Our 7th year, week 3
The bills continue to pile on. As of this week, the number of introduced bills was sitting at 1,735. To keep this number in perspective, in 2025 by the end of the session there had been 1,854 bills introduced. There is a good possibility that we may equal or surpass the 2025 number by February 9, the last date to introduce bills.
Among the bills we are tracking, those that experienced activity were fewer than in previous weeks. In other words, this was a relatively quiet week, without much significant activity. However, there was one exception. A bill was introduced that would add 30 brand new members to the AZ House of Representatives.
Senator J. D. Mesnard has introduced SCR1022. It calls for a constitutional amendment to make a significant change in the way the AZ House is composed and how it operates. If it clears both chambers of the legislature, it will go to the voters for final approval via a ballot measure.
Under SCR1022, every current legislative district would remain as senate districts, but would be divided into 3 house districts. Under the current system, our two representatives represent all voters in the district. Under the proposed system, they would represent only 1/3 of the current district and would be voted by and be accountable to their 1/3.
The upside of this is that it is likely to result in better, more efficient representation. The main downside is the cost of implementation, which is likely to include a new, larger building.
When this idea was proposed in 2022, it was via Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR1012. It failed to advance and was finally killed by a Strike Everything Amendment that dealt with voter ID’s.
It will be interesting to track SCR1022 in its journey through the legislative process. That journey will begin February 4, when it is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Government Committee.
Among the bills we are tracking, every one that experienced committee action passed. Here is the full list:
| BILL # and SHORT TITLE | WHERE |
| HB2076 – school safety; employee certification; policies | House Judiciary |
| HB2135 – liability; diversity; equity; inclusion laws | House Judiciary |
| SB1054 – municipal; county; measures; standing | Senate Government |
| SCR1006 – schools; biological sex; requirements | Senate Government |
| SB1051 – hospitals; patient immigration status; reporting | Senate Health and Human Services |
| SB1095 – gender transition; minors; prohibitions | Senate Judiciary and Elections |
| HB2086 – vaccination mandates; masks; prohibition | House Regulatory Oversight |
| SB1075 – foreign entities; land; legislative approval | Senate Federalism |
| SB1055 – arrestees; unlawfully present; reporting | Senate Military Affairs and Border Security |
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