Preparing to Advocate for Better Bills at the AZ Legislature

Time to prepare for our vital work advocating at the State Capitol. 

After the Arizona Legislature resumes on January 12th, we will have regular Calls to Action on bills that impact our water and the environment. Unfortunately, they are usually bad bills. You can weigh in on them through the Request to Speak online system while they are still in committee. If these bad bills make it through anyway, our RTS responses support the Governor's vetoes on those bills. 

If you haven't already, please sign up for the Request to Speak system so you are prepared for these important actions. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdjBMoAJrjHD57GGegmdUCKAowcr93K4vQA6a7_AjyElBtrQ/viewform

Another way to advocate for the environment is to attend Environmental Day at the Capitol on  Wednesday, February 11, 2026; 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM. This is your opportunity to express your concerns with your Reps or be there to support other advocates. (For instance, I always advocate for water.) The Sierra Club has simple online training and one-sheets on bills they promote. This rewarding event is a great way to meet other like-minded people who also care about the environment. Transportation and lunch is provided.  

And be sure to register now - especially if you want a ride on the bus (as the bus fills up.) 

 https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po000019vMfuIAE

One way to become better advocates is by staying abreast of what is happening at the state legislature. Towards that end, Sustainable Tucson will be hosting The Environment in 2026: At the State Capitol & Beyond. 6pm, Tues, January 6th on Zoom. Please mark your calendar. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87556154931?pwd=56TlanklJnNjKt628HE2fa523Acy5D.1  

The program will look at what can be expected in coming months from state (and some national) legislative and administrative actions, with a focus on what will have particular impact on Tucson and Southern AZ – and what we can do.

The panel includes State Senator Priya Sundareshan (LD 18), Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter, and Kirsten Engel, Chief, Environmental Protection Unit of the AZ Attorney General's Office. They will preview the policies, places, and programs that Arizonans will need to protect and promote. Their perspectives will give us a full picture of what we can and should do – as individuals and as an organization – to support an agenda of environmental protection and justice as we work for a sustainable future.

Following our guests’ comments, expect a lively question & answer session, with a shared conversation on how to advance momentum on this work. Please look out for more opportunities to learn about the bills that are coming up and how to advocate for our water and the environment by participating in Sustainable Tucson's Request to Speak actions.

Urgent Action: Urge your Rep to Oppose Bad Mining Bill TODAY

Artist rendition of Copper World mine 

Tomorrow the House's Natural Resources Committee will be voting on H.R.1366 - Mining Regulatory Clarity Act. Earthworks is sending out a letter opposing the bill that several environmental organizations have signed onto including Sustainable Tucson.

Currently the 1872 Mining Law makes hard rock mining the most important use of public lands - allowing mining companies to use as much water as they want to mine (while poisoning our waterways with toxic tailings) and not paying royalties to the American people - who end up cleaning up the closed mines.  Rep. Raul Grijalva fought for years to repeal this outdated law.

But instead of repealing this antiquated law, H.R.1366 will give even more control over our public lands to the mining industry. If passed, this bill’s provisions will have a devastating impact on frontline communities, cultural resources, and sensitive ecosystems.

Here is the main reason this bill is dangerous:

The Mining Regulatory Clarity Act amends the 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act to address the Rosemont judicial decision. The Rosemont ruling held that public lands used for mining-support activities—such as waste storage, processing, and infrastructure—must contain economically valuable minerals. This ruling was a significant departure from the 150-year precedent set under the 1872 Mining Law. Overturning Rosemont will mean that mining operations will be able use a virtually limitless area of public lands for tailings, support structures, roads, pipelines, powerlines, etc. It would also free the Copper World mine from current litigation. This would impact the Sky Islands and our groundwater quality and quantity.

Please contact your representative today and urge them to vote "no." You can look them up using the link below. Be sure to include your zip code and that you are their constituent. 

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

You can also use Earthwork's action alert to easily email your representative.  

https://act.earthworks.org/page/89807/action/1?locale=en-US

Feel free to share widely!