Committee advances bill to create Freedom of Speech Monument committee

The House Committee on Government gave Senate Bill 16 63 a due-pass recommendation after staff explained the bill would establish a Freedom of Speech Monument Committee to nominate two deceased individuals each year—one from each major political party—who have contributed to preserving freedom of speech in Arizona.

Senator Shawna Bullock (introduced as the sponsor) asked the committee to support the proposal, describing examples of monuments elsewhere and stating the committee would include members from both parties and chambers and could defer artistic choices to a licensed artist.

A public commenter, Noah James Markham, testified in opposition, saying he believed the state did not need the proposed monument and invoking a different view of what constitutes an appropriate public commemoration. Committee members debated procedure and comments before returning the bill with a due-pass recommendation.

The committee did not adopt a separate amendment and recorded a recommendation to move the bill forward to the next legislative stage.