Senate Republicans Move to Stop Federal EPA Overreach
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 26, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Arizona Senate Republicans are pushing back on federal overreach, advancing a memorial urging Congress to intervene and rein in unchecked regulatory expansion by the Environmental Protection Agency. Federal regulators have imposed sweeping rules without clear authorization from Congress, burdening Arizona's economy, increasing costs for families and businesses, and shifting decision-making away from elected representatives.
SCM 1004, sponsored by Majority Whip Frank Carroll, passed the Senate with only Republican support and now heads to the House for consideration. The measure calls on the U.S. Congress to clearly define the EPA's powers and responsibilities, and limit regulatory actions that extend beyond congressional intent. Although the EPA was established to protect clean air, land, and water based on sound science and fair enforcement of federal law, Lawmakers contend that the agency has increasingly relied on vague statutory authority to justify broad regulations that have significant economic impacts.
"Federal overreach by the EPA has gone too far, and the people of Arizona are bearing the consequences," said Majority Whip Carroll. "This memorial establishes a definitive principle: Congress makes the laws, and agencies enforce them. Protecting the environment should never justify bypassing the Constitution, hindering economic growth, or overwhelming states with excessive regulations. When unelected regulators interpret vague laws beyond their intended scope, accountability diminishes, leading to real-world consequences such as higher costs, fewer jobs, and endless bureaucratic red tape for families and employers who are simply trying to comply. This memorial makes it clear: Congress must define the law, and agencies must operate within that framework. Protecting the environment and promoting economic freedom are not mutually exclusive; both require transparency, clear limits, and respect for the constitutional roles of each branch of government and the citizens they serve."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus