[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6370226,"mediaKeyId","2151920-c87d6549d3a0af1c399e20893d59abda","parentId",2151920,"title","Government Committee advances package: notary reforms, municipal planning option, guardianship path for unaccompanied youth and contested sex‑based terms bill","audioSeconds",23,"startMs",4561000,"endMs",4584000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2151920-c87d6549d3a0af1c399e20893d59abda&start=4561&end=4584","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2151920-c87d6549d3a0af1c399e20893d59abda/thumbnail_4561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6370226/Arizona/Government-Committee-advances-package-notary-reforms-municipal-planning-option-guardianship-path-for-unaccompanied-youth-and-contested-sexbased-terms-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6370226-18a0777f707759a987b90bce4c5138f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695008&Signature=CmIOF0ASZL-k3b~-ATyXrKwymMc~hX3qVe8AUJRwyZPqJOgHwrL~5XiBmqqHE3~IXSzIx5o0NS7EXf8bzr-smlmGtJUdKN5pISso8XonPx37KZzbNWkOktkYMmdj6Ac5NikSX-P70YOJYF-Cdu8qVZCo8OQyCyyQPRJiv4tl6mGofzXfXGEBHJ9QkGwmK5zT3oqxixINiF4hawXRuS9GlUWAhvwZY2OUrvUajqt09eopoGbkfFN3gYVvswo8i7p7YoOVVWXpB-3ZSakuR76KHbb8hjHkETRJ~Oym5bGoVYXB32w2hV4WWvMm8uaMt1yIJXQ~LaEhiyWjvIvKW3vVtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona State Legislature","date","2025-01-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Arizona House Government Committee advanced multiple bills Tuesday, returning a set of measures to the full House with due‑pass recommendations. Committee members debated measures ranging from notary reforms to changes in how the state defines sex‑based terms.

Key outcomes at a glance

- HB2008 (Notary public requirements): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation (vote: 7–0). Sponsor: Representative John Gillette.
- HB2113 (Flags on public property): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation as amended (vote: 4–3). Sponsor: Representative Nick Kupperer; amendment added county flag allowance.
- HB2051 (Monthly questioning period for governor): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation (vote: 4–3). Sponsor: Representative Collin.
- HB2023 (Municipal general plan ratification option): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation (vote: 7–0). Sponsor: Representative Selena Bliss.
- HB2065 (County medical examiner/autopsy and crematory clarification): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation (vote: 6–1). Sponsor: Representative Matt Gress.
- HB2079 (Guardianship pathway for unaccompanied minors near age 18): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation as amended (vote: 7–0). Sponsor: Representative Ben Blackman.
- HB2062 (Arizona Sex‑Based Terms Act): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation as amended (vote: 4–3). Sponsor: Representative Lisa Fink.

Why it matters: The bills touch on property‑fraud prevention, local planning options for small municipalities, procedural changes for medical examiners and cremations, a new guardianship path advocated by homeless‑youth advocates, and a high‑profile measure to clarify the legal meaning of sex‑based terms in state law.

Selected details and testimony

HB2008 — Notary reforms (due‑pass 7–0)
Representative John Gillette, the bill sponsor, said the measure targets deed‑fraud schemes that have allowed criminals to take ownership of homeowners' property using falsified notarized documents. \"This notary bill, this is 1 leg of an attempt to clean up what's called deep fraud or house theft,\" Gillette told the committee. Supporters included George Diaz from the Secretary of State's Office and representatives of the National Notary Association and the Arizona Association of Realtors, who emphasized fingerprint clearance cards and improved ID verification as fraud‑prevention steps.

HB2113 — Flags on public property (due‑pass 4–3)
Representative Nick Kupperer said the bill would limit flags flown by government officials on public property to official flags such as national, state, Native nation and service flags; his amendment allowed counties to fly an official county flag. Marilyn Rodriguez of the ACLU of Arizona testified in opposition, arguing the measure \"violates the First Amendment rights of public employees and elected officials\" by broadly restricting expression on public property.

HB2079 — Guardianship pathway for unaccompanied youth (due‑pass 7–0)
The committee returned a measure intended to create a guardianship pathway for 16‑ and 17‑year‑olds who are unaccompanied and near graduation age so they can access stable housing and services. Representatives of Homeless Youth Connection described the program's host‑family placements and cited cases of youths who lacked parental consent and were therefore ineligible for housing help. Dana Bailey, co‑CEO of Homeless Youth Connection, said the bill would open a path for teachers, relatives or vetted hosts to provide a stable home while the youth finish high school.

HB2062 — Sex‑based terms act (due‑pass 4–3)
Representative Lisa Fink, sponsor of the Arizona Sex‑Based Terms Act, said the bill \"clarifies the definitions of words already used in state law\" such as \"man,\" \"woman,\" \"male\" and \"female\" and ensures that data collected for state purposes reflect biology. Supporters argued the measure protects single‑sex spaces and preserves legal consistency; Representative Paula Scanlon, a former collegiate athlete, described locker‑room concerns for women.

Opponents urged the committee to reject the bill. Ruth Carter, who identified as nonbinary, testified that the measure \"discriminates against people like me\" and said the bill would erase intersex and nonbinary Arizonans from legal recognition. Dozens of public commenters appeared in favor and opposed; testimony during the HB2062 hearing was strongly contested and at one point the chair asked disruptive attendees to leave.

Other bills

HB2051 would create a monthly questioning period in which the legislature could ask the governor questions during session; proponents said the plan would increase civic engagement and improve communication between branches (committee vote: 4–3). HB2065, carried by Representative Matt Gress, clarifies that licensed physicians can supervise autopsies for training and clarifies county authority to operate crematories; the bill passed committee 6–1 after a technical amendment requiring supervising physicians to be trained in forensic pathology.

Process notes

Most measures were moved by the committee vice chair during committee procedure and advanced to the House with a due‑pass recommendation. Several bills drew unanimous support from the committee (HB2008, HB2023, HB2079); HB2062 and HB2113 were split votes. All measures will next be scheduled for floor consideration by the full House.

What to watch: HB2062 is likely to draw broader floor debate because it deals with contested definitions used across statute, and HB2008 may prompt the Secretary of State and county recorders to coordinate implementation details for ID verification and fingerprint requirements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01/22/2025 - House Government","oneSentenceSummary","The Arizona House Government Committee returned multiple bills to the full House on Tuesday, advancing measures on notary reforms, local planning, juvenile guardianship for homeless youth and a contested clarifying measure on sex‑based legal terms.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6370229,"Audit finds tracking, meeting‑record weaknesses at regulatory review council; committee recommends 4‑year continuation",809,611000,1420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2151920-c87d6549d3a0af1c399e20893d59abda&start=611&end=1420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2151920-c87d6549d3a0af1c399e20893d59abda/thumbnail_611000.jpg","/articles/6370229/Arizona/Audit-finds-tracking-meetingrecord-weaknesses-at-regulatory-review-council-committee-recommends-4year-continuation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6370229-1f3e403ec0148250569b60ecb346a689/orig.mp4?Expires=1773695008&Signature=RSuAGkH3jkFd2AKGlQkZFy5fCRHfGiBh2N02PHOdojqDyL40XfV-wYxtw4PzYlSJVwt-l-58452hp5oDPcrkgudO1lv1hyMAzuhGFc~7GOt~01t6kNW~6UmhvsGKRowq17ZxrYPqlcfP8crhKZqNNqv1rhwUJQ2poMdRBqTACrwB8AUPCdkrypryR2vme-7xx~YrpI8UmtgojW2-kkSImkezuMVQ3ibijJEc5ZBVGHRFrUZUsGdDEOhNwG6JcRYAwRnzbgZic7Sl2FFzvgAY~VWgvu-0sDvfbmP6jXBp2y499WNBSdrozObaGmFr5EGph0tphGH7i5YRaBVExPpI6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arizona House Government Committee on Tuesday heard a performance audit from the Auditor General's Office that found the Governor's Regulatory Review Council lacked formal tracking for rule reviews, sent some late notices for statutorily required five‑year reviews and failed to include required details in some executive‑session recordings.

The finding came as George Styles, a partner at the consulting firm that conducted the review under contract to the Auditor General, summarized the audit and its six recommendations. \"The lack of a formal tracking process for all rule review requests increases the risk that it could miss rule review requests or that reviews may not be completed on time,\" Styles said.

Why it matters: The council reviews agency rule‑making packages and five‑year reviews intended to ensure administrative rules remain necessary and consistent with statute. Delays or missed notices can allow outdated or noncompliant rules to remain in effect for longer than intended, the audit said.

In the presentation, Styles told the committee the council completed most rule reviews within the 120‑day statutory window for rule‑making packages but that 5‑year report reviews sometimes exceeded similar benchmarks. The audit found 25 of 129 five‑year reports reviewed between 2021 and 2023 took longer than 120 days, with one taking 488 days.

Simon Larcheidt, a staff attorney for the Governor's Regulatory Review Council, answered the committee and described the council's corrective steps. \"As of August 2024,\" Larcheidt said, \"the council implemented separate tracking for all steps in the council's rulemaking review process\" and consolidated notice and due‑date information into a single spreadsheet to prevent notices from being missed.

The audit also cited problems with executive‑session recordings, saying some lacked required details such as meeting date, time, place and attendance. Styles said the council updated its script for executive sessions in April 2024 to address confidentiality notices and recording consistency.

Committee members pressed staff on practical details. Representative Rachel Keshle asked whether the Auditor General's team could be sure five‑year reports were actually completed when the council failed to send timely notice. Styles said his team sampled reports and verified the selected items had been completed.

Action: Committee chair Representative Ben Blackman proposed shortening the council's review interval from eight years to four to increase oversight. The motion to recommend continuation of the Governor's Regulatory Review Council for four years was made and carried by the committee; the committee's roll call recorded the motion as approved (ayes: 4, nays: 3).

Next steps: The council agreed with the audit's recommendations and told the committee it would implement written procedures and the tracking changes. The Auditor General's Office said it will perform a six‑month follow‑up to monitor implementation.

The council provides a centralized check on agency rule making and on five‑year reviews statewide; the committee's recommendation will move to the full House for consideration.","The Arizona House Government Committee heard a performance audit of the Governor's Regulatory Review Council that flagged weaknesses in tracking rule reviews, missed notifications and incomplete executive‑session records. After hearing the council's response and planned fixes, the committee voted to recommend continuation for four years.","actionData","errors"]

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Government Committee advances package: notary reforms, municipal planning option, guardianship path for unaccompanied youth and contested sex‑based terms bill

Audit finds tracking, meeting‑record weaknesses at regulatory review council; committee recommends 4‑year continuation