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May 17, 2021While the Arizona Legislature is struggling to come to agreement on a budget, several important bills supported by the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) have recently been passed and signed into law!
Among these new laws are pro-life measures restricting abortions based on genetic abnormalities (SB 1457) and promoting adoption as a loving option to abortion on the Department of Health Services website (SB 1254). Additionally, Arizona will improve protections for newborn babies by expanding the protocols in the safe haven law to babies up to 30 days old (HB 2410); and increase access for clergy to have in-person hospital visitation for dying patients who want to receive the sacraments (HB 2575).
With regard to education, the ACC is pleased that the Legislature, on bipartisan votes, just passed SCR 1044. If approved by voters in 2022, SCR 1044 will allow undocumented immigrants who graduate from Arizona high schools the ability to receive in-state college tuition like the rest of the peers they grew up with in our state. Important education issues related to school choice (SB 1452, SB 1273, and SB 1041) and sex education (HB 2035) also remain in the mix as the Legislature moves to finish its business.
Finally, with regard to the federal issues, there is currently an effort to repeal the Hyde Amendment which has prohibited federal funding for elective abortions for over 45 years. If you have not done so already, the USCCB is asking Catholics across the country to sign a petition in support of the Hyde Amendment to let Congress know of your support. The petition may be found at https://www.notaxpayerabortion.com/
