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Arizona Legislature passes 'Alec and Lydia Act' to better protect kids against abusive parents

Arizona Capitol copper dome statue Phoenix
Tim Agne
/
KJZZ
The dome at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix.

A bill designed to reform how family courts treat parents with a history of domestic violence unanimously passed the Arizona Legislature and awaits Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signature.

The bill — HB 2995 — is dubbed the Alec and Lydia Act after two children murdered by their own father in 2024, before he turned the gun on himself.

Their mother, Hope Hooton, has been advocating to make it harder for parents with evidence of domestic violence or abuse from getting decision-making rights or access to their children.

“There has to be a reason that I’m still here as well. I’m trying to turn what was a horrific tragedy into something positive that can help other children and other families," Hooten said.

The bill's passage follows a separate tragedy last month where a mother killed her two small children and then herself in Glendale.

More Arizona politics news

Jill Ryan joined KJZZ in 2020 as a morning reporter, and she is currently a field correspondent and Morning Edition producer.