-- SUMMATION --

• HCR 2044 (2026) / HCR 2022 (2025) – Anti-DEI and Gender Identity Program Ban: Montenegro introduced these measures to prohibit public entities, including schools and universities, from funding programs that discuss gender identity, sexual orientation, or "anti-racist" materials. The 2025 version sought to gut civil rights protections by blocking any state programs that promote specific race, gender, or sexuality categories.

• Save Women’s Sports Act (Defense and Amicus Briefs): While the original act was enacted in 2022, Speaker Montenegro has been a primary force in its continued legal defense. In 2025, he filed amicus briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold laws restricting girls' and women's sports to biological females. He has publicly criticized courts for "rewriting laws" to allow transgender athletes to compete.  (ref)

• 2010 Affirmative Action Ban: Early in his career, Montenegro sponsored a successful ballot initiative that changed the state constitution to eliminate equal opportunity programs in public education and employment. Advocacy groups argue these broad bans indirectly target LGBTQIA+ individuals by removing protections against discrimination in hiring and contracting.  (ref 1)  (ref 2)  (ref 3)  (ref 4)

• School Curricula Restrictions: He has supported measures aimed at removing "woke" ideologies from schools, which frequently include books or curricula centered on LGBTQIA+ themes.

• Veto Overrides: Many of Montenegro's recent efforts involve using House Concurrent Resolutions to circumvent Governor Katie Hobbs, who has vetoed numerous bills categorized as "anti-trans" by advocacy groups.

• SB 1138 (2022) - Gender-Affirming Surgery Ban: He voted for this legislation, which prohibits physicians from performing gender-reassignment surgeries on minors under the age of 18.

• SB 1165 (2022) - Save Women’s Sports Act: Montenegro supported this bill, which bars transgender girls and women from participating in school sports teams that align with their gender identity, requiring participation based on biological sex.

• SB 1062 (2014) - Religious Freedom Restoration Act Amendment: Early in his career, Montenegro was a vocal supporter and voter for this controversial bill. It would have allowed business owners to cite religious beliefs as a defense against discrimination lawsuits, which critics argued would lead to the denial of service to LGBTQIA+ individuals. Although it passed the legislature, it was eventually vetoed by then-Governor Jan Brewer. 

• Birth Certificate Sex-Marker Law: In late 2025, Montenegro led House Republicans in a motion to intervene in federal court to defend A.R.S. § 36-337. This law requires individuals to undergo a "sex change operation" before they can legally amend the sex marker on their birth certificate. He argued that the court's decision to allow changes based only on a doctor's note "undermined the integrity of vital records".  (ref)

• Voter Support for Curriculum Transparency: He has consistently backed measures that allow parents to opt their children out of instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity, often framing these as essential to "protecting parental rights" and "medical freedom".  (ref)

• The Allegations: Reports emerged that while serving as a state senator, Montenegro exchanged sexually suggestive text messages and photos with a junior female legislative staffer.

• The Impact: Though he was a married minister and a frontrunner at the time, the scandal led several prominent conservative leaders to call for his withdrawal. Montenegro denied the allegations, calling them "false tabloid trash," but ultimately placed third in the Republican primary. He was never charged with a crime.  (ref 1)  (ref 2)

• LUCHA Lawsuit (2026): In April 2026, the Latino rights group Living United for Changein Arizona (LUCHA) sued Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen. The lawsuit alleges they violated the First Amendment by banning protesters from the State Capitol for the remainder of the session after they peacefully demonstrated against Republican-backed legislation.

• Campaign Finance Complaint (2026): A complaint was filed in March 2026 alleging that Montenegro failed to disclose campaign expenses over $250, specifically referencing a 2022 Venmo payment to a local political group.

• Dark Money Defense (2025): Montenegro intervened in a lawsuit to challenge challenge Proposition 211, a voter-approved initiative aimed at curbing "dark money" in politics. He argued the law was unconstitutional and violated legislative authority.  (ref 1)  (ref 2)  (ref 3)