AZ Legislature Week In Review – Week Ending March 23, 2025

arizona capitol
Arizona Capitol dome.(Photo by Ellen O'Brien/Cronkite News)

Summary of legislative bill activity (Exclusive of budget bills):

INTRODUCED
HOUSE
INTRODUCED
SENATE
INTRODUCED
TOTAL
TRACKING BY
PEOPLES LOBBYISTS
REACTED TO BY PEOPLES LOBBYISTS
1,027 775 1,802 492 162

Our 6th year, 10th week. For an activity update on the bills we are tracking, go to https://rb.gy/c9uff3

We are in the last few weeks of the 2025 legislative session. Because of that, the activity at the capitol is at a feverish pace, in an effort to finish as much business as possible before adjournment.

DEADLINES:

Friday, 3/28 – Last day for bills to be heard in committees

Friday, 4/18 – Last day to consider bills in conference committees

Tuesday, 4/22 – 100th day of this session. Target date to adjourn

We are also in the season of the STRIKE EVERYTHING amendments to bills. These “amendments” do not just amend bills, but replace all the content with a totally different content. For a list of bills being subjected to strike everything amendments, go to https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/StrikeEverything.

HOBBS WATCH

As of the time of this writing, 13 bills have been sent to Hobbs, 2 have been signed, and 1 was vetoed. Those numbers will change drastically in the next few days.

Bills Sent to Hobbs https://rb.gy/9n2614

Bills Vetoed by Hobbs https://rb.gy/pxkzkp

Hobbs Contacts: Phone Phoenix: 602.542.4331 Tucson: 520.628.6580 Email https://rb.gy/zpy39v

Among the bills that experienced action this week, a few deserve to be highlighted:

HB2518 – employment; prohibitions; corporation commission The purpose of this bill is to close the revolving door created when members of the corporation commission go back and forth between working for the regulators and working for the regulated. This creates a significant conflict of interest. HB2518 failed last week because it had some provisions that some members did not like. It was brought up again under a reconsideration provision, after being amended, and passed out of the House. It is now working its way through the Senate.

SB1013 – municipalities; counties; fee increases; vote This bill was destroyed via a strike everything amendment, but the loss was minimal because of two reasons. First, SB1013 was a prime candidate for a Hobbs veto. Second, the language of SB1013 is still alive in another bill, SCR1008 – municipalities; counties; vote; fee increases This bill is advancing and as a ballot referral is not subject to a Hobbs veto. If it clears the legislature, the voters, not Hobbs, will determine its fate.

HCR2042 – preferential treatment; discrimination; prohibited acts This is an important bill, prohibiting discrimination in hiring. It is very much an antidote to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion virus. As a voter referral bill, it is safe from the clutches of a Hobbs veto.

HERE IS THE LIST OF ALL THE TRACKED BILLS THAT SAW ACTION THIS WEEK

BILL # and SHORT TITLE WHERE DATE RESULT
SB1066 – foreign entities; land; legislative approval House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs 03/17/2025 PASSED
SB1109 – designated countries; land ownership; prohibition House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs 03/17/2025 PASSED
SB1001 – early ballots; identification; tabulation Senate Third Reading 03/17/2025 PASSED
HB2672 – property tax; exemption; veterans; disabilities Senate Finance 03/17/2025 PASSED
HCR2023 – property tax; combat veterans; exemption Senate Finance 03/17/2025 PASSED
SB1471 – electric vehicles; gas tax equivalent Senate Finance 03/17/2025 PASSED
SB1007 – public school tax credit; purposes Senate Third Reading 03/17/2025 PASSED
SB1247 – Arizona teachers academy; community colleges House Education 03/18/2025 KILLED BY S/E AMENDMENT
SB1694 – higher education; withholding state monies House Education 03/18/2025 PASSED
SB1523 – water use; prohibition; landscaping House Natural Resources, Energy & Water 03/18/2025 NO ACTION
HB2814 – noncustodial federal monies; appropriation Senate Appropriations 03/18/2025 PASSED
HCR2015 – (NOW: referendum; noncustodial federal monies; appropriation) Senate Appropriations 03/18/2025 PASSED
HB2788 – utility; resource plan; commission review Senate Natural Resources 03/18/2025 PASSED
SB1036 – public resources; influencing elections; penalties House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1063 – juror summons; election worker option House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 HELD
SB1097 – elections; voting centers; polling places House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1098 – early ballot drop off; identification House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1142 – elections; foreign contributions; prohibition House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 NO ACTION
SB1534 – ballot measures; description; legislative council House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1092 – vehicle mileage; tracking; tax; prohibitions House Government 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1013 – municipalities; counties; fee increases; vote House Judiciary 03/19/2025 KILLED BY S/E AMENDMENT
SCR1002 – photo enforcement systems; prohibition House Transportation & Infrastructure 03/19/2025 PASSED
SB1371 – income tax; subtraction; retirement distribution House Ways & Means 03/19/2025 PASSED
SCR1008 – municipalities; counties; vote; fee increases House Ways & Means 03/19/2025 PASSED
SCR1009 – revenue increases; administrative fee authorization House Ways & Means 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2020 – teacher retention; study; report S/E: reporting; teacher salary increases; schools Senate Education 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2167 – school districts; records; noncompliance; penalties Senate Education 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2169 – school districts; board meetings; expenditures Senate Education 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2610 – school districts; board members; superintendent Senate Education 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2722 – public resources; expenditures; prohibition Senate Government 03/19/2025 PASSED
HCR2042 – preferential treatment; discrimination; prohibited acts Senate Government 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2164 – public schools; ultraprocessed foods Senate Health and Human Services 03/19/2025 PASSED
HB2631 – election procedures manual; legislative approval Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED
HCR2057 – initiatives; referendums; signature requirement; counties Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/19/2025 PASSED

Next week will also be very active in terms of legislative action.

LIST OF ALL TRACKED BILLS SCHEDULED FOR ACTION NEXT WEEK

BILL # and SHORT TITLE WHERE DATE
HB2005 – voter registrations; recorder; inactive status Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2020 – teacher retention; study; report Senate Appropriations 03/25/2025
HB2029 – (NOW: academic standards; attestation; posting) Senate Education 03/26/2025
HB2030 – impersonation; veteran; armed forces Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2046 – audits; precincts; voting centers Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2058 – (NOW: immunizations; proof; exemptions; higher education) Senate Education 03/26/2025
HB2063 – parental notification; school immunization exemptions Senate Education 03/26/2025
HB2167 – school districts; records; noncompliance; penalties Senate Appropriations 03/25/2025
HB2206 – multistate voter registration system; prohibition Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2434 – emergency response plans; charter schools Senate Health and Human Services 03/26/2025
HB2440 – attorney general; election certification; prohibition Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2518 – employment; prohibitions; corporation commission Senate Government 03/26/2025
HB2611 – aggravated assault; accomplices; classification Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HB2868 – preferential treatment; discrimination; policies Senate Government 03/26/2025
HB2928 – accessory dwelling units; requirements Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency 03/26/2025
HCR2021 – food; municipal tax; exemption Senate Finance 03/24/2025
HCR2025 – constitutional amendments; sixty percent vote Senate Judiciary and Elections 03/26/2025
HCR2037 – prohibited weapons; definition repeal Senate Government 03/26/2025
SB1002 – pronouns; biological sex; school policies House Regulatory Oversight 03/25/2025
SB1003 – public schools; restrooms; reasonable accommodations House Regulatory Oversight 03/25/2025
SB1063 – juror summons; election worker option House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/26/2025
SB1086 – transportation system performance; ADOT House Transportation & Infrastructure 03/26/2025
SB1088 – (NOW: government; compliance; immigration; deportation) House Government 03/26/2025
SB1092 – vehicle mileage; tracking; tax; prohibitions House Government 03/26/2025
SB1094 – business; discrimination prohibition; social criteria House Commerce 03/25/2025
SB1128 – air quality; causation; state boundaries House Natural Resources, Energy & Water 03/25/2025
SB1164 – immigration laws; local enforcement House Government 03/26/2025
SB1226 – school policies; wireless communications devices House Science & Technology 03/26/2025
SB1227 – school safety; cell phone bans House Judiciary 03/26/2025
SB1229 – planning; home design; restrictions; prohibition. House Commerce 03/25/2025
SB1292 – noncertificated school personnel; disciplinary action House Education 03/25/2025
SB1318 – income tax rate; reduction; surplus House Ways & Means 03/26/2025
SB1371 – income tax; subtraction; retirement distribution House Appropriations 03/26/2025
SB1463 – initiatives; existing laws; impact statement House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections 03/26/2025
SB1523 – water use; prohibition; landscaping House Natural Resources, Energy & Water 03/25/2025
SB1584 – public employees; merit; hiring practices House Government 03/26/2025
SB1586 – gender transition procedures; provider liability House Government 03/26/2025
SB1612 – document retention; proposals; donations House Regulatory Oversight 03/25/2025
SCR1014 – surplus; income tax rate; reduction House Ways & Means 03/26/2025