Arizona Legislature sine die (adjourned their session) on June 27, 2025 until January 12, 2026. We look forward to this next phase of reflecting and strategizing for what’s to come in the next session.

SCHOOL BOARD ACTION

Adelita Grijalva recently won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, seeking the seat her father held for many years. Before serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, she spent two decades on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, where she championed inclusive curricula in ethnic studies and sex education. Her path is a powerful example of how school board service can prepare leaders to serve in higher office and make lasting change in their communities.

School boards are vital to shaping local education and policy, and they’re often where future leaders get their start. If you’re interested in running for or supporting a school board candidate, we can connect you with community partners and resources to help you take that first step.

CIVIC LITERACY

Civic Engagement has become a political term, whereas it was meant to be seen as compulsory service. An “upstanding citizen” would be compelled to follow the community norms of supporting local businesses, voting in all elections, making sure others are registered to vote, and monitoring local city councils and school boards to ensure they are following through on their duties and reflect the will of the community.

How’s your Civic Engagement?

Support local economy
Advocate for strong public schools
Vote
Monitor councils & boards

We can help! We’re currently taking applications for Hall Monitors to help monitor local public school governing boards. We can train you or your organization on how meaningful this work is to stemming the attacks on some of our most vulnerable students: trans and nonbinary students.