Committee backs firearm-safety curriculum for public schools after rejecting ‘Christian’s law’ amendment

The Committee of the Whole recommended that Senate Bill 14-24, a measure to require age-appropriate firearm-safety instruction in district and charter schools, receive a do-pass recommendation after an extended floor debate and the defeat of a related floor amendment.

Representative Gutierrez, who introduced the floor amendment commonly referred to in debate as "Christian's law," said the change would expand the statute on misconduct involving weapons to make parents responsible when they "knowingly fail to secure a firearm from a minor," and would include age-appropriate safety awareness instruction. "I will continue to run this bill as long as it takes to get this passed," Gutierrez said, urging colleagues to hold parents accountable for secure storage.

Opponents criticized the floor amendment and the bill's broad approach. Representative Gress, speaking for the sponsor, described SB14-24 as "a common sense, gun sense safety bill" focused on accident prevention and teaching students to notify an adult if they encounter a firearm. Representative Cruz and other members urged caution about parental rights and curriculum content, arguing that public schools should not be forced to teach material some parents may find controversial.

A roll-call division on the Gutierrez floor amendment returned 23 yeas and 31 nays; the amendment failed and was not added to the bill. Debate then turned to the bill as amended on the floor. Several members raised funding concerns, calling SB14-24 an unfunded mandate for district and charter schools; Representative Marquez and others asked who would develop curriculum and how implementation would be paid for. Supporters responded that existing state entities—the Arizona Department of Education, the State Board of Education and public-safety agencies—can develop and provide age-appropriate materials.

After the time limit for debate, the committee of the whole rose and reported SB14-24 as recommended do pass (as amended). The clerk recorded the committee's report for assignment and further floor action.

What happens next: The committee recommendation sends SB14-24 back to the House calendar for additional floor consideration and scheduling consistent with House rules.