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Senator warns advertising bill risks unconstitutional censorship; Arizona Senate passes measure
Summary
Senator Ortiz argued that House Bill 2195, described by critics as restricting advertisements targeted at children, poses constitutional risks. Despite lengthy floor criticism, the Senate passed the bill and transmitted it onward.
House Bill 2195, a measure concerning advertising regulation described by a floor speaker as limiting certain content directed at children, generated a sharp critique on constitutional grounds but passed the Senate on May 7.
Senator Annalise Ortiz told colleagues she viewed the bill as an unconstitutional form of government censorship. "HB 2,195 is unconstitutional government censorship," Ortiz said on the floor, warning that broad authority in the bill could allow the attorney general to deem many apps and platforms as directed at children and censor movie previews, game trailers, or educational material.
Ortiz said the bill's scope — as described in committee testimony — was driven by a parent’s experience viewing an in-game advertisement and cautioned that the statute’s language would give the attorney general sweeping discretion to regulate content across apps and websites. "Because HB 21 95 threatens access to the internet and gives the AG broad authority to censor apps they deem violate the law, this is unconstitutional and members should vote no," Ortiz said.
Despite Ortiz’s warnings, the clerk recorded the final vote and the measure passed on the Senate floor; the bill was transmitted per chamber practice. The roll call in the transcript that immediately follows Ortiz’s remarks shows the bill passed and was signed in open session.
Why it matters: The debate centers on the tension between efforts to shield children from certain content and constitutional protections for speech. Floor opponents flagged possible overbroad enforcement by the attorney general; floor proponents argued the bill targets specific protections for minors.
Outcome: HB 2195 passed on the Senate floor and was transmitted according to standard procedure; the transcript records the sponsor’s critique and the final vote but does not include detailed enforcement language from the bill text in floor debate.
