Arizona House passes several Senate bills, defeats Yuma broadband carve-out; Democrats stage bloc no-votes

PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives on April 17, 2025, approved a package of Senate bills on third reading and declined to pass a broadband bill that would have carved out Yuma County, while a bloc of House Democrats cast coordinated no votes in protest of the state’s handling of disability funding.

The action sent six Senate measures back to the Senate after affirmative votes on third reading; the chamber rejected Senate Bill 16-61, which would have added a chapter to Arizona Revised Statutes relating to broadband services and included a carve-out for Yuma County’s agricultural broadband needs.

Why it matters: The passed bills now move to the Senate for further action or enrollment, while the failed broadband measure and the public caucus action underscore disagreements within the Legislature over funding priorities and the governor’s announced decision to withhold signatures until a bipartisan solution is reached on disability-related bills.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Bill 10-22 — Passed on third reading (House recorded 32 ayes, 23 nays, 5 not voting). The bill was read as relating to a small-claims division (section cited in the reading as 22-503 ARS). The clerk was instructed to convey the bill to the Senate.

- Senate Bill 13-75 — Passed on third reading (32 ayes, 25 nays). Reading identified it as relating to qualification and registration of electors (transcript referenced section numbers in reading).

- Senate Bill 13-78 — Passed on third reading (32 ayes, 25 nays, 3 not voting). The reading described amendments to statutes relating to condominiums and planned communities (transcript cited ARS sections 33-12-61 and 33-18-08).

- Senate Bill 13-93 — Passed on third reading (32 ayes, 25 nays). The reading identified changes to groundwater statutes (transcript referenced sections 45-576 and 48-3771 ARS).

- Senate Bill 14-62 — Passed on third reading (33 ayes, 24 nays). Members debated that measure as updating statutes addressing nonconsensual explicit-image offenses and the use of AI to generate explicit images; supporters described the bill as extending existing prohibitions to cover AI-generated images.

- Senate Bill 15-30 — Passed on third reading (33 ayes, 24 nays). The bill was read as amending statutes related to groundwater storage.

- Senate Bill 16-61 — Failed on third reading (19 ayes, 39 nays). The reading identified the measure as adding chapter 15 to Title 11 ARS relating to broadband services; legislators repeatedly described the bill as carving out Yuma County to allow special technology or regulatory treatment for agricultural broadband needs.

Key debate and explanations of vote

Representative Collin praised work on one bill and announced his support on the floor, saying, "This is a tight piece of legislation now and I happily vote aye." He spoke after a floor amendment and before the House recorded a passage on one of the measures.

Representative Wenninger, speaking during debate on the bill addressing nonconsensual explicit images, said the measure updates earlier law for the AI era: "As I read this bill, this is essentially the same thing, but with the advancement in AI and computer programs, you could create an image out of whole cloth that very, very much resembles that person... I truly don't understand why anybody would, want that to be allowed. That's disgusting." Wenninger then recorded an aye vote on that bill.

On the broadband bill that failed (SB 16-61), supporters argued the bill would protect agricultural production in parts of the state that rely on specialized broadband. Representative Bliss, explaining his aye vote before the final tally, said, "I'm wondering on this bill if people realize where their food comes from. 90% of our leafy greens come from the San Luis Valley. That's what this bill is about. It's to allow the technology to allow agriculture to continue to use this technology."

Opponents cited the bill’s geographic carve-out. Representative Cuppert said he opposed the measure because it was a carve-out limited to one county: "I'm not a huge fan of carve outs... If this is good for Yuma County, it should be good for the entire state... I voted no." The House ultimately recorded 19 ayes and 39 nays on SB 16-61.

Caucus protest and procedural follow-up

During the session Democrats said they cast no votes en masse in solidarity with Arizonans with disabilities and in support of Governor Katie Hobbs’ announced refusal to sign bills until a bipartisan solution is reached on disability issues. A House Democrat stated on the floor: "In solidarity with Arizonans living with disabilities who desperately need our help... House Democrats today proudly voted no on every bill." (Personal-privilege remarks were made on the floor and recorded in the session transcript.)

After the vote on SB 16-61 failed, a member moved to reconsider the chamber’s action. The House approved the motion to reconsider by division, 25 ayes to 11 nays, which places SB 16-61 back into the order of business for third reading at a later time.

Procedural notes

Several measures were returned from committees of the whole with committee amendments before third reading; committee motions to adopt committee amendments and to refer bills to additional committees were made and approved on voice votes earlier in the day. The clerk recorded attendance at 50 present, 8 absent, 2 excused at one point during the morning roll call. The House adjourned to reconvene at 1:15 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2025.

Ending

The bills passed on third reading were ordered conveyed to the Senate for enrollment and further action; SB 16-61 was returned to the calendar after reconsideration was approved. The session featured extended floor explanations of votes and an overt caucus protest by House Democrats related to disability funding and the governor’s veto posture.