The Rev. Christine Stoxen of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Chandler, testified before the Arizona House Appropriations Committee on Monday, February 24, 2025 in support of HB2191, the “Yes In God’s Back Yard” (YIGBY) bill on behalf of LAMA and Valley Interfaith Project (VIP).

URGENT ACTION ALERT. HB2191 is on the House Government Committee agenda Wednesday (2/19) at 8 am. We need you to show your support most urgently! Sign in to the Request to Speak (RTS) system and support this bill today.

Read our recap of the 2025 Lutheran Day at the Legislature! Includes link to all photos taken. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who, following the example of Jesus, advocated for justice for all God’s people.

Read more about Autumn’s visit to Tucson and the partnership between Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and Grace St Paul’s Episcopal Church.

The Supreme Court cleared the way for cities to enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outside in public places on Friday. Read Bishop Eaton’s statement and what it means for Arizona.

As Lutherans, we hold profound concern for survivors of major disasters, as we see dignity in each person as children of God. Our churches, LDR, and many of our partners arrive in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and remain working to rebuild years after FEMA leaves. This bill helps that.

HB2070, the AZ Casitas Act is now law! Read on to learn more about this Act that Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest has been tracking!

One of LSS-SW’s target housing bills has passed the house! Learn more about how this bill will help address housing scarcity in Arizona!

Read the latest Action Alert from ELCA Advocacy! Join Lutherans from across the country in urging Congress to include the largest possible budget allotment to housing and homeless programs.

Read all about housing in Arizona, from the fourth in a series of education posts about LAMA’s policy priorities. Get up to date on the issues we are advocating on!

YIGBY is stalled in the Senate! Urge Senate President Petersen (LD14) to bring the bill to the floor.

UPDATE: A Housing bill that we worked to defeat has been resurrected by a pair of strike everything bills. Read more about the policy now.

Have you missed an RTS Update? Read through our mid-season round up of the most important bills in all of our priority areas!

Senator Sherrod Brown, a Lutheran from Ohio, recently introduced an act that would provide support to states looking to opt in to YIGBY programs and partner with houses of worship and nonprofits to build affordable housing. Read the details here!

LAMA Action Alert: Contact your state Senator about YIGBY!

EXCITING NEWS: YIGBY (hb2815) passed the House last night! Thank you for your advocacy!

The “Yes In God’s Back Yard” bill (HB 2815) has passed two House committees! Read more about the bill, our support for it, and the work left to do.

Read our weekly RTS alert for the 2024 Legislative Session. This week we are looking at hunger and housing, encouraging support for HB 2794 and HB2815.