The Arizona House of Representatives passed legislation on March 30 repealing the state law recognizing Cesar Chavez Day, sending the measure to Governor Katie Hobbs for consideration. The move follows reports detailing allegations against labor leader Cesar Chavez and comes after strong bipartisan support in both legislative chambers.
The repeal, known as HB 2072, was introduced by Representative Lisa Fink and includes an emergency clause for immediate effect upon signing. The Arizona House GOP Conference announced in a press release that the bill cleared the Senate the prior week and received House approval. The legislation addresses the statute that had designated the holiday in state law. The move follows the emergence of public reports on the matter, according to a press release.
Arizona shares historical ties to Cesar Chavez who was born near Yuma and took part in labor actions within the state including a 1972 fast in Phoenix. The repeal bill passed the Senate by a vote of 29-1 and the House by 48-8 according to legislative records. This action removes the official state observance but leaves local community recognitions in places such as Phoenix and Tucson potentially unchanged. The sponsor in the Senate was Senator Shawnna Bolick as reported on the official bill tracking page, according to legislative records.
A New York Times investigation reported allegations from multiple women who described encounters with Cesar Chavez during their time in the United Farm Workers movement in the 1970s. The accounts involved individuals who were girls at the time of the reported incidents as detailed in the coverage. The labor leader who died in 1993 had long been honored in several states through holidays and statues. The reports led to broader discussions about public commemorations of the figure across the country, according to a New York Times investigation.
The Arizona House of Representatives functions as the lower chamber of the state legislature with 60 members elected to two-year terms from districts throughout Arizona. The body handles legislation on topics ranging from education and economic development to public safety and government efficiency. Members collaborate with the Senate to advance measures that require gubernatorial approval to become law. The chamber convenes regularly in Phoenix to address the needs of state residents as described on its official site, according to its website.
