In this special "West Lawn Compendium" episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman spends four hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—interviewing advocates, parents, candidates, and citizens during Early Childhood Legislation Day at the Arizona Capitol. Unlike official legislative agendas set by the House or Senate, advocacy days are organized by individuals and groups who come to lobby, educate, and share lived experiences with lawmakers. This particular day centered largely on early childhood development, childcare access, and family policy—but as always at the Capitol, the conversations extended beyond a single issue. In this final segment from the West Lawn of the Arizona House of Representatives, Birdman speaks with an entire family advocating for House Bill 4032 — legislation aimed at expanding Arizona's tobacco tax to include vaping and other nicotine products. The current tobacco tax funds early childhood health and development programs through First Things First, supporting children ages 0–5 with services like home visitation, professional development for early educators, and childcare access. But as cigarette use declines and vaping rises, funding has begun to shrink. Amber Jones, a regional council member with First Things First, explains why advocates believe updating the tax structure is essential to maintaining critical early childhood programs. Her daughter, Genevieve, shares her experience witnessing the legislative process firsthand — connecting what she's learning in social studies class to real-world policymaking. Meanwhile, her father, Travis Jones, reflects on civic engagement, grassroots advocacy, and why teaching children how government works is just as important as the policy itself. This episode captures more than a policy debate — it highlights how families engage in the legislative process, how bills move (or stall) among 4,000 proposals, and why advocacy is often a marathon, not a sprint. From early education funding to civic participation, this West Lawn conversation brings the legislative process into real life. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. 🌐 Official Site: https://birdman.media Support Our Sponsors This episode is brought to you with the support of our premium sponsor: Sitgreaves Community Development Corporation Supporting our sponsors helps keep Birdman Media™ independent and producing the content others won't. © Birdman Media™. All rights reserved.
