HCR 2048 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

elected officials; salary; prohibition

This constitutional amendment proposal (HCR 2048) would require Arizona's state budget to be approved by April 30 each year to avoid salary withholding for certain elected officials. If the general appropriation bill isn't signed into law by April 30, the governor, secretary of state, attorney general, state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, lieutenant governor, and legislators would not receive regular salaries or subsistence payments for pay periods starting after that date. Withheld payments would resume at the first full pay period after budget passage but would not be paid retroactively. The amendment, if approved by voters, would change how state officials' compensation is handled during budget delays.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

Jun 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Jun 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version (03/02/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version (06/12/2026) · 5 edits · Mar 2, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from regulating state officer salaries to protecting scholarship funds for military families. The new version adds a constitutional amendment that prohibits the state from confiscating scholarship money if a student is a child of a military family, including those killed in service. It also includes a 'voidability' clause that automatically invalidates any future laws violating this protection.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a general salary regulation for state officials to a specific education and financial protection measure for military families.

SCOPE

Removed all text regarding the commission on salaries, legislative pay rates, and the procedure for withholding or deferring state officer salaries.

Changed the constitutional article being amended from Article V (State Government) to Article XI (Education) and shifted the focus from compensation to scholarship accounts.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility criteria defining 'child of a military family' to include children of active-duty members, those who were active-duty when eligibility was determined, and children of service members killed in the line of duty.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a strict 'voidability' provision stating that any law or measure passed after November 1, 2026, that violates the scholarship protection is automatically void and cannot be partially saved by a court.

DEFINITION

Defined 'confiscate' to include seizing or transferring scholarship funds, but created specific exceptions for account closures due to illegal activity, voluntary withdrawal, graduation, or ineligibility after four years.

Floor votes · House Mar 2, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Jun 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Jun 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Jun 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA/SE

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors