Republican Legislators Introduced A Bill To Change Requirements To Turn In Absentee Ballots, Requiring In-Person Returns To Be Done Prior To The Friday Before Election Day Rather Than By 7:00 P.M. On Election Day. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, HB2065, prefiled 12/19/23]
Republican Legislators Introduced A Bill To Tighten Regulations On What Signatures Can Be Used For Comparisons For Absentee Ballots And Limit Who Can Distribute Early Ballot Request Forms. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB1009, introduced 1/9/24]
A Republican Senator Introduced A Resolution That Would Give The State Legislature The Power To Appoint Presidential Electors, Effectively Giving The Legislature Full Control Over Arizona’s Electoral College Votes, Regardless Of The State Popular Vote. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SCR 1014, accessed 2/5/24; The Daily Beast, 1/30/24]
Republican Legislators Introduced Legislation That Would Prohibit Removing A Presidential Candidate From The Ballot Of The Basis Of A “Claimed Violation Of The 14th Amendment.” [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB 1158, introduced 1/23/24]
Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Require Precinct Voting And Eliminate Voting Centers And Onsight Early Voting. [15 News, 5/5/24]
Education
Senate Republicans Introduced A Bill To Require Public Schools To Notify Students’ Parents If The Student Uses Pronouns That Differ From Their Biological Sex Or A Name Not Listed In School Records. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB 1166, introduced 1/22/24]
Republican Legislator Anthony Kern Introduced Legislation To Allow College Students To Challenge Their Grades Based On An Instructor Having An Alleged Political Bias By Creating A “Grade Challenge Department.” [Forbes, 3/7/24]
Gun Safety
House Democrats Introduced Legislation Requiring Health Care Providers To Provide Informational Services To Parents And Guardians Of Children On Proper Gun Safety And Storage And Inform The Risks To Children Who Find Guns In Their Homes. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, HB 2225, introduced 1/10/24]
House Democrats Introduced A “Red Flag” Bill That Would Allow Petitioners To File A Severe Threat Order Of Protection, Preventing Those Who Have Made Credible Threats Of Violence, Committed, Or Attempted To Commit Acts Of Violence, From Possessing A Firearm. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, HB2238, introduced 1/10/24]
Immigration
Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill To Allow Ranchers To Shoot And Kill Border-Crossers On Their Property. [AZ Mirror, 2/23/24]
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs Vetoed A Bill That Would Have Made It A Crime To Cross The U.S. Border At Any Place Other Than A Port Of Entry. [Associated Press, 3/5/24]
Labor
Republican Legislators Introduced A Bill That Would Prohibit Government Entities And Universities From Engaging With Companies That Participate In Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion (DEI) Programs And Allows Employees Of Public Entities To Bring Legal Action Against The Entity If They Are Required To Participate In DEI Programs. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB1005, introduced 1/9/24]
The Bill Passed In The Senate. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB1005, passed in the Senate 1/31/24]
LGBTQ+ Rights
Republican Legislators Introduced A Bill Requiring Insurers That Cover Gender-Affirming Care, To Also Cover De-Transition Services, And Require Healthcare Providers That Offer Gender-Affirming Care To Also Offer Or Pay For De-Transition Services. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB1511, introduced 2/5/24; Tucson Sentinel, 2/2/24]
Senate Republicans Advanced A Bill That Would Remove Any Mention Of Gender In State Law & Replace It With A Strict, Inflexible Definition Of Biological Sex. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB 1628, passed Senate 2/22/24; AZ Mirror, 2/14/24]
Reproductive Rights
Gov. Hobbs Called On The Legislature To Pass The Right To Contraception Act And Repeal The State’s 1864 Abortion Ban. [AZ Central, 1/8/24]
House Democrats Introduced Legislation To Prohibit Insurance Providers From Requiring Coinsurance Or A Copayment For Emergency Contraception.[Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, HB2256, introduced 1/10/24]
Fourteen Democratic State Senators Are Pushing Legislation To Create A Right To Obtain Contraception. [Arizona Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, SB1362, Introduced 1/13/24]
Democratic Lawmakers Moved To Force A Vote On The Right To Contraception Act, But Republican Lawmakers In Both The House And Senate Voted Unanimously Against The Legislative Maneuver, Blocking The Legislation From Begin Taken Up This Session. [AZ Mirror, 3/13/24]
Arizona Key Legislation – 2023
Climate
Senate Republicans Passed A Bill To Allow Industrial Manufacturers To Treat And Store Wastewater On-Site. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1660, Senate Passed 3/21/23]
Water Experts Say The Measure Would Be Unsustainable. “Numerous water experts and officials disagree, saying the change is anything but ‘sustainable.’ […] Tenney believes the lack of an assured water supply coupled with being able to generate long-term storage credits would allow industrial users to freely drain the state’s aquifers.” [12 News, 3/10/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Sponsored Legislation To Appropriate Funds For Planting Trees On Public School Campuses. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1689, introduced 2/2/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation For A Constitutional Amendment That Would Provide A Right To A Clean And Healthy Environment. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SCR 1029, introduced, 2/2/2023]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Create A Climate Resiliency Planning Group. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB-1509, introduced 2/2/2023]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Establish An Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot Program. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB-1445, introduced 2/6/2023]
Democratic Lawmakers Introduced Legislation To Repeal The Prohibition On State Agencies To Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions For Purposes Of Mitigating Climate Change. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB-2279, introduced 1/18/2023]
Democracy
Legislation To Ban Ballot-Counting Machines And Require All Votes To Be Hand Counted Have Been Proposed By House Republicans. “After failing to persuade a federal judge to ban ballot-counting machines, Republicans are pursuing their goal in the Legislature: a bill (HB2307) requiring a mandatory hand count of all election votes. Ballot-counting machines would be banned. And hand counts of more than 3 million votes in a general election could take weeks.” [12 News, 1/16/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2307, introduced 1/18/23]
A Bill That Would Ban Countywide Polling Places, And Require Precinct-Based Polling Places Has Been Introduced By House Republicans. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2304, introduced 1/18/23]
Senate Republicans Passed A Resolution That Would Raise The Threshold Of Votes Required For A Constitutional Amendment To Pass. “The Arizona Senate Elections Committee passed a measure that could make it harder for voters to pass constitutional amendments. The bill proposes that voters who wish to see a constitutional amendment must get a 60% majority, instead of a simple majority.” [KJZZ, 1/24/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SCR 1002, Senate passed 2/21/23]
Bills To Restrict Who Can Vote Early, And Make It Easier To Revoke Eligibility Were Introduced By House Republicans. “Lawmakers in the recently convened legislative session are eyeing changes to the longstanding practice. The most sweeping change would eliminate early voting and require voters to cast all ballots on Election Day, with exceptions for absent military and overseas voters, the visually impaired, or voters who are hospitalized or in a nursing home. The return to limited absentee voting is one of many election changes proposed by freshman Rep. Liz Harris, R-Chandler, in House Bill 2232. Other provisions include elimination of ballot tabulation machines, a mandate to hand count ballots, removal of vote centers and a requirement that election precincts cover no more than 1,500 voters and that polling places should not change unless voters are given two years’ notice.” [AZ Central, 1/18/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2229, introduced 1/18/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2415, Transmitted to Governor 4/4/23]
HB2415, Which Would Have Allowed Voters To Be Removed From Early Voting Lists, Was Vetoed By Gov. Hobbs. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2415, Vetoed, 4/6/23]
A Bill That Would Limit Where Ballot Drop Boxes Can Be Located And The Hours That They Are Used Has Been Passed By House Republicans. The bill includes provisions such as requiring drop boxes to be located inside/attached to a county building, only allowing drop boxes to be used between 8am-5pm Monday-Friday, and requires cameras. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Session, HB 2591, House passed 3/1/23]
HB2591 Failed To Pass In The Senate. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Session, HB 2591, Failed in the Senate 4/13/23]
A Package Of Bills That Would Automatically Register Eligible Voters, Allow For Same-Day Voter Registration, And Allow Voters To Stay On The Early Voting List Permanently Has Been Proposed By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2072, introduced 1/23/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2073, introduced 1/23/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB2334, introduced 1/26/23]
Economy
After Governor Hobbs Vetoed The Budget Sent By Republican Lawmakers, Senate Republicans Passed A Resolution That Would Propose A Constitutional Amendment Allowing The Previous Year’s Budget To Automatically Go Into Affect If A New Budget Isn’t Passed. “Senators on March 1 approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 1034, which would ask voters in 2024 to change the constitution to allow lawmakers to side-step the governor if budget negotiations break down. It would allow minimal changes to the prior year’s budget to remove one-time spending and to account for formula-driven funding in agencies like the Department of Education and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System; those would have to be approved by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. Because Republicans have the majority in both state legislative chambers, the change would mean they could leave Democrats entirely out of the budgeting process. One-time expenditures were the key to creating last session’s bipartisan budget.” [AZ Mirror, 3/3/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SCR 1034, Senate passed 3/1/23]
A Bill That Would Put Limits On Rent Increases Relative To Cost Of Living Changes Was Introduced By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2161, introduced 1/23/23]
A Bill That Would Require Regulation Of Short Term Rental And Vacation Properties Through Permits And Licensing Requirements Was Introduced By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HCR 2011, introduced 1/26/23]
Education
Republican Lawmakers In Both Chambers Passed A Bill To Ban Schools From Teaching “Specified Concepts Relating To Race And Ethnicity.” “A controversial “critical race theory” bill has now reached Governor Hobbs’ desk. Senate Bill 1305 would ban K-12 schools from teaching “critical race theory” to students and punish schools with a $5,000 fine per violation if they do.There’s a high chance Gov. Hobbs will veto this. Critical race theory was used during this past election cycle as a huge point of contention in the education world. Republicans who support this bill said critical race theory is a radical, leftist worldview harmful to our youth. Those who disagree with the bill said the bottom line is: critical race theory is not being taught to Arizona students and doesn’t exist.” [AZ Family, 3/6/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB1305, Transmitted to Governor 3/6/23]
Gov. Hobbs Vetoed The Legislation. “Ending instruction about racism in America has become a plank for the modern Republican Party in Arizona and across the country. ‘It is time to stop utilizing students and teachers in culture wars based on fearmongering and unfounded accusations,’ Hobbs wrote in a letter explaining the veto. ‘Bills like SB1305 only serve to divide and antagonize. I urge the Legislature to work with me on the real issues affecting Arizona schools: underfunded classrooms, a growing educator retention crisis, and school buildings in need of repair and replacement.’” [AZ Mirror, 3/9/23]
A Bill That Would Prohibit Judges From Requiring Parents To Pay Any Fees Or Damages If They Lose A Lawsuit Against A School Or Teacher Was Passed By Republican Lawmakers “Senate Bill 1005 prohibits a judge from requiring parents to pay any attorneys fees or damages after losing a lawsuit against a school or teacher. The proposal builds on a law passed by the Republican majority last year allowing parents to sue if they think their fundamental rights were “usurped”. Arizona has a parent’s bill of rights, which includes the right to “direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health” of their children. […] But Democratic Sen. Mitzi Epstein wasn’t convinced. Penalties, she said, exist to dissuade frivolous lawsuits that waste time and money — resources that schools have in short supply. Epstein noted that, in her time as a legislator and during her tenure as a member of the Kyrene school governing board, she’s never heard of any district’s financial ability to hire highly paid lawyers. […] Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, a former school teacher, questioned whether the bill’s exception would still leave a lot of room for unfounded lawsuits to be filed, and worried that the threat of a lawsuit without repercussions could negatively impact how teachers approach lesson plans.” [AZ Mirror, 1/19/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1005, Transmitted to Governor 4/5/23]
The Bill Was Vetoed By Gov. Hobbs. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1005, Vetoed 4/11/23]
Senate Republicans Passed A Bill That Would Allow Parents To Request Books Be Removed From School Libraries, And Prohibits Books That “Promote Gender Fluidity Or Gender Pronouns Or That Groom Children Into Normalizing Pedophilia.” “If the bill was to become law, then the Arizona Department of Education would be tasked with creating a list of banned books and reviewing complaints submitted by parents wishing to have a book taken out of a school. The parent must explain in their complaint how the book is lewd, sexual, promotes gender fluidity, or normalizes pedophilia. If the Department of Education agrees with the parent, then the agency will add the title to its banned book list. The bill would additionally require all Arizona school districts to exclude learning materials that are “lewd, sexual in nature, that promote gender fluidity, or gender pronouns, or that groom children into normalizing pedophilia.”[12 News, 3/20/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1700, passed Senate 3/20/23]
Proposals Are Being Made By House Democrats To Appropriate Funding To Provide Free Breakfasts And Lunches For Students In K-12 Public Or Charter Schools. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2238, introduced 1/23/23]
Guns
A Bill That Would Require Gun Owners To Secure Firearms And Ammunition Has Been Introduced By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2192, introduced 1/25/23]
A Bill That Would Prohibit Those Who Have Been Convicted Of Domestic Violence Offenses, Offenses Committed Involving Use, Attempted Use, Or Threatened Use Of A Deadly Weapon, And Those Subject To Orders Of Protection From Owning And/Or Possessing Firearms Was Introduced By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2179, introduced 1/25/23]
Bills That Would Place Increased Regulations On Who Is Allowed To Sell Or Transfer Firearms, And Places More Requirements Including Background Checks And Waiting Periods Are Being Proposed By House Democrats. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2182, introduced 1/23/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2180, introduced 1/25/23]
Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill That Allows Parents To Carry A Firearm On School Property. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1331, Transmitted to Governor 4/12/23]
Senate Republicans Passed A Bill That Prohibits Colleges And Universities From Banning Concealed Weapons. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1300, Senate Passed 3/2/23]
Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill Legalizing Gun Silencers. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1109, Transmitted to Governor 4/5/23]
A Statewide Ballot Measure To Rescind Right-To-Work Has Been Introduced By Democratic Legislators In Both Chambers Of The AZ Legislature. “It all comes down to how you feel about unions. If you want the backing of a union fighting for things like higher pay and better work conditions, you likely would favor repealing right-to-work. […] De Los Santos said having unions would be better for Arizona workers. ‘When you’re unable to band together with your colleagues and coworkers to negotiate a fair contract, your wages go down. You have worse benefits, less likely to get health insurance, less likely to get a pension,’ De Losa Santos said.” [13 News, 1/12/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SCR 1030, introduced 1/12/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HCR 2008, introduced 1/26/23]
Republican Lawmakers Introduced Legislation That Would Prohibit The Use Of Public Funds For Diversity, Equality, And Inclusion Programs, As Well As Ban Requiring Workers To Participate In Those Programs. “Also barred would be ‘advancing theories of unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation, allyship, transgenderism, microaggressions, microinvalidation, group marginalization anti-racism, system oppression, ethnocentralism, structural racism or inequality, social justice, intersectionality, neopronouns, inclusive language, heteronormality, disparity impact, gender identity or theory, racial or sexual privilege or any concept substantially related to any of these theories.’” [KAWC, 3/14/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1694, introduced 2/1/23]
The Bill, SB1694, Failed In The House. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1694, Failed in the House 5/15/23]
LGBTQ+ Rights
Republican Lawmakers Passed Four Bills That Would Place Restrictions On Drag Performers And Shows. “Arizona Senator Anthony Kern proposing two of the bills – one to prevent drag shows or adult cabaret shows from happening in public where children might see, and another limiting the days and hours at which these shows can be performed, also setting more specific zoning requirements for where these shows can happen. The third was proposed by Arizona Senator John Kavanagh and addresses where the money is coming from for these types of shows.”[Fox10 Phoenix, 1/7/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1026, Transmitted To Governor 6/14/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1028, Transmitted To Governor 6/12/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1030, Transmitted To Governor 6/12/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1698, Transmitted To Governor 6/12/23]
Republican Legislators Have Introduced A Bill That Bans Gender-Affirming Care, Including Surgery And Hormone Treatments For Minors. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1702, introduced 2/1/23]
A Bill Requiring School Employees To Notify Parents If A Student Shares Information Regarding Their Sexuality Or Gender Identity Was Introduced By House Republicans. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2711, introduced 2/7/23]
Senate Democrats Introduced A Bill Repealing A Statute Requiring Student Athletes To Compete On Teams Matching Their Biological Sex. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1543, introduced 2/2/23]
House Democrats Introduced A Similar Bill. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2068, introduced 1/17/23]
Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill That Would Require Parental Permission For Students To Use Pronouns Matching With Their Gender Identity. “Democrats slammed the measure as an attempt to score political points at the expense of vulnerable youth. And that effort has dire consequences: surveys conducted by the Trevor Project, an organization focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth, concluded that discriminatory legislation negatively impacts the mental health of trans and nonbinary people, and may increase the rates at which they contemplate suicide — which are already disproportionately high.” [AZ Mirror, 3/2/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1001, Transmitted to Governor 5/17/23]
Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill Banning Transgender Students From Using Bathrooms That Match Their Gender Identity. “Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, who, like all of the Democrats in the chamber, voted against the bill, criticized it for singling out trans students when concerns could be resolved via other means. She noted that bathrooms already come equipped with stalls, and suggested requiring schools to hang shower curtains, instead. In a previous committee hearing of the bill, Marsh proposed the bill be changed to ask schools to provide accommodations for uncomfortable students, but that idea was rejected by Kavanagh.” [AZ Mirror, 3/1/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, SB 1040, Transmitted To Governor 6/2/23]
Legislation To Provide Protections For Pregnant Prisoners, Including Banning Forced Labor, Guaranteeing Prenatal Care, Providing Hygiene Products, And Banning Strip Searches By Someone Of The Opposite Gender Was Introduced By Democratic Lawmakers In Both Chambers. “Senator Eva Burch stated, ‘Delivering a baby is a significant medical event that should be directed first and foremost by the wishes and needs of the pregnant individual. The safety and success of the birthing process depends heavily on the stability and comfort of the mother. It is unacceptable that our prison system is endangering the life of pregnant inmates by inducing them without their consent. My priority will be to ensure that our policy decisions provide every Arizonan, incarcerated or not, the highest level of professional and humane medical care.’” [KYMA, 2/8/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2639, introduced 2/7/23]
A Bill Criminalizing Abortion, Up To And Including Charging The Person With First Degree Murder Was Introduced In The AZ House. [Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2706, introduced 2/7/23]
House Republicans Have Introduced Several Bills That Critics Say Could Add Fetal Personhood Into State Law. “In August, Republicans in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate introduced bills similar to Gress’, at the urging of anti-abortion groups. Sponsors of those proposals have said their goal is to sharply curtail abortion rights. Three of Gress’s bills are still moving forward and have the potential to be approved by the legislature, although they will likely be vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs, a pro-choice Democrat.” [AZ Mirror, 3/1/23]
Gov. Hobbs Vetoed Two Of The Bills, HB 2502 & HB 2427, Sponsored By Republican Representative Matt Gress. “Gress acknowledged he had not spoken with domestic violence advocacy organizations — other than the anti-abortion Center for Arizona Policy. Marilyn Rodriguez, representing the Arizona Coalition to End Domestic Violence, testified against the bill. The legislation also drew opposition from Planned Parenthood. There was concern the bill could be seen as a way to try to grant separate legal status to an unborn child, which could undermine abortion rights. Heightening the group’s concern is that this isn’t Gress’ only such effort. He is sponsoring several measures that could have the same impact.” [Tucson.com, 4/3/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2502, Vetoed 5/19/23; Arizona Legislature, 2023 Regular Session, HB 2427, Vetoed 4/3/23]
Democratic Lawmakers Are Planning To Introduce The Right To Contraception Act. “Days prior to the first anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Gov. Katie Hobbs and Rep. Athena Salman, D-Tempe, announced plans to introduce Arizona’s Right to Contraception Act during the next legislative session. The bill would codify birth-control access for all Arizonans. During a news conference last week, Salman said ‘enough is enough,’ because contraception is what she called ‘central to a person’s privacy, health and well-being.’ ‘At this historic juncture, my constituents and Arizonans in every single corner of the state are fortunate that this legislation has unequivocal support by our governor, Katie Hobbs,’ Salman stated. Salman noted while the piece of legislation has not yet been drafted, it will mirror recent federal legislation, which also aims to guarantee access to birth control regardless of Supreme Court rulings in the future.” [St. George News, 6/28/23]
