Senator Finchem Advances Sweeping Family Court Reforms as Democrats Defend a System that Traumatizes Kids, Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 5, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senator Mark Finchem, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders, is taking decisive action to rebalance Arizona's family court system by advancing a slate of bold reforms that prioritize the needs of children and parents over the interests of entrenched court insiders. These reforms aim to hold unelected power brokers accountable and to restore fundamental rights to families affected by opaque court proceedings.
SB 1329 enables a parent to bring a civil action against court-appointed professional personnel when those professionals deviate from prescribed ethics and standards, creating real accountability where none has existed.
SB 1328 strengthens Arizona's declared public policy and statutes on marital and domestic relations by explicitly protecting and promoting parents' rights, while reinforcing the Parents' Bill of Rights.
SB 1330 grants a parent the right to request a jury trial to determine parenting time or legal decision-making when specified conditions are met, ensuring life-altering decisions aren't made without transparency.
The first set of bills in this package, which passed the Senate Judiciary & Elections Committee on Wednesday with only Republican support, is one step closer to providing families with meaningful due process and a fair opportunity in a system that has failed them.
"The democratic lawmakers who voted against these bills have made their priorities very clear," said Senator Finchem. "They align themselves with a broken, self-serving system that traumatizes children, bankrupts parents, and rewards judges and lawyers who operate without accountability. Families are torn apart, kids grow up bearing the scars of unnecessary conflict, yet democratic politicians defend those who profit from that suffering. Instead of standing up for children who suffer in silence, they protect insiders and uphold a system that punishes parents for fighting for their children. I refuse to stay silent while children's lives are treated as collateral damage. Families in Arizona deserve justice, transparency, and a fair court system that doesn't inflict harm. Every vote against these reforms is a vote to keep children trapped in trauma and parents powerless."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus