Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1135: death benefits; burial costs

This bill increases burial expense coverage under workers' compensation from $10,000 to $15,000 for workers who die on the job. It directly affects surviving family members (spouses, children, dependent parents, or siblings) who were financially reliant on the deceased worker. Key provisions clarify benefit calculations: for example, surviving spouses receive 35% of the deceased's average monthly wage (plus 31.6% for children), children receive benefits until age 18 (or 22 if in school), and dependent parents may receive 25% of the wage. Funeral costs for dependents who die before the benefit period ends are capped at $800. The changes apply to Arizona workers' compensation claims following a work-related death.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases burial expense coverage from $10k to $15k under workers' comp, directly expanding benefits for dependents of on-the-job fatalities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1136: workers' compensation; death benefits; remarriage

SB 1136 amends Arizona's workers' compensation law to clarify death benefits for surviving spouses who remarry. It specifies that when a surviving spouse remarries, they receive a lump sum payment equal to two years of benefits instead of benefits simply ending. This change applies to all surviving spouses (with or without children) who lose eligibility due to remarriage, and it also updates provisions for when children become ineligible (at age 18 or 22 if in school), ensuring the surviving spouse's benefits continue as if no children existed. The bill directly affects families of workers who died on the job, particularly those where the surviving spouse remarries. The key mechanism is the mandatory lump sum payment upon remarriage, replacing the prior practice of benefit termination without compensation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies death benefits to provide lump sum upon remarriage, protecting surviving spouses' financial security under workers' compensation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1137: underground facilities; excavations; notification

SB 1137 updates Arizona's excavation notification rules to improve safety around underground utility lines. It requires excavators to notify a central "one-call" center before digging, with additional steps for "large projects" defined as excavations exceeding one mile in length, lasting over 90 days, or involving more than ten land parcels. The bill adds an "Interactive Positive Response System" (IPRS), an electronic platform managed by the one-call center, to enable excavators and utility operators to electronically exchange, verify, and track location status updates in real time. This law directly affects construction companies, utility providers, and property owners conducting excavation work in Arizona.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly updates excavation notification rules to improve safety around underground utility lines, directly enhancing workplace safety for workers involved in excavation activities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1448: aggravated assault; utility workers

SB 1448 amends Arizona's aggravated assault statute to specifically include utility workers as protected individuals. The bill makes it a more serious offense to assault an employee of a public utility (like electric, gas, or water providers) while they are performing job duties. This change elevates such assaults to aggravated assault status, meaning they would face harsher penalties under existing law. The bill directly affects utility workers who are on the job, ensuring assaults against them are treated as aggravated crimes. It does not create new penalties but expands the definition of aggravated assault to cover these workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects utility workers by increasing penalties for assaults during job duties, directly strengthening workplace safety protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1400: public safety employees; counseling; wellness

This Arizona bill (SB 1400) allows law enforcement and public safety agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and the state public safety department) to create wellness programs offering mental health counseling, crisis support, and related resources to their employees. Agencies must establish written policies for these programs, and nearly all communications within them remain confidential - protected like attorney-client privilege - except when a participant shares a suicide plan, threat of violence, child abuse, or criminal admission. It also establishes similar confidentiality rules for peer support programs where trained coworkers provide emotional assistance after traumatic incidents. The bill aims to encourage mental health support for public safety workers while maintaining legal obligations for reporting specific threats or harms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates mandatory mental health counseling programs for public safety employees, expanding access to mental health services with strong confidentiality protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides mental health counseling and wellness programs for public safety employees, enhancing workplace well-being and safety protections per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

vetoed · Arizona · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 2086: vaccination mandates; masks; prohibition

HB 2086 prohibits Arizona state and local governments, as well as businesses, from requiring residents to wear masks or receive COVID-19 vaccinations (or variants) for entry or employment. The bill specifically bans mask mandates except for pre-existing workplace safety measures and prohibits vaccination requirements for COVID-19, with exceptions for government-owned healthcare facilities. It applies to all state/local government entities using tax revenues and businesses operating in Arizona, removing existing mandates without creating new requirements. The law directly affects residents, businesses, and government operations by eliminating these specific public health measures.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProhibits mandatory vaccination/mask requirements, restricting public health measures for disease control in non-healthcare settings.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits vaccination requirements for employment, weakening workplace safety measures tied to health mandates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Arizona · House Jun 15, 2026

HCR 2040: minimum wage; exception; homeless

HCR 2040 proposes an exception to Arizona's minimum wage law, allowing homeless individuals or those at risk of homelessness to voluntarily choose to accept pay below the state minimum wage. The bill would amend Arizona law (ARS 23-363) to permit such individuals to submit written notice to employers opting out of minimum wage requirements. This exception would apply only to employees who meet the homelessness criteria and must be formally documented by the employee. The measure requires voter approval to become law, as it is structured as a referendum.

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentAllows sub-minimum wage pay for homeless workers, directly weakening wage protections by creating an exception to minimum wage requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Jun 13, 2026

SB 1488: appropriation; coal-impacted workforce; study

SB 1488 establishes a committee to study the economic and social impacts on communities dependent on the coal industry, particularly those facing job losses due to coal plant closures. The committee includes bipartisan legislators from rural or tribal areas, nonprofit representatives focused on food security and water protection, Navajo Nation officials, and a Coconino County supervisor. It also appropriates $600,000 for the Office of Economic Opportunity to conduct a workforce development study specifically in Coconino County, where the Navajo Generating Station closed. The committee must submit findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2026, with the study committee dissolving after September 30, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $600,000 for workforce study, directly funding a program under budget appropriations95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAppropriates $600k for workforce development study addressing coal plant closure job losses, directly supporting affected workers' transition through economic analysis.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Arizona · House Jun 12, 2026

HCR 2044: preferential treatment; discrimination; prohibited acts

This proposed constitutional amendment (HCR 2044) would prohibit Arizona state and local governments from granting preferential treatment or discrimination based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting. It specifically bans requiring individuals to endorse race-based policies, spending public funds on offices promoting such policies, or implementing disciplinary actions based on race/ethnicity. The amendment directly affects public schools, universities, government agencies, and contractors operating under state authority. If approved by voters, it would become part of Arizona's Constitution, replacing existing antidiscrimination laws in these specific areas.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly prohibits public spending on race-based policies, restricting government fiscal allocation in education/contracting.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBans race-based policies in education, restricting diversity initiatives and affirmative action programs in schools.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationProhibits discrimination based on national origin (directly relevant to immigration), protecting immigrants from bias in public employment/education per bill summary.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentBans preferential treatment based on race/ethnicity in public employment, restricting affirmative action programs that advance equity for marginalized workers, thus weakening targeted protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2663: leaves of absence; military training

HB 2663 clarifies and strengthens protections for Arizona employees who serve in the military reserves or National Guard. It ensures these workers can take paid leave for training, drills, or active duty without losing vacation time, seniority, or pay - state employees get up to three times their weekly scheduled hours annually (or six times over two years) for military leave. The bill prohibits employers from penalizing service members for training absences, aligns with federal laws like USERRA, and specifies that leave days don’t count against scheduled work. It directly affects Arizona military reservists, National Guard members, and their employers across public and private sectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens military service members' leave protections, prevents loss of benefits/pay, aligns with USERRA - directly advances workers' rights in employment95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment