Rivero Bill Streamlines Contempt Charges for False Testimony

If Representative Tony Rivero (R-27) has his way, false testimony in legislative committees will soon become a thing of the past — or at least be a lot less tempting. He sponsored House Bill HB2824, which allows any legislative committee chair to issue a subpoena for the sergeant-at-arms or a county sheriff to arrest anyone refusing to submit to questioning or produce requested documents. The bill passed the Senate on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, but is still awaiting a final reconciliation of the differences between the House and Senate amendments.

“Testimony in committee is often used to develop and improve legislation,” said Rivero. “It is very important that the information we receive be accurate.”

To that end, his bill reads that “all testimony produced pursuant to this chapter… authorized by the senate or the house of representatives shall be sworn testimony under the penalty of perjury.” Though Rivero could not point to any specific examples of lying during his committee hearings, he stated that the legislation “will hold individuals who testify accountable.”

Speaking about Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, Rivero said, “I believe there is (only) a 50% chance that the governor will sign my legislation. This legislation increases the power of the legislature, and that is not in her interest.”

The current legislative procedure for holding someone in contempt for false testimony is far more cumbersome and time-consuming, requiring a majority vote from either the House or the Senate. Only after that process can the sergeant-at-arms pursue and arrest the accused. HB2824 would drastically shorten the timeline, increasing the weight and seriousness of official committee testimony, and providing more “teeth” to the consequences.

With four of his sponsored bills remaining in the Senate, Rivero acknowledges that Hobbs, Arizona’s most veto-happy governor (52 this session, plus 216 in the previous two sessions), may very well veto HB2824. That amounts to over one-third (36%) of all bills produced during the 2025 legislative session.

“If she vetoes it, the legislature will continue to hold the bureaucracy accountable,” he said. “I will continue pushing next year.”

Rivero said that the Hobbs administration’s track record served as the impetus for the bill. He stated, “The bureaucracy has not been responsive to the Legislative branch. High level bureaucrats in the executive branch have not been responsive to requests from the legislature this session. This piece of legislation will require the executive branch to be responsive.”