Jeff Fortney

Science is real. Facts are important. I will make sure that all work I do in the Senate, any relevant bills I sponsor or support are based on the research done beforehand. I am a special education teacher that has been showing students how to do research, look for facts, and come to their own conclusions based on that research and those facts. We have far too many factions espousing their beliefs as if they were facts. That type of situation has caused far too many problems and contributed to the divisiveness we find ourselves with today.

I want to find ways to bring scientists and technical experts into the state legislature to help inform our decisions. I want to see an increase in state funding for early-stage research to help turn ideas into products that can qualify for federal grants. Once federal approval has been received, I will work to speed up state approval processes for water, energy, and research facilities so they don’t get delayed by state regulations. I will support using state funds to help our universities and companies match the money needed to secure federal grants.

Once again, it is important for legislators to listen - openly and without prejudice - to the experts in these areas. We cannot go into discussions about how to address these issues with our own pre-conceived notions, biases, and ideas. I support bringing experts in to listen to the specifics of the problem, their suggestions on how to best approach dealing with areas like heat, water and mining waste, then working cooperatively to come up with workable solutions that will benefit the citizens of Arizona and make their future, not just livable, but comfortable. Regarding AI data centers, we can demand that any proposed data centers Bring Their Own Grid and demonstrate the near-zero impact they will have on the water issue. There are data centers that are moving away from using extensive water supplies. This must be a non-negotiable requirement.

The fact that we even have to discuss this is mind-boggling.Between 1953 and 1963, the ten years immediately preceding the measles vaccine, measles caused an average of 400 to 500 deaths, 48,000 hospitalizations, and 1,000 cases of encephalitis every year. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 because our society understood the importance of vaccines and the mandates that required vaccines for schools. However, a recent rise in vaccine hesitancy, caused by the spread of misinformation and debunked myths, caused a resurgence, resulting in 3 preventable deaths in 2025 - all of whom were unvaccinated. Scientists and medical experts are the voices that should be listened to. Any politicians that espouse misinformation that results in the unnecessary death of a child should be prosecuted.

I cheer, and 100% support, the actions Attorney General Kris Mayes took to hold social media - Facebook - accountable for using algorithms that “preyed on the developing minds of kids.” I support the restrictions implemented after this lawsuit regarding restrictions of young people. I feel these restrictions need to be required for all social media platforms. There should be no access for those under 13 years old. There should be strict and specific limits on older teens. And anyone caught creating work-arounds to avoid these restrictions should be held legally responsible.

I’ve been advocating for properly funding public education for nearly two decades. The statistics quoted above are an embarrassment for Arizona. Unfortunately, our current Republican-controlled legislative majority has set this course for several years. During the 2009 recession, Arizona lawmakers decided to balance the budget on the backs of public schools and we haven’t recovered yet. The legislature has prioritized private schools for far too long. They’ve refused to renew major sources of education funding (Prop 123). They refuse to address a 40+ year old spending limit for public district schools, causing districts to not know if they are able to spend the money that they’ve already received. Meanwhile, the Empowerment Scholarship Account program redirects state funds to private schools/homeschools, reduces the general fund, and subsidizes families that were already sending their children to private schools. Additionally, there are no requirements regarding what is being taught in these schools, and no state testing requirements. We don’t know what is being taught or how well it is being learned. Science is an absolutely necessary subject that must be taught in K-12 education. The important element of teaching facts has become very important in these uncertain times. Teaching facts and explaining the scientific method for testing hypotheses are crucial concepts that need to be taught. Again, this has become even more important when ESA requests include purchasing flat earth curriculum. This is a frightening thought. We need good, dedicated science teachers teaching our students real scientific laws and theories.