January 15, 2023
The start of the AZ legislature’s 2023 session has been a mixed bag for our LD3 Legislators.
Senator John Kavanagh, Reps. Joseph Chaplik and Alex Kolodin were all sworn in to the 56th Legislature on January 9, 2023. Alex Kolodin chose not to attend the State of the State address.
Bills sponsored or co-sponsored by legislators give a hint to their priorities, policy focus or who is pulling their strings. Bills to be considered this session may be submitted for three more weeks.
As of Jan. 14th, the tally of bills sponsored by our LD3 folks is:
John Kavanagh – 35 bills sponsored / 1 bill co-sponsored Subject matters include restricting preferred pronoun use in schools, increasing parental rights, options to hold partisan municipal elections, school restroom accommodations and traffic stop identification requirements.
Joseph Chaplik – 0 bills sponsored, 12 bills co-sponsored Subject matters include residential leases, drug convictions, election laws.
Alex Kolodin – 11 bills sponsored, 12 bills co-sponsored Five of the 11 sponsored bills address elections.
Buckle up! The session is just starting and it look like it’ll be a doozy!
ACTION ALERT SB1040 KAVANAGH
Bans trans staff and students from using bathrooms matching their gender identity. Allows people to sue schools if they share a restroom or similar school facility with a trans person.
STATUS: INTRODUCED
RTS COULD OPEN LATE TUES. 1/17
COULD BE IN EDUCATION COMMITTEE WED. 1/18
CALL OR EMAIL KAVANAGH NOW
ACTION ALERT Call or email all three LD3 legislators! Message - Vote to lift the AEL as soon as possible.
Numerous bills have been sponsored to lift the cap on the archaic school spending limit. Ask to have funds already allocated to schools be allowed to be spent to avoid program cuts or school closures in March. more info
For information on what bills are being considered by all legislators this session read the publication distributed by Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. The Weekly, now found on substack, walks you through what's happening in both chambers of the state legislature and suggests actions to take.