A significant victory for parental rights slipped through the cracks less than three weeks ago when Governor Doug Ducey vetoed SB 1456. But we never say die here at CAP. So, we worked with lawmakers and the Governor’s office to basically revive the bill with the Governor’s concerns addressed. This week, the Republicans in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee passed HB 2035, sending it to the full Senate for a vote.
HB 2035 is similar to SB 1456 in that it is a balanced approach to addressing concerns from parents about sex education in district and charter schools. The bill requires sex education curricula be made available for parents to review both online and in person in grades 5-12.
The bill also requires school boards and other governing bodies to hold public hearings on the proposed curricula, and it requires parents to opt-in their child to any sexuality-related instruction.
Under HB 2035, sex education would not be provided before fifth grade. Also, age and grade-appropriate classroom instruction regarding child sexual assault awareness and abuse prevention would not be prohibited. This resolves the concern that drove Governor Ducey to veto SB 1456. He wanted to be sure teachers were allowed to continue sexual assault prevention instruction.
Follow HB 2035 and the progress of all CAP-supported bills on our BILL TRACKER.
The Push to Nationalize Voting Laws
U.S. Senate leadership is doing all it can to nationalize voting laws, stripping every state of its right to run and secure elections. The U.S. House passed HR 1 – For the People Act of 2021 in March. Now the Senate is planning to change the rules, break the filibuster and ram through this controversial legislation. Senate Democrats met this week to discuss how to pass H.R. 1/ S 1, and control election laws from Washington D.C.
The Heritage Foundation runs down the worst parts of the bill, including, but not limited to the following:
- It would end state voter ID laws and mandate same-day voter registration, effectively allowing anyone to vote without ensuring they are eligible
- It would eliminate witness signatures or notarization requirements for absentee ballots
- It would put onerous new restrictions on political speech
- It would squash efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls
That last one would likely apply to a new law signed by Governor Ducey this week. SB 1485 will remove voters from the Permanent Early Voter List if they haven’t voted by mail in two consecutive elections and don’t respond to a letter asking if they still want to be on the list. They will remain registered voters, but would have to reapply to be put back on the newly named, Active Early Voter List. Contrary to opponents’ claims, the new law does not suppress the vote. Rather, it is an essential step to addressing voter fraud concerns.
ICYMI
- Read here about the Department of Health and Human Services move to redefine “sex” and what it says about the Equality Act.
- Read here about the Biden Administration’s plan to get Critical Race Theory into every public school.
- Read here about the dangers of recent genetic experimentation on hybrid human-animal research.
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