AZ Legislation to Watch This Week
Arizona lawmakers are set to debate bills on banning sugary foods from SNAP, deploying the National Guard, and ending Vision Zero traffic policies.
Arizona’s Capitol is gearing up for another high-stakes week as both the State Senate and House of Representatives hold committee meetings Monday through Thursday. With major policy battles unfolding, State 48 News cuts through the noise to bring you the full stories. Here’s what we’re watching.
ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD
SB1495 | Introduced by Senators Rogers: Angius, Bolick, Dunn, Farnsworth, Finchem, Gowan, Kavanagh, Mesnard, Petersen, Shamp, Shope, Werner; Representative Kupper
Senate Bill 1495 ensures the Arizona National Guard cannot be deployed into active combat unless Congress formally declares war or explicitly authorizes the deployment under the U.S. Constitution. This legislation reinforces constitutional war powers and safeguards Arizona’s troops from unauthorized foreign conflicts.
Meeting Details: Arizona State Senate | Monday, February 17, 2025
-Committee on Military Affairs and Border Security
The Libertarian Party calls Defend the Guard one of the most important and exciting things happening in American politics.
ARIZONA FOOD BENEFITS RESTRICTIONS ON CANDY AND SODA
HB2165 | Introduced by Representatives Biasiucci: Fink, Gillette, Kolodin; Senators Angius, Shamp
House Bill 2165 seeks to ban SNAP recipients in Arizona from using benefits to buy candy and soft drinks. It directs the state to request a federal waiver to enforce this restriction and to reapply annually if denied. The bill failed in committee with a 6-6 tie vote.
The bill was heard February 3rd in the Arizona House of Representatives. One of the speakers was Calley Means, a healthcare reform advocate and co-founder of TrueMed, a company promoting tax-free spending on health-related expenses. A former consultant for major food and pharmaceutical companies, he now speaks out against industry influence on public health. He co-authored Good Energy with his sister, Dr. Casey Means, focusing on metabolic health. Means holds degrees from Stanford and Harvard and has advised on healthcare policy in political campaigns.
Means began his testimony by revealing his past as a lobbyist for soda companies 13 years ago. He described how these companies paid millions to advocacy groups like the NAACP and influenced both liberal and conservative legislators with arguments against restrictions on SNAP purchases, calling them "anti-choice" and "nanny state" policies. Means emphasized the current health crisis, stating that 80% of Americans and nearly 50% of Arizona children are overweight or obese.
"We are poisoning our population with the 4th largest entitlement program in this country,” Calley Means, February 3, 2025.
He condemned SNAP, a $150 billion federal program, for contributing to this issue, pointing out that the percentage of SNAP dollars spent on sugary drinks has nearly doubled from 10% to 18% in the past decade. He called it "evil" to subsidize sugary drinks for lower-income populations, noting that children on SNAP consume 43% more soda. Means argued that the market is "rigged," with companies like Coke and Pepsi using private jets and millions in lobbying efforts to ensure their products remain eligible for SNAP.
Calling it "criminal" to fund sugary drinks for kids, he urged the committee to take a stand. However, when he criticized earlier speakers who defended keeping sugary foods on SNAP, saying they should be "ashamed of themselves," Committee Chair Rep. Bliss interrupted, shouted, and cut him off, saying, “You’re outta here.”
The legislation gets another look on Monday.
Meeting Details: Arizona House of Representatives | Monday, February 17, 2025
-Committee on Health & Human Services
MEMORIAL ENDING VISION ZERO IN ARIZONA
SCM 1002 | Introduced by Senators Werner: Angius, Carroll, Gowan, Shope
SCM 1002 urges the U.S. President and Congress to eliminate the Vision Zero transportation approach, arguing it has failed to reduce traffic fatalities, worsened injuries, delayed emergency response, and hindered effective engineering solutions.
Vision Zero is a road safety initiative aiming to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries through safer road design, lower speed limits, and stricter enforcement. It assumes human error is inevitable and promotes shared responsibility for safety.
Critics argue it increases congestion, delays emergency response, and hasn’t significantly reduced traffic deaths in some cities. Others see it as anti-car, leading to excessive fines and government overreach. Supporters say it saves lives, but opponents believe it creates more problems than it solves.
Arizona cities with Vision Zero initiatives include Tempe (first to adopt in 2018), Phoenix (approved in 2022), and others like Prescott, Flagstaff, Tolleson, Scottsdale, Mesa, and Glendale, which have received funding for related projects.
Meeting Details: Arizona State Senate | Wednesday, February 19, 2025
-Committee on Public Safety
ARIZONA PHOTO RADAR & CLEAN ELECTIONS
The resolution to let Arizona voters decide the fate of photo radar heads to the State Senate Rules Committee on Monday.
SCR1002 | Introduced by Senator Rogers
State 48 News has been at the forefront of exposing Arizona’s photo radar revenue machine. Our latest investigation uncovered Paradise Valley, a town of just 12,000 residents, issued a staggering 100,000 photo radar tickets last year alone.Photo radar is back in the spotlight Monday as the Senate Rules Committee reviews the legislation. The committee won’t debate it but will check if it follows constitutional and legal rules before sending it to the full Senate.
In a statement to State 48 News, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) reaffirmed his stance against photo radar enforcement in Arizona, stating, “I have always supported a ban on photo radar. In fact, I even sponsored the bill once.”
Petersen highlighted the persistent efforts over the past 18 years to pass a photo radar ban, noting, “Every year, someone has introduced a bill to prohibit photo radar, but for one reason or another, we’ve never had the votes to get it across the finish line. I remain in full support.”
If an SCR passes Rules, it goes to the Committee of the Whole, then a Senate floor vote. If approved, it moves to the House. If both chambers pass it, it either goes to voters (if constitutional) or is adopted as a legislative statement.
Meeting Details: Arizona State Senate | Monday, February 17, 2025
-Committee on Rules
THE MORE YOU KNOW.
Arizona residents can contact state representatives and attend legislative meetings in several ways:
1. Contacting Representatives:
Find Your Legislators: Use the Arizona Legislature’s website (www.azleg.gov) to search by district.
Call or Email: Each legislator's contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is listed on the website.
In-Person Visits: Schedule meetings at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
2. Attending Meetings:
Legislative Calendar: Check the Arizona Legislature's website for upcoming committee meetings and floor sessions.
Attend in Person: Meetings are held at the Arizona State Capitol (1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ).
Watch Online: Live streams and recordings are available on the Legislature’s website.
Request to Speak (RTS) System: Residents can register at www.azleg.gov to submit comments and request to speak at committee hearings.