Arizona Senate reads memorial for Dr. Charles Monte Russell, unanimously adopts House resolution for Phil Austin

The Arizona State Senate paused its floor business to read a legislative death resolution for Dr. Charles Monte Russell and recessed to present a flag flown over the state capitol in his memory. Later in the session the Senate unanimously adopted House Concurrent Resolution 2,059 honoring Philip A. (Phil) Austin.

The Senate read the “Arizona State Senate legislative death resolution” for Dr. Charles Monte Russell, identified in the record as an educator who served as president of Diné College and who died on Jan. 6, 2025, at age 63. Senators recessed the floor to allow a ceremonial flag presentation; a certificate read on the floor stated the flag had been flown over the state capitol in memory of Russell and referenced Governor Katie Hobbs’s commendation. Members of Russell’s family were present in the gallery when the flag and citation were presented.

The body also received and concurred with House Concurrent Resolution 2,059, a House-passed memorial resolution for Philip A. Austin. The House earlier read and unanimously adopted HCR 2,059; on the Senate floor Senator Bridal moved that the resolution be unanimously adopted and that the Senate stand in a moment of silence. The motion carried by voice vote, and the secretary was instructed to record the action and return the resolution to the House.

The text read into the record describes Philip A. Austin as a long-time Mesa attorney and community leader who died Dec. 20, 2024, at age 73. The resolution, read on the floor, summarized Austin’s career in the Arizona Attorney General’s office, his private-practice work emphasizing fair housing and civil-rights issues, and his community activities, including founding roles in local civic groups and charitable funds. Senator Miranda offered brief personal remarks to Austin’s family on the Senate floor, recalling a recent memorial service and describing the family as “full of humor, of love, and just solid connection.”

The Senate’s actions during the session were primarily ceremonial and procedural: reading memorial resolutions, presenting a flag and certificate, handling messages from the House about bill referrals to committees, announcing committee meeting times, and adopting a motion to adjourn. The journal will carry the official texts and the secretary’s entries recording the Senate’s concurrence with HCR 2,059.