Arizona House GOP

Protecting Arizonans and making communities safer.

Under Chairman Quang H. Nguyen, the House Committee on Judiciary cracked down on fentanyl traffickers, strengthened protections against sexual extortion, protected victims of domestic violence, and advanced stronger safeguards for children and families.

The Majority is standing with victims, supporting law enforcement, and holding dangerous offenders accountable.

🚨 During Housing Shortage, Hobbs Administration Auctioned 22 Times More State Trust Land for Solar Than Housing

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Tuesday, September 29, 2026) – The Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on State Land Oversight this week held its first hearing on outstanding issues with the Arizona State Land Department and asked critical questions related to the sale of State Trust Land near urban areas for the purpose of residential housing development for the benefit of the Trust.

According to the Common Sense Institute, Arizona is short approximately 56,000 housing units and has a long-term cumulative deficit between 110,000 and 121,000 homes. The shortage has resulted in higher housing costs, reduced jobs in construction and trades, increased rates of homelessness and evictions, and delayed family formation for young professionals who cannot find or afford a basic starter home.

Meanwhile, the Common Sense Institute found in 2025 that there are about 276,000 acres of potentially developable State Trust land located within 10 miles of existing urban areas, presenting a potential avenue for relief.

The same year, however, members of the Arizona State Legislature discovered that the Department maintains a “Solar Scores Map” that identifies parcels of State Trust Land that the Department believes are “best” for utility-scale solar development. Many of the parcels that the Department indicated as “best” for solar, however, happen to be many of the same parcels that the Common Sense Institute identified for potential new home construction: close to existing urban areas, and parcels that homebuilders would typically bid on to construct new housing supply.

Considering the clear and apparent conflict in potential land uses, the members of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee pressed the agency for transparency and asked tough questions regarding the public auctions the Department held in Fiscal Year 2026, including the number of auctions, acres, and bids for housing and the number of auctions, acres, and bids for solar during the same period.

Based on their review, the Committee found the following evidence (reflected in the table below):


Source: Arizona State Land Department Auction Results: FY 2017 to Date

“In FY26, the Hobbs Administration auctioned over 6,700 acres of State Trust Land to solar but only 300 acres for residential purposes,” said Representative Gail Griffin, House Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee and Chair of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee. “During a housing shortage, the Department auctioned nearly 22 times the number of acres of State Trust Land for utility-scale solar development than for new home construction. That was seven auctions for solar but only two for homes: more than three times as many for solar as for new home construction. I also think it’s interesting that five of those seven solar leases were located in Maricopa County—the same county where the Governor issued a housing moratorium that illegally halted nearly 162,000 Phoenix-area homes planned for State Trust Land.”

“The Department also testified that there are approximately 150 solar applications currently pending and that approximately 20 percent of those are currently ‘moving through the process,’” continued Representative Griffin. “If all 20 percent of those go to auction, then that would be 30 more solar leases in FY27. At about 1,000 acres per auction, which has been the trend, that’s 30,000 acres of State Trust Land going for solar next year. Meanwhile, the Department said it was planning only 7,200 acres for residential in FY27, four times less. I see a move to tie up land for 30 years with solar that prevents new home construction and drives up land and housing prices within the cities. The future of Arizona’s affordable standard of living and ability to start new families is on the line.”

“Assuming 5 units per acre, those 6,704 acres that went to solar could have supported at least 33,500 new homes, which would have reduced our housing shortage by more than half,” said Representative Chris Lopez, Vice Chair of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee. “Despite the Governor’s clear preference for solar, homebuilders still brought in nearly 44 times as much value for the beneficiaries of the Trust per acre as utility-scale solar, with residential bringing in nearly $357,000 per acre but solar delivering only $8,124 per acre. Let that sink in. Homebuilding brought in more than three times the value of solar with nearly 22 times less land.”

“I appreciate the direction that Commissioner has taken to reform procedures at the Department, but I am concerned of all the auctions the Department held in FY26 for commercial solar leases, all had only ONE bidder,” said Representative Sylvia Allen. “That’s 100 percent of all the solar leases the Department issued in FY26 had no competition, no competing bidder, and no increase in final price for the beneficiaries of the Trust. On all those leases, the final winning price was the same as the minimum starting price. Meanwhile, the sole residential land sale that the Department held in Maricopa County commanded over 400 bids and saw its final purchase price increase by over 66 percent over the minimum starting price, from $108.3 million to $180 million. The pattern of single bidders on auctions the Department holds for utility-scale solar purposes raises questions about whether the Trust could have received more revenue had other industries—such as homebuilders—been allowed to compete. Blanketing our state with 30-year leases of solar and wind will lead to unintended consequences that will hurt the Trust.”

Gail Griffin is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 19, which includes areas of Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and eastern Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. She also serves as Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.

# # #
https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260929GRIFFINSTATELAND.pdf

Arizona House GOP Steve Montenegro Michael Carbone Julie Willoughby Neal Carter

2026 Gun Rights Policy Conference: I had a pleasure of having a 2A conversation with Judge Benitez today. Judge Roger Benitez is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. He is known for his rulings striking down several California gun control laws.

Here’s the cool thing… Judge Benitez, today’s keynote speaker, asked me for my phone number. Still doing backflips.

🚨House and Senate Education Chairs Call for Independent Investigation of ASU Hockey Workout

Chairman Gress and Chairman Angius ask Board of Regents for outside review after seven players dispute ASU’s account of August 20 workout

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Monday, September 28, 2026) – House Education Committee Chairman Matt Gress and Senate Education Committee Chairman Hildy Angius today called on the Arizona Board of Regents to retain an independent investigator to examine the August 20 Arizona State University hockey workout that left student-athlete Matthew Mayich hospitalized.

In a letter sent today to Board Chairman Doug Goodyear, Chairman Gress and Chairman Angius cite unresolved questions about whether ASU followed its own policies and allegations from seven current hockey players who say they were present and are speaking anonymously because they fear retaliation.

The players outlined their concerns in a 26-page letter submitted through an attorney to ASU President Michael Crow. Their letter disputes key parts of ASU’s Initial Report, including the duration of the workout, access to water, signs of physical distress before Mayich collapsed, staff supervision, and the response after his collapse.

ASU’s Initial Report acknowledges that hockey staff did not submit a plan of training activities for review by the university’s strength and conditioning coaches before the workout.

“Seven players who were on that field have raised serious questions that ASU’s own review does not answer,” Chairman Gress said. “We need an independent investigation to determine whether ASU followed its own rules, who was responsible for protecting these athletes, and what happened when Matthew Mayich showed signs of distress. ASU should not be left to investigate its own conduct and decide whether anyone should be held accountable.”

The lawmakers are asking the Board of Regents to determine who authorized the workout and use of the outside consultant, whether required vetting and heat-safety procedures were followed, why ASU’s strength and conditioning professionals did not review the workout, and why the final exercise proceeded after the outside consultant left.

Their letter also calls for protections against retaliation for student-athletes and witnesses, preservation of relevant records and communications, and release of the investigation’s findings.

“Student-athletes should never have to choose between telling the truth and protecting their scholarship, roster spot, or playing time,” Chairman Angius said. “If players fear retaliation for speaking about what happened to a teammate, the Regents need to act. They should protect these students and appoint an investigator who answers to the Board, not ASU.”

Chairman Gress and Chairman Angius requested a response from the Board of Regents by October 9.

The lawmakers’ letter and the players’ 26-page letter are attached here: https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260928GRESSANGIUS.pdf.

Follow Representative Gress and Senator Angius on X at and .

# # #

Arizona House GOP Steve Montenegro Michael Carbone Julie Willoughby Neal Carter Warren Petersen Arizona Senate Republicans

https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260928GRESSANGIUS.pdf.

🏛️ Government should work for the people, not the other way around.

Under Chairman Walt Blackman for AZ LD7, the House Committee on Government advanced reforms focused on transparency, accountability, protecting taxpayer dollars, merit-based hiring, and stronger safeguards against fraud, waste, and foreign influence.

House Republicans are working to ensure Arizona government serves the people of Arizona.

Read the full 2026 Majority Report. https://bit.ly/4icWotk

🏥 More access to health care, closer to home.

The House Committee on Health & Human Services advanced two signed reforms aimed at expanding access to radiation treatment and diagnostic imaging, especially in rural and underserved Arizona communities.

Under Chairman Selina Bliss For State Representative - District 1, the committee also worked to address health care workforce shortages while maintaining patient safety and oversight.

Arizona families and taxpayers should not be forced to bear the cost of discriminatory government mandates.

House Republicans defended Arizonans against DEI mandates with new liability protections while advancing merit-based public hiring and stronger accountability across state government.

The Majority will continue standing for equal treatment, individual rights, and government that works for every Arizonan.

Read the full 2026 Majority Report. https://bit.ly/4icWotk

State Land Oversight Committee to Examine State Trust Land Sales for Housing

September 29 hearing will examine legislative requirements, agency permitting delays, and residential development during severe housing shortage, among other issues

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Friday, September 25, 2026) – The newly formed Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on State Land Oversight will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1. The committee is expected to hear from the Arizona State Land Department and the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona.

The Department will provide an update on requirements the Legislature adopted as part of the agency’s four-year continuation. These include the creation of a five-year disposition plan and written policies governing commissioner-initiated sales. The Department was also required to work with stakeholders to establish timeframes for issuing final written decisions on applications for permits, certificates, approvals, registrations, charters, and other permissions issued by the agency.

“During our sunset review, we heard about a backlog of more than 400 pending applications that was continuing to grow, with some applications sitting for more than two years without a final approval or denial on the merits,” said Senator Tim Dunn, Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee. “This was one of the top concerns raised by stakeholders. Nearly every industry that does business with the Department and that generates revenue for the Trust reported negative experiences with the Department’s secret ‘A.S.A.P.’ process—where applications go in and, instead of being approved or denied on the merits, they get sidelined indefinitely under the guise of 'needing more information' when Department staff, the Governor, or her political allies have a different, predetermined vision for a parcel. This practice avoids appealable agency actions under Arizona Revised Statutes 37-133 and denies applicants' basic due process rights. It is unacceptable, unlawful, and must be addressed.”

“Arizona is in a housing crisis,” said Representative Gail Griffin, House Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee. “In 2023, Arizona was more than 50,000 units short. Since then, the shortage has only grown while demand for new housing has remained steady, driving up housing costs for both renters and prospective buyers. The shortage is also delaying family formation, with fewer young people starting families because they cannot afford the cost of living or find an affordable starter home. The national average age for first-time home buyers is now 40 years old, the oldest on record. For someone taking out a 30-year mortgage at that age, that means making payments until age 70.

“The family formation issue is also affecting school enrollment, leading to declining numbers and increased school closures as fewer families have kids. According to the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the state’s birth rate declined 36 percent from 2007-2022, the second highest in the nation. The future of Arizona's education system depends on educational leaders supporting new home construction in affordable markets to foster an economic environment that supports family formation. If there are no kids to enroll, then there is no need for a school.

“In 2025, we learned from the Arizona Common Sense Institute that over 200,000 acres of potentially developable State Trust Land are located within a 10-mile radius of existing urban areas, which could support new home construction. The State Land Department under the direction of the Governor maintains direct control over these acres and over the decision whether to auction them for residential purposes or to keep them off the market for other reasons.

“Market data show that auctioning fewer acres per auction for land near or within cities results in a greater number of competitive bids and in a higher return for the Trust relative to large-acre deals and outlying parcels that lack existing infrastructure or that require higher upfront capital commitments, which serve as barriers to entry. With Arizona facing this kind of housing shortage, and education being a top issue for the state, we need to know how many of those acres located in or near city limits were auctioned for residential purposes for the benefit of the Trust.”

Gail Griffin is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 19, which includes areas of Greenlee, Graham, Cochise, and eastern Pima and Santa Cruz Counties. She also serves as Chairman of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee.

Tim Dunn is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 25, which includes portions of Yuma, Maricopa, and La Paz Counties. Follow him on X/Twitter at .

# # #
https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260925GRIFFINDUNN.pdf

Arizona House GOP Steve Montenegro Michael Carbone Julie Willoughby Neal Carter Arizona Senate Republicans Warren Petersen T.J. Shope

Rep. Walt Blackman Calls on Leaders to Condemn Racist Social Media Posts

Urges leaders across the political spectrum to reject degrading racial stereotypes

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (Friday, September 25, 2026) – Arizona State Representative Walt Blackman today called on elected officials and community leaders across the political spectrum to condemn social media content depicting Black Americans as apes and using degrading racial stereotypes.

“Leadership is measured by the standards we uphold when doing so comes at a cost. Condemning an opponent is easy. Confronting wrongdoing among political allies requires conviction.

“Depicting Black Americans as apes and portraying an entire race as a societal problem is racist and dehumanizing. Leaders should have no difficulty saying so.

“I firmly defend the First Amendment, including speech I find offensive. That protection also safeguards our freedom to challenge hateful ideas. I am calling for a voluntary response and public accountability, not government censorship.

“I am asking elected officials and community leaders across the political spectrum to publicly condemn this content, and I am asking those who shared it to acknowledge the harm it causes.

“Our commitment to individual liberty, equal opportunity, and human dignity must hold firm regardless of who violates those principles. The standard must be the same for everyone. Political considerations must never become an excuse for tolerating racial degradation.

“Our children are learning from what adults say and what leaders tolerate. They deserve to see courage expressed through respect for others and a willingness to speak when silence would be easier.

“The people of Legislative District 7 deserve leadership that protects their freedoms, respects their dignity, and brings communities together. This moment calls for a clear response: defend free speech, condemn racism, and uphold the same principles regardless of who crosses the line.”

View the images referenced in this statement on X: https://x.com/blackmanforaz/status/2103303305468285072

Representative Walt Blackman is a retired United States Army combat veteran who served for 21 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He represents Arizona’s Legislative District 7 and serves as Chairman of the House Government Committee. Follow him on X at .

# # #
https://www.azleg.gov/press/house/57LEG/2R/260925BLACKMAN.pdf

Steve Montenegro Michael Carbone Julie Willoughby Neal Carter Arizona House GOP