REFERENCE TITLE: Raúl Grijalva death resolution

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HCR 2045

Introduced by

Representatives Villegas: Aguilar, Austin, Blattman, Cavero, Connolly, Contreras L, Contreras P, Crews, De Los Santos, Garcia, Gutierrez, Márquez, Mathis, Peshlakai, Sandoval, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton;  Senators Gabaldón, Miranda, Ortiz, Sundareshan

A concurrent RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and public service of the honorable RaÚl M. Grijalva.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Raúl Manuel Grijalva, a lifelong Tucsonan, devoted more than fifty years of his life to public service and passed away on March 13, 2025 at the age of 77.

Born in Tucson, Arizona to Raúl and Rafaela Grijalva, he graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1967, where he met the love of his life, Ramona, whom he married in 1971, and later earned his degree from the University of Arizona in 1986.

Representative Grijalva began his public service career in 1974 when he was elected to the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board, where he championed public education, equity and opportunity for all students.

In 1988, he was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors where his leadership, perseverance and commitment to community earned widespread respect, and in recognition of his service, Raúl M. Grijalva Elementary School was named in his honor in 1987.

In 2002, Representative Grijalva was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served twelve consecutive terms, representing Southern Arizona with integrity, courage and an unwavering commitment to justice.

Serving more than two decades on the House Natural Resources Committee, including service as Chair, Representative Grijalva was a national leader in environmental protection, conservation and the defense of tribal sovereignty, advocating tirelessly for Native American tribes and the protection of ancestral lands at Bears Ears, Oak Flat, the Grand Canyon and beyond.

Representative Grijalva played a key role in authoring the National Landscape Conservations System Act and the Federal Lands Restoration Act, which contained legislation that protects, conserves and restores nationally significant public lands and natural resources.

His leadership was instrumental in the successful efforts of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, culminating in the 2023 designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which protects nearly one million acres of federal public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park.

A product of public education, Representative Grijalva was a steadfast advocate for public schools, health equity and social justice, supporting initiatives such as the Migrant Health Start, middle school advocacy, just migration reform and the Environmental Justice for All Act.

Known for his humility, kindness and authenticity, Representative Grijalva treated all people with dignity and respect, mentored generations of leaders and served as a faithful public servant and defender of those too often left unheard.

Devoted husband, father and grandfather, Raúl M. Grijalva is survived by his wife, Ramona, his daughters, Adelita, Raquel and Marisa, his grandchildren, Adelina, Raúl, Joaquin, Floyd IV and Belen, and his sisters, Lydia and Norma.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature of the State of Arizona express their profound sorrow at the passing of the Honorable Raúl M. Grijalva, honor his extraordinary life and service to Arizona and the nation and extend their deepest sympathies to his family, friends and all those whose lives he touched.