HB 2266 requires Arizona school districts and charter schools to adopt written policies allowing student absences for religious purposes, including parental consent and off-school-site religious instruction. It also mandates that schools seek state approval before closing due to widespread illness, severe weather, student walkouts, or safety threats like violence or natural disasters. The bill directly affects all public and charter schools in Arizona, their students, and parents seeking religious exemptions. These changes would modify how schools handle religious absences and emergency closures under state law.
SB 1122 prohibits the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) from requiring prior authorization for behavioral health services for members enrolled in the American Indian Health Plan (AIHP) starting January 1, 2027. The exception allows prior authorization only if AHCCCS implements a corrective action plan after meeting with a provider and the provider fails to comply within 90 days. This law directly affects AIHP members and behavioral health providers by reducing administrative barriers to accessing mental health and substance use disorder care. The bill aims to streamline service access without altering coverage or funding.
This constitutional amendment proposal (SCR 1029) would establish the office of Mine Inspector in Arizona's constitution, requiring future inspectors to be elected every four years starting in 1994. It sets a term limit of two consecutive terms for the position, with a mandatory one-term waiting period after serving the maximum terms. The amendment also repeals an existing constitutional provision (Proposition 107) related to the Mine Inspector role. This proposal requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect.
HB 2171, a proposed Arizona bill, prohibits the sale, lease, or transfer of real property in Arizona to entities owned or controlled by China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia, including their affiliates, subsidiaries, or military personnel. Existing owners must sell or dispose of property within one year of the law's effective date, while new owners must do so within one year of acquisition. Non-compliant owners forfeit property to the state, which sells it at public auction and deposits proceeds into the state general fund. The Department of Public Safety will maintain a public list of violators and investigate violations, with penalties including a class 4 felony for knowingly violating the law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, 2026).
Arizona's HB 2451 establishes the Arizona Space Commission to advance the state's space industry. The commission's board of directors - appointed by the governor, senate president, and house speaker - must include members with aerospace experience, advanced degrees in space-related fields, or startup backgrounds. The board is required to create an annual strategic plan detailing specific projects, their estimated costs, and available funding sources to strengthen Arizona's civil, commercial, and military space sectors. This plan must be updated yearly and submitted to state leaders by December 31 of even-numbered years, starting in 2026.
HB 2340 amends Arizona law to define factors committees must consider when reviewing applications for environmental compatibility certificates for projects like power plants or transmission lines. It requires evaluation of nine specific factors, including wildlife habitats, historic sites, noise levels, public access, and cost impacts, with special emphasis on protecting areas with rare species or unique biological value. The bill also prohibits committees from requiring labor agreements (like union contracts) as a condition for approval and limits additional pollution standards beyond existing regulations. This directly affects developers seeking project approvals by mandating these environmental and cost considerations during the review process.
HB 2401 requires Arizona's department to conduct a biennial review of fuel formulations available under federal air quality standards. The review assesses potential impacts of switching to non-authorized fuel types in "Area A" and "Area C" (defined in existing law), specifically noting anticipated air quality effects in those regions. By December 31 each review year, the department must submit a report with recommendations to the governor, legislature leaders, and other designated officials. This bill establishes a procedural requirement for ongoing evaluation of fuel options, without mandating specific fuel changes.
SB 1032 appropriates $1.5 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Corrections Oversight Fund, established under Arizona law. This funding directly supports the Independent Correctional Oversight Office (ICOO) in carrying out its duties to monitor prison conditions and oversight activities as defined in Title 41, Chapter 59 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The bill does not create new policies but provides operational resources for the existing oversight office. This is a procedural budget allocation, not a substantive legislative change.
SB 1077 amends Arizona law to specifically criminalize using interactive computer services (like websites or apps) to facilitate, promote, or solicit prostitution involving minors. This provision is added to Section E of the dangerous crimes against children statute, making such online activity a "dangerous crime against children in the first degree." The bill establishes sentencing ranges of 13 to 27 years in prison for first-time offenders and 23 to 37 years for those with prior convictions. It directly affects individuals who use digital platforms to engage in or promote child prostitution, imposing stricter penalties than standard prostitution offenses.
SB 1081 requires that in dependency, adoption, termination of parental rights, or guardianship cases handled by Arizona's Department of Child Safety (DCS), a DCS attorney cannot appear before the same judge if they have represented DCS in the department's five most recent cases before that judge. This rule aims to prevent potential bias or undue influence by rotating attorneys across different judges and courtrooms. The bill's legislative intent emphasizes reducing unnecessary foster care placements and prioritizing biological family preservation as the preferred outcome.
Arizona's SCR 1006 would require public schools to provide written requests for "reasonable accommodations" regarding restrooms, changing facilities, and sleeping quarters based on a student's biological sex (defined as anatomy/physiology at birth). Schools must deny accommodations if they would allow access to facilities designated for the opposite sex while others are present, and students denied accommodations could sue the school. The bill also prohibits school staff from using pronouns or names differing from a student's biological sex without parental permission for students under 18, with exceptions for nicknames and religious objections. These provisions apply to all public schools and charter schools in Arizona, with specific evidence requirements (e.g., birth certificate) for accommodation requests.
SB 1147 sets procedures for Arizona courts to appoint experts (like psychologists or social workers) in family court cases after a divorce decree is finalized. Courts must either obtain written agreement from both parents or hold a hearing, disclosing the reason for the appointment, costs, and duration upfront. Experts may only be appointed if evidence supports safety concerns, such as criminal records, substance use, violence, or child welfare reports. The bill requires detailed written court orders and gives both parties the right to review evidence and submit their own expert recommendations before hearings.
