Year in Review - Arizona Advocacy

During the 2023-2024 period, the American Heart Association (AHA) in Arizona demonstrated unwavering commitment to heart health through legislative advocacy, community engagement, and survivor-driven initiatives. From defeating bills related to vapor directories to hosting the annual Heart Walk event and advocating for comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans at our annual Lobby Day event, the AHA’s efforts have left a lasting impact. As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 year, we must first look back at the progress made in Arizona.

At a work-study session in early June, AHA urged the city of Tempe to pass a tobacco retail license (TRL) ordinance that included a sustainable licensing fee and annual, unannounced compliance checks. While the ordinance passed in October 2023, the ordinance still does not have the necessary compliance check mechanism to have strong enforcement against bad actors. Still, we are continuing to work with the city of Tempe to establish a compliance check system and ensure our youth does not continue to have access to these dangerous products.

The city of Flagstaff convened on July 3 to discuss their existing Tobacco Retail License (TRL) ordinance, which had passed in 2019. The AHA, along with other national partners, submitted comments to the City Council, urging them to enforce the ordinance that had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 8, 2024, the Arizona legislative session resumed proceedings, marked by grand opening ceremonies and Governor Hobbs’ anticipated State of the State address. The AHA’s policy priorities for the legislative session included advocating for a statewide tobacco retail license, defending against preemption, and promoting comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans in schools.

On February 7, the AHA hosted over 50 volunteers at its annual Heart Day at the Capitol. This significant event took place at Wesley Bolin Plaza, just outside the State Capitol. It featured guest speakers, opportunities to meet with lawmakers, and CPR training sessions. Heart Day provided legislators with a chance to learn life-saving skills and engage with heart health advocates during the legislative session.

The AHA opposed legislation related to vapor directories. Their stance is clear: vapor directories are redundant and fail to address the root problem of youth access to tobacco products. While directories may appear to be a step in the right direction, they lack a comprehensive solution. Encouragingly, the bill proposing a vapor directory has been defeated, thanks to collective efforts from organizations like the AHA.

Finally, we ended the year with the AHA’s Federal Fly In. Our Arizona survivors, Pyper and Emeri Midkiff, who have experienced cardiac arrest firsthand, passionately shared their stories alongside their father Matt. They emphasized the critical importance of having accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Additionally, our Arizona-based volunteer physicians, Dr. Reshy Gomes and Dr. Reza Movahed, underscored the urgency of AED deployment. 

As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 year, we are optimistic as we continue to take steps to pass meaningful policies as Arizona continues to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.