Arizona Legislature Gearing Up For The 2026 Session

The Second Session of the 57^th Legislature (2026) is scheduled to convene on January 12, 2026. However, as usual, preparations are taking place long before the official opening of the session. One of those preparations is the introduction of legislative bills, on a prefiling basis, before the legislature convenes. This year, the first date that bills may be prefiled is November 15. The prefiling of bills is controlled by House Rule 8D, which reads as follows:

“D. Measures may be prefiled by any member-elect for introduction in the first regular session during the period following the filing of the certification of election until the first day of the regular session. Measures may be prefiled for introduction in the second regular session during the period from November 15 next preceding the second regular session until the first day of the second regular session. Measures may be prefiled for introduction in any special session during the period following the Governor’s proclamation until the first day of the special session, such measures being germane to the call.”

There are several reasons for legislators to prefile bills, most of which deal with getting ahead of the rush that happens during the first few weeks of the session:

• Legislative staff have more time to draft legislation
• Getting ahead with the necessary paperwork
• Gathering sponsor signatures/support
• Presiding officers have more time to consider committee assignments
• Committees may establish agendas
• Serious work may begin on prefiled bills immediately upon convening

Prefiling benefits individuals and organizations that pay attention to legislation by enabling them to read, and formulate opinions on prefiled bills, before the onslaught of bills that happens shortly after the legislature convenes.

Arizona is far from being alone regarding the use of legislative bill prefiling. Most states have some sort of mechanism for introducing bills before their session opens officially. Some of those states allow only one chamber to prefile bills, but most allow both chambers to prefile. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures these are the states that allow prefiling:

(*) States that limit prefiling to only one of their legislative chambers.