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Ch. 46, Laws 2023 (HB2008 - ASRS; contribution prepayment)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
When an Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) employer is prepaying the employer's 401(a) pension contributions directly to ASRS, the earnings accrual rate may be the actual rate of return of a short-term investment through ASRS, as requested by the employer and agreed to by ASRS. The requirement for the prepaying employer to elect an amortization schedule by written agreement with ASRS is deleted. Establishes requirements for any prepayment agreement made between ASRS and the state or any state agency. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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Ch. 47, Laws 2023 (HB2009 - ASRS; retirement application; changes)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
A member of the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) is allowed to elect to make changes to a retirement application before the member's retirement date, and to exercise a onetime election to make changes to the retirement application within 60 days after the member's retirement date. The member is prohibited from changing the retirement date, and any changes made are retroactive to the retirement date. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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Ch. 48, Laws 2023 (HB2015 - Retirement plans; plan election; rehire)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
For the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System and Corrections Officer Retirement Plan, if an eligible employee who was already a member of the plan is subsequently rehired after a bona fide termination of employment of at least six months with no prearranged reemployment agreement or hired by a new employer, the employee is allowed to make a new election to participate in either the regular plan or the defined contribution plan before the 90th day after the date of hire. If the employee does not make a new election in that time, the employee's previous election continues. Previously, once an employee made an election, that election was irrevocable for the remainder of the employee's employment with any employer under the system, regardless of whether the employment was continuous. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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HB2020 - ASRS; contribution prepayment; appropriation
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $45 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona State Retirement System to prepay Arizona's employers' 401(a) pension contributions. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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HB2027 - Appropriation; unfunded liability; CORP
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
From July 1, 2023 through June 30 2033, each county is required to annually pay a specified amount to repay the state for the amounts paid in FY2022-23 on the counties' behalf to the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP) for unfunded accrued liability. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $428.8 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) to be deposited in the Administrative Office of the Courts CORP group employer account to pay the unfunded accrued liability. The PSPRS Board is required to account for the appropriation in the June 30, 2023 actuarial valuation of CORP, and account for the appropriation when calculating the employee contribution rates and employer contribution rates during FY2023-24. Reduces the appropriations made from the general fund in FY2023-24 to a list of specified judiciary-superior court line items by $10.1 million total. Emergency clause. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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Ch. 102, Laws 2023 (HB2028 - PSPRS; contribution rates)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Beginning with FY2023-24, the contribution rate for members of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System is reduced to 7.65 percent of the member's compensation, from 11.65 percent. Beginning July 1, 2023, the amount of the member's contribution that exceeds 7.65 percent and that was accumulated between July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2023 may be used in calculating the employers contributions. Retroactive to July 1, 2023. Emergency clause. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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Ch. 52, Laws 2023 (HB2029 - ASRS; supplemental deferral plan; participation)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
A political subdivision or political subdivision entity that is not participating in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) is authorized to elect to allow its employees to participate in a supplemental employee deferral plan that is overseen by ASRS by entering into an agreement with ASRS. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
Ch. 105, Laws 2023 (HB2143 - Gray water; residential standards; rules (Rulemaking review; time frame))
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Timothy M. Dunn (R) |
| Summary: |
The Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is authorized to establish by rule minimum requirements for residential gray water treatment systems that are used indoors for toilet flushing that are necessary to address public health or safety concerns. Until rules are adopted, residential gray water may be used indoors for toilet flushing with a gray water treatment system that uses less than 400 gallons of gray water per day and complies with a list of specified requirements. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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HB2144 - Open meetings; capacity; posting; violation
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Timothy M. Dunn (R) |
| Summary: |
Schools, school boards, executive boards, and municipalities are required to provide for an amount of seating sufficient to accommodate the reasonably anticipated attendance of all persons desiring to attend the deliberations and proceedings, when feasible. Does not require a public body to relocate a meeting outside of the largest regular meeting room. Except for a meeting through technological devices, the agenda for a public meeting is required to include notice of the time that the public will have physical access to the meeting place. AS PASSED HOUSE |
HB2156 - Governmental entities; proxy voting; prohibitions (Proxy voting; governmental entities; prohibition)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
A governmental entity that establishes or maintains a "plan" (defined as any plan, fund, or program established or maintained by the state or a political subdivision to provide retirement income or benefits to employees, defer income by employees, or invest taxpayer monies for any purpose) is required to make all direct investment decisions based solely on pecuniary factors when evaluating an investment, and is required to vote all directly held shares, or have the directly held shares voted, based solely on pecuniary factors when voting proxies. Also, all state investments made by the State Treasurer are required to be made in the sole interest of the beneficiary taxpayer. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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Ch. 24, Laws 2023 (HB2214 - Session law; font color)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Gail Griffin (R) |
| Summary: |
Legislative Council is required to use a font color other than black when preparing or revising temporary law for bills and amendments. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
HB2242 - Unclaimed property; notice; distribution (Unclaimed property; locator registration)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Of monies received from the sale of unclaimed or abandoned property, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) is no longer required to deposit the first $2 million each fiscal year in the Seriously Mentally Ill Housing Trust Fund, and the second $2.5 million in the Housing Trust Fund. ADOR is no longer required to deposit monies from unclaimed shares and dividends of any corporation in the Permanent State School Fund, and is no longer required to deposit monies from unclaimed victim restitution payments in the Victim Compensation and Assistance Fund. All these monies are instead deposited in the general fund. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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HB2254 - Rulemaking; regulatory costs; legislative ratification
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R) |
| Summary: |
If a proposed rule was estimated to increase regulatory costs in Arizona in excess of $500,000 within five years after implementation or to have an adverse impact on economic growth in Arizona in excess of $500,000 within five years after implementation, the proposed rule would have been prohibited from becoming effective until the Legislature enacted legislation ratifying the proposed rule. The agency would have been prohibited from filing a final rule with the Secretary of State before obtaining legislative approval of the rule through legislation. Emergency rules would have been exempt. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that the rulemaking process state agencies follow is rigorous, transparent, and effective. |
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HB2290 - Insurance; claims; appeals; provider credentialing
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David L. Cook (R) |
| Summary: |
If a health care insurer denies a health care services claim, in whole or in part, the insurer is required to provide the health care provider with contact information for an individual who is able to respond to questions about the denial. Upon request, the insurer is required to provide a detailed reason why the health care service was not medically necessary and the provider’s right to appeal a denial based on lack of medical necessity, if applicable, and the provider’s right to dispute a decision using the insurer’s internal grievance process. Establishes timeless for the insurer to respond to the provider. A health care provider is authorized to submit a written request for a hearing to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions if the provider’s grievance is unresolved after the specified process and timeframes. Also requires a health insurer to conclude the process of credentialing and loading the applicant's information in the insurer's billing system within 45 calendar days, reduced from 100 calendar days, after the date to insurer receives a complete credentialing application. AS PASSED HOUSE
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HB2303 - Employment; vaccination record; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Cory McGarr (R) |
| Summary: |
An employer is prohibited from requiring or requesting an employee's vaccination records as a condition of employment. |
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HB2316 - Federal government; mandatory vaccinations; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Rachel Jones (R) |
| Summary: |
The federal government is prohibited from requiring an Arizona resident to receive a vaccination for COVID-10 or any variant of COVID-19. Except as otherwise required by federal law, the prohibition on any government entity requiring an Arizona resident to receive a vaccination for COVID-10 or any variant of COVID-19 applies to a health care institution that is owned or operated by a government entity in Arizona. |
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HB2377 - Public officers; lobbying; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R) |
| Summary: |
A "public officer" (defined) would have been prohibited from engaging in "lobbying" (defined elsewhere in statute), except when acting in the public officer's official capacity. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that this bill creates meaningful first amendment concerns. |
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HB2392 - Statewide ADA coordinator; appropriation
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Jennifer L. Longdon (D) |
| Summary: |
The Governor's Office of Equal Opportunity is required to hire a full-time statewide Americans with disabilities coordinator to implement an annual plan to carry out the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Arizona. Appropriates $100,000 and 1 FTE position from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Office for the coordinator. |
HB2416 - Electronic applications; government employees; prohibition (Technical correction; sports facilities account)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Matt Gress (R) |
| Summary: |
By 30 days after the effective date of this legislation, the Department of Administration would have been required to develop standards, guidelines, and practices for state agencies, contractors of the state, and public institutions of higher education that required the removal of any "covered application," defined as a social networking service and any application or service developed or provided by a private company that is founded, headquartered, or located in a "country of concern" (defined). The standards would have been required to address the use of personal electronic devices by state employees and contractors to conduct state business, and to identify sensitive locations, meetings, or personnel within a state agency that could be exposed to covered application-enabled personal devices and develop restrictions on the use of personal cell phones, tablets, or laptops in a designated sensitive location. State employees and contractors would have been prohibited from conducting state business on any personal electronic device that had a covered application, and from using any communications equipment and services that were included on the Federal Communications Commission's covered communications or services list and that were deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States. More. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that since state agencies are already taking actions to comply with Executive Order 2023-10 to protect the state's cybersecurity interests, she believes this bill is duplicative. |
HB2423 - Appropriation; healthcare; interoperability (Technical correction; public records)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Matt Gress (R) |
| Summary: |
Makes changes to the competitive grant program for an interoperability software technology solution to support acute care for rural hospitals, health care providers, and trauma centers. The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) is required to award one grant, instead of multiple grants, and the grant recipient is prohibited from using a third-party vendor to comply with any grant program requirements. Requirements for the software are modified, including adding a requirement for mobile technology. The delayed repeal of the program on July 1, 2026 is eliminated. Appropriates $12 million from the general fund in FY2023-24 to ADOA for the grant. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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HB2430 - EORP; appropriations; repayment
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
For FY2023-24 and each fiscal year after, monies collected from contributions of members of the Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan (EORP) must be distributed directly to the qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement in an amount as determined by the Board of Trustees. After that transfer, the Board is required to transfer any remaining monies collected to the general fund. Beginning July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2033, a specified list of counties and municipalities are required to annually repay the state specified amounts for the amounts paid in FY2022-23 on the local governments' behalf to EORP for unfunded accrued liability. Counties and municipalities may pay the annual repayment amount from any source of revenue. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $609 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to EORP to pay the unfunded accrued liability for EORP. Numerous appropriations made from the general fund in FY2023-24 for required employer contributions to EORP are reduced. Emergency clause. AS PASSED HOUSE
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Ch. 34, Laws 2023 (HB2433 - Pensions; domestic relations orders (Technical correction; occupational safety; exemption))
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
A “domestic relations order” (defined as a court order relating to marital property rights of a spouse or former spouse) is required to value the benefits of a member of the Arizona State Retirement System, Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, Elected Officials’ Retirement Plan, or Corrections Officers Retirement Plan on the earliest date of service of the petition for annulment, dissolution of marriage, or legal separation. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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HB2471 - Government investments; plans; fiduciaries; products
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Steve Montenegro (R) |
| Summary: |
A "fiduciary" (defined) is required to discharge his/her duties with respect to a "plan" (defined as any plan, fund, or program established or maintained by the state or a political subdivision to provide retirement income or benefits to employees, defer income, or invest taxpayer monies for any purpose) solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan, and is required to take into account only pecuniary factors when evaluating an investment. Only the governmental entity that establishes or maintains a plan may vote the shares held by the plan, and the shares held by a plan must be voted only in the pecuniary interest of the plan. A fiduciary is prohibited from adopting a practice of following the recommendations of a proxy advisory firm unless the firm's guidelines are consistent with these requirements. The State Treasurer is required to post a current list of state investments by name and a current list of investment managers on the State Treasurer's publicly accessible website. All state investments are required to be made in the sole interest of the beneficiary taxpayer. |
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HB2472 - Social credit; use; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Steve Montenegro (R) |
| Summary: |
The state would have been prohibited from requiring a bank or financial institution to use a social credit score when the bank or financial institution evaluates whether to lend money to a customer. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor called the bill overly vague and pointed out that "social credit scores" are not defined and do not exist in the United States. |
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HB2555 - Businesses; requirement to accept cash
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R) |
| Summary: |
A retail business with a physical location in Arizona is required to accept cash as a form of payment for goods and services with an aggregate value of $100 or less and cannot charge a fee or penalty for using cash as a form of payment. Establishes penalties for violations. Does not apply to the online sale of goods or services or a written contract between two parties that dictates the acceptable form of payment. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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HB2570 - General appropriations act; 2023-2024
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
The "feed bill" for FY2023-24, containing appropriations for state agencies and programs. Provisions include: Continues deferment of $800.7 million in basic state aid payments to schools until FY2024-25. Appropriates $77.9 million from the general fund in FY2024-25 for a one time deposit in the New School Facilities Fund. Appropriates the following amounts from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for distribution to counties for maintenance of essential county services: $7.15 million for distribution to counties with a population of less than 900,000, $500,000 for distribution to Graham County, $3 million to supplement the normal cost plus an amount to amortize the unfunded accrued liability in the Elected Officials' Retirement Plan, which ADOA is required to allocate equally among all counties with a population of less than 300,000 persons, and $7 million for distribution to counties to establish a coordinated reentry planning services program. On or after April 1, 2024, the Department of Economic Security is authorized to use up to $25 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund to provide funding for reimbursement grants. This appropriation must be fully reimbursed by September 1, 2024. Requires various reports and makes various fund transfers. |
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HB2574 - Health care; 2023-2024
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Makes changes relating to health programs that affect the state budget. Specifies county contributions for the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS), and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) acute care and hospitalization and medical care for FY2023-24. Provides for disproportionate share hospital payments for FY2023-24. By December 31, 2024, for FY2023-24, the AHCCCS Administration is required to transfer to the counties the portion necessary to comply with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. County contributions for Proposition 204 administrative costs and for competency restoration treatment are excluded from county expenditure limitations. For the contract year beginning October 1, 2023 and ending September 30, 2024, the AHCCCS Administration is authorized to continue the risk contingency rate setting for all managed care organizations and the funding for all managed care organizations administrative funding levels that was imposed for the contract year beginning October 1, 2010 and ending September 30, 2011. |
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HB2577 - K-12 education; 2023-2024
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Makes various changes relating to K-12 education that affect the budget. Increases the per student base level amount for basic state aid to $4,870.78, from $4,775.27, for FY2023-24. Increases the transportation support level per route mile funding for FY2023-24. Increases the per student amount for charter additional assistance to $2,049.12, from $1,985.58, for preschool for children with disabilities and grades K-8, and to $2,388.21, from $2,314.16, for grades 9-12.The qualifying tax rates in tax year 2023 for state equalization assistance are modified. Establishes an allocation formula for monies in the Results-Based Funding Fund for FY2022-23. Schools that perform in the top 13 percent of all schools statewide on statewide assessments and that have fewer than 60 percent of enrolled students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches will receive $225 per student. Schools that perform in the top 13 percent of all schools statewide on statewide assessments and that have 60 percent or more of enrolled students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches will receive $400 per student. Schools that perform in the top 27 percent but not in the top 13 percent of all schools statewide on statewide assessments and that have 60 percent or more of enrolled students qualifying for free and reduced-price lunches will receive $225 per student. It is the intent of the Governor and the Legislature that school districts increase the total percentage of classroom spending over the previous year’s percentages in the combined categories of instruction, student support and instructional support as prescribed by the Auditor General. |
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HB2579 - State budget implementation; 2023-2024
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
Retroactive to July 1, 2023, any unrestricted federal monies received by Arizona in FY2023-24 are required to be deposited in the general fund and used to pay essential government services. For FY2023-24, FY2024-25, and FY2025-26, the Legislature is not required to appropriate monies to or transfer monies from the Budget Stabilization Fund. For FY2023-24, the Budget Stabilization Fund is not limited to 10 percent of the general fund revenue for the fiscal year. By June 30, 2023, the Attorney General is required to direct $77.25 million received from the settlement agreement in State of Arizona v. Google for deposit in the general fund. |
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HB2587 - Governor's declaration; fiscal impact analysis
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Kevin Payne (R) |
| Summary: |
In any year in which the Governor has initially declared a state of war emergency or state of emergency for a public health emergency, the State Treasurer is prohibited from withholding any amount from the Arizona Convention Center Development Fund from an eligible city for that year. In conducting the analysis or estimate of the economic impact of any project eligible for monies from the Fund in subsequent years following the emergency declaration, the Auditor General is required to assume that the eligible city satisfied the minimum required attendance in the year of the emergency declaration and the year following that declaration, and that the incremental revenues to the general fund in any year of the initial emergency declaration and the year following that declaration at least equaled the amount of distributions by the state. Retroactive to January 1, 2020. |
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HB2605 - International trade; authority; transportation.
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Lydia Hernandez (D) |
| Summary: |
Establishes the International Transportation and Trade Corridor Authority as a corporate and political body with all the rights, powers, and immunities of municipal corporations. The Authority is governed by a 9-member Board of Directors. Powers and duties of the Board are established. An Executive Director is responsible for managing the activities of the Authority, and Executive Director duties are listed. The Authority is required to construct, finance, maintain, improve, operate, and promote the use of transportation and trade facilities and do all things necessary or convenient to accomplish those purposes. The Authority is required to establish disadvantaged business enterprise participation goals for the design, engineering, and construction of a transportation and trade facility. Establishes budgeting and reporting requirements, Authority accounts, and audit requirements. The Authority is allowed to issue negotiable bonds in a principal amount as necessary to provide sufficient monies for a transportation and trade facility purpose and pay necessary bond-related expenses. Establishes provisions for bond issuance, purchase, and payment. More. Appropriates $200,000 from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Authority for the purposes of this legislation. |
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HB2610 - Establishment of state-owned bank
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Leezah Elsa Sun (D) |
| Summary: |
The state is required to engage in the business of banking and to maintain a system of banking owned, controlled, and operated by the state under the name of the Bank of Arizona. The Bank of Arizona Commission is required to operate, manage, and control the Bank of Arizona. Establishes a 9-member Advisory Board of Directors to the Bank of Arizona. The Advisory Board is required to appoint a chief executive officer (CEO). Specifies the powers and duties of the Board, the CEO, and the Bank of Arizona. The Bank of Arizona is required to use its powers to extend affordable financing to a list of eligible recipients. All state monies are required to be deposited in the Bank of Arizona, and all deposits in the Bank of Arizona are guaranteed by the state. The Commission and the Board terminate on July 1, 2033. |
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HB2622 - Cost sharing; health coverage; report
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Laurin Hendrix (R) |
| Summary: |
An organization or individual advocating a legislative proposal that would place a restriction on the form or amount of cost sharing applied to a health plan benefit issued by an insurer is required to submit a written report to the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) by September 1 before the start of the legislative session for which the legislation is proposed, and JLAC must assign the report to the appropriate legislative committee of reference for review. The information that must be included in the mandated health coverage or cost sharing restriction reports submitted to JLAC is expanded to include the impact on other policyholders that do not use the treatment or service subject to the mandated coverage or cost sharing restriction, and an analysis of whether the state will be required to defray the costs that a treatment or service may add to the federal marketplace subsidies under specified federal code. |
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HB2640 - State debt payoff
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David L. Cook (R) |
| Summary: |
Makes a supplemental appropriation of $430 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona Department of Administration to pay for the retirement or defeasance of the financing agreements entered into for state properties. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $238 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona Board of Regents to pay for the retirement or defeasance of the lease-purchase capital financing agreements entered into for university research facilities. Deletes appropriations to the Arizona Convention Center Development Fund in FY2023-24 through FY2043-44. Deletes appropriations to Arizona State University, University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University for lease-purchase capital financing for research infrastructure projects in FY2023-24 through FY2030-31. |
HB2649 - Street encampments; safety; health requirements (Appropriation; correction officers; retention bonus)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Teresa Martinez (R) |
| Summary: |
If a county or municipality establishes, allows the establishment of, or fails to disband within a reasonable period of time, a "homeless encampment" (defined) either on private property in violation of county or municipal regulations or on public property, the county or municipality is required to provide a list of provisions at the homeless encampment, including at least 2 toilets and 2 handwashing units per 100 residents, adequate potable water and trash receptacles, and at least 2 shower units if the encampment has at least 50 residents. For an encampment located on private property, the property owner must consent to the placement of these services prior to the placement. Does not apply to a homeless encampment on federal land. Emergency clause. |
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Ch. 205, Laws 2023 (HB2670 - State agencies; veterans status; inquiry)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Stacey Travers (D) |
| Summary: |
The definition of "armed forces of the U.S." is expanded to include the U.S. Space Force. The Department of Veterans' Services is authorized to provide burial services in state veterans' cemeteries for members of the Arizona National Guard and the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves if the member's service was terminated under honorable conditions. Effective January 1, 2024. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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Ch. 130, Laws 2023 (HB2689 - Reviser's technical corrections; 2023)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Travis Grantham (R) |
| Summary: |
Fixes multiple defective and conflicting enactments. No substantive changes. 29 pages. An annual exercise. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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HB2737 - Appropriation; schools; premium subsidy; retention
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Amish Shah (D) |
| Summary: |
Appropriates $10 million from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to administer an Insurance Premium Subsidy Retention Grant Program. ADE is required to use the monies appropriated to award grants to school districts and charter holders in Arizona for employee health and dental insurance premium subsidies for teachers and support staff members who meet specified requirements. |
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HB2779 - Teachers; nonadministrative staff; pay increases
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Judy Schwiebert (D) |
| Summary: |
In addition to any other base-level increase provided for FY2023-24, appropriates $1.2 billion from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to increase the base level for FY2023-24 to raise the average salary of teachers in Arizona to equal the median salary of public schoolteachers in the U.S., and to raise the average pay of nonadministrative staff of the schools who provide services directly to students by $4 per hour. |
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HB2800 - Teacher salary increases; public schools
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Matt Gress (R) |
| Summary: |
Each school district and charter school in Arizona is required to revise its salary schedule to increase the base salary of all "eligible teachers" (defined) by $5,000 above the base salary of FY2022-23 in FY2023-24 and by $10,000 above the base salary of FY2022-23 in FY2024-25. Establishes the Pay Teachers First Fund and requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to allocate monies from the Fund to each eligible school district and charter school to fund the teacher salary increases. |
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HB2808 - Public records; time frame
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Michael Carbone (R) |
| Summary: |
An entity that is subject to a public records request is required to provide, within five business days after receiving a request for the records, a notification that includes specified information, including the expected date the request will be processed. An entity that willfully or intentionally refuses to comply with public records request laws or otherwise acts in bad faith is subject to a civil penalty of $500 to $5,000 for each occurrence. AS PASSED HOUSE |
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Ch. 181, Laws 2023 (HB2809 - Public infrastructure improvements; reimbursement)
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Michael Carbone (R) |
| Summary: |
Increases the aggregate maximum amount on payments to all counties and municipalities to reimburse the cost of public infrastructure improvements for the benefit of a manufacturing facility to $200 million, from $100 million. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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HB2810 - General appropriations act; 2023-2024
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. David Livingston (R) |
| Summary: |
The "feed bill" for FY2023-24, containing appropriations for state agencies and programs. Provisions include: Continues deferment of $800.7 million in basic state aid payments to schools until FY2024-25. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $180.6 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for additional basic state aid formula costs. Appropriates $77.9 million from the general fund in FY2024-25 for a one time deposit in the New School Facilities Fund. Reduces the FY2023-24 appropriation to the New School Facilities Fund to $26.4 million, from $31.8 million. Reduces the FY2023-24 appropriation to the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund by $138.8 million. Reduces the FY2022-23 general fund appropriation to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration by $25 million to remove funding for the construction of secure behavioral health residential facilities. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $20 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona Department of Housing for programs that provide shelter and services to unsheltered persons who are experiencing homelessness. Appropriates the following amounts from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for distribution to counties for maintenance of essential county services: $7.15 million for distribution to counties with a population of less than 900,000, $500,000 for distribution to Graham County, $3 million to supplement the normal cost plus an amount to amortize the unfunded accrued liability in the Elected Officials' Retirement Plan, which ADOA is required to allocate equally among all counties with a population of less than 300,000 persons, and $7 million for distribution to counties to establish a coordinated reentry planning services program. On or after April 1, 2024, the Department of Economic Security is authorized to use up to $25 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund to provide funding for reimbursement grants. This appropriation must be fully reimbursed by September 1, 2024. Requires various reports and makes various fund transfers. |
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HCR2043 - Compensation; state preemption; limitation
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| Sponsor: |
Rep. Matt Gress (R) |
| Summary: |
The 2024 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to declare that the regulation of employee benefits is of statewide concern and not subject to further regulation by a municipality or other political subdivision. Does not affect the authority of a county or municipality to set wages or benefits for county or municipal employees or limit a county's or municipality's authority to enter into contracts for personal services. |
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SB1020 - Open meetings; capacity; posting
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
All public bodies are required to provide for an amount of seating sufficient to accommodate the reasonably anticipated attendance of all persons desiring to attend the deliberations and proceedings, when feasible. The agenda for a public meeting is required to include notice of the time that the public will have physical access to the meeting place. |
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SB1021 - Attorney general; legislature; legal challenges
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
The Attorney General would have been required to defend the constitutionality of any law passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in any legal proceeding. The Attorney General would have been required to be relieved from this duty by providing notice to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate stating that s/he does not intend to defend the law at least ten days before filing any substantive or dispositive pleading regarding the constitutionality of the challenged law. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that the litigation choices made by the Attorney General are dictated not only by state law, but also by allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and her ethical duties as an attorney. |
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SB1031 - Public employees; employment; termination
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
State agencies and political subdivisions are prohibited from terminating an employee based on the employee's vaccination status or political affiliation. A violation is subject to a civil penalty of 10 percent of the state agency's or political subdivision's budget from the prior fiscal year. |
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Ch. 3, Laws 2023 (SB1036 - Setting aside conviction; certificate eligibility)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
For the purpose of setting aside judgment of a convicted person, a person is not eligible for a certificate of second chance if the person has previously received a certificate of second chance on the set aside of a "felony conviction" (defined). AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1048 - Campaign finance; reporting threshold; lobbyists
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
The list of receipts that must be itemized in campaign finance reports would have been modified to require itemization of contributions from in-state individuals whose contributions exceed $200 for that election cycle, increased from $100, and to require itemization of contributions from individuals who are registered lobbyists. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that while she appreciates the provision aimed at adding transparency to donations from lobbyists, other provisions in this will would reduce transparency in campaign finance and would likely apply to far more donors. |
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Ch. 125, Laws 2023 (SB1061 - Public officials; home addresses; confidentiality)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope (R) |
| Summary: |
An "election officer" and a "public official" (both defined) are added to the list of persons who may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing public records containing that person's identifying information that are maintained by the county or the Arizona Department of Transportation. It is a class 5 (second lowest) felony to knowingly make available on the internet the personal information of an election officer or public official. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1096 - Firearms; contracts; prohibited practices
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Frank Carroll (R) |
| Summary: |
A "public entity" (defined) would have been prohibited from entering into a contract with a value of $100,000 or more with a company to acquire or dispose of services, supplies, information technology, or construction unless the contract included a written certification that the company did not, and agreed for the duration of the contract that it would not, "discriminate" against a "firearm entity" or "firearm trade association" (all defined). AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto letter, the Governor called the bill unnecessary and expressed concern that it could result in banks leaving Arizona's market, resulting in increased costs for local governments. |
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SB1104 - Procurement; information disclosure; bidders
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Frank Carroll (R) |
| Summary: |
During competitive sealed bidding, the Director of the Arizona Department of Administration is required to provide a question and answer period for bidders and interested parties outside of the procurement process to submit written questions and for the Director to provide written responses to those questions. |
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SB1106 - Social media platforms; standards; notification
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R) |
| Summary: |
A new chapter in Title 18 (Information Technology) regulating "social media platforms" (defined) would have been established. Social media platforms would have been authorized to "deplatform" (defined) a candidate who is known by the platform to be a candidate, beginning on the date of the candidate's qualification and ending on the date of the election or the date the candidate ceases to be a candidate. Violations would have been subject to specified civil penalties. Social media platforms would have been required to publish the standards used to determine how it would deplatform the social media platform's users. An employee who violated these requirements would have been subject to removal from state service, reduction in grade, debarment from state employment for up to five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty of up to $1,000. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that this bill does not attempt to solve any of the real problems social media platforms create. |
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SB1107 - Procurement; information content provider; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R) |
| Summary: |
Beginning on the effective date of this legislation, the Director of the Arizona Department of Administration is required to terminate, and direct any state government unit or political subdivision to terminate, any existing contract with a contractor that is an information content provider or a qualified marketplace platform that has engaged in "targeted censorship" (defined as deleting or placing a disclaimer on any form of free speech that is unequally applied based on a particular belief that is expressed in any form). State government units and political subdivisions are prohibited from contracting with an information content provider or a qualified marketplace platform that has engaged in targeted censorship. |
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Ch. 64, Laws 2023 (SB1110 - Recorded documents; property; notification)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R) |
| Summary: |
By January 1, 2025, the county recorder is required to provide a system for notifying a person or entity when any document is recorded in which the person or entity is a named party to the instrument. The system must allow a person or entity to choose to participate, and the notice is required to be provided promptly by email, text message or other similar means. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1115 - Land sales; foreign entities; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
Beginning from and after the effective date of this legislation, sales of state land are prohibited from being made to a "foreign entity" (defined as a foreign government or a state-controlled enterprise of a foreign government). AS PASSED SENATE |
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Ch. 83, Laws 2023 (SB1134 - Appropriations; named claimants)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
Appropriates $227,404.41 to named claimants. An annual exercise. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
SB1138 - Business; discrimination prohibition; social criteria (Banks; discrimination prohibition; social criteria)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
A financial institution, insurer, or credit reporting agency doing business in Arizona, either directly or through a contractor, is prohibited from discriminating against any person based on a political affiliation or other social credit, environmental, social, governance or similar values-based or impact criteria. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1139 - Government investments; products; fiduciaries; plans
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
A "fiduciary" (defined) is required to discharge his/her duties with respect to a "plan" (defined as any plan, fund, or program established or maintained by the state or a political subdivision to provide retirement income or benefits to employees, defer income, or invest taxpayer monies for any purpose) solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan, and is required to take into account only pecuniary factors when evaluating an investment. Only the governmental entity that establishes or maintains a plan may vote the shares held by the plan, and the shares held by a plan must be voted only in the pecuniary interest of the plan. A fiduciary is prohibited from adopting a practice of following the recommendations of a proxy advisory firm unless the firm's guidelines are consistent with these requirements. The State Treasurer is required to post a current list of state investments by name and a current list of investment managers on the State Treasurer's publicly accessible website. All state investments are required to be made in the sole interest of the beneficiary taxpayer. |
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SB1146 - Divestment; K-12; abortion; explicit material
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
The State Board of Investment would have been required to adopt a policy, and submit a copy of the policy to the Legislature, regarding companies that donate to or invest in organizations that promote, facilitate or advocate for abortions for minors, and companies that donate to or invest in organizations that promote, facilitate or advocate for the inclusion of, or the referral of students to, "sexually explicit material" (defined) in kindergarten programs or any of grades 1 through 12. The policy would have been required to include the procedure to identify these companies and a process for divestment from the companies identified. The State Treasurer would have been required to divest from the companies identified. AS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that this bill needlessly politicizes decisions best made by the professional portfolio managers at the State Treasurer's Office. |
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SB1163 - Bond or override; contracts; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Steve Kaiser (R) |
| Summary: |
If a person makes a contribution to an entity promoting the passage of a school bond or override and the bond or override is approved by the voters, the person who makes the contribution is prohibited from bidding on a contract that is funded as a result of the bond or override. |
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SB1166 - Public employers; postsecondary degree requirements
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Steve Kaiser (R) |
| Summary: |
Public employers would have been prohibited from rejecting an applicant solely for not having a postsecondary degree. Public employers would have been allowed to include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to a particular number of years of direct experience. Contained some exceptions. Would have become effective January 1, 2024. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor said this bill has unnecessary and unworkable administrative burdens and that she is committed to signing legislation that works towards ensuring that those that want to enter public service have the opportunity to do so in a less burdensome manner. |
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Ch. 6, Laws 2023 (SB1173 - Public retirement systems; plan election)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) |
| Summary: |
If a Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) employee who is hired on or after July 1, 2017 and who is an active or inactive member of PSPRS or a participant in the PSPRS defined contribution plan (DC Plan) is subsequently rehired by the employee's previous employer or another employer under PSPRS, the employee's participation in either PSPRS or the PSPRS DC Plan begins on the date the employee is rehired or hired by another employer. If a Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP) employee who is hired on or after July 1, 2018 and who is an active or inactive member of CORP or a participant in the PSPRS DC Plan is subsequently rehired by the employee's previous employer or another employer under CORP, the employee's participation in either CORP or the PSPRS DC Plan begins on the date the employee is rehired or hired by another employer. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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Ch. 37, Laws 2023 (SB1176 - Health professionals; address; confidentiality)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
A "health professional" (defined) is added to the list of persons who may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing public records containing that person's identifying information that are maintained by the county or the Arizona Department of Transportation. It is a class 5 (second lowest) felony to knowingly make available on the internet the personal information of a health professional. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1179 - ABOR; reporting requirements; revisions
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Ken Bennett (R) |
| Summary: |
The basic actual full-time equivalent student enrollment at universities under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) will be counted on the 21st day after classes begin for the fall and spring semesters, instead of on the 45th day after classes begin. Also changes the due dates for various reports that ABOR is required to submit to the Legislature. |
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SB1182 - Arizona promise program; private universities
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Ken Bennett (R) |
| Summary: |
A degree-granting private postsecondary educational institution in Arizona is authorized to implement an Arizona promise program to provide financial assistance to students on the same terms as a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). An award provided to an eligible student by a private postsecondary educational institution is prohibited from exceeding the highest actual cost of in-state tuition and fees charged by a university under the jurisdiction of ABOR. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1187 - Public safety investment fund; appropriation
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
Establishes the Public Safety Investment Fund and appropriates $45 million from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Fund. |
Ch. 192, Laws 2023 (SB1189 - Municipal tax code commission; continuation (Regents; officers; technical correction))
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) |
| Summary: |
The statutory life of the Municipal Tax Code Commission is extended four years to July 1, 2027. Retroactive to July 1, 2023. Requires the Arizona Department of Revenue to incorporate changes to the model city tax code to conform to a statutory change within 30 days of the effective date of the statutory change. Beginning from and after the effective date of this legislation, a 2/3 vote of the Commission is required to adopt a proposed amendment to the model city tax code that either repeals a model or local option that provides an exemption from taxation or which expands the types of business activities that are considered taxable. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1202 - Banking; fees; licensing
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Steve Kaiser (R) |
| Summary: |
Consumer lender licensees and premium finance company licensees are required to apply for renewal as prescribed by the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) by December 31 of each year. If DIFI does not receive the licensee's renewal application and fee by January 31, the license or permit automatically expires. The holder of an expired license or permit may not be issued a renewal license or permit but may be issued a new license or permit. |
SB1213 - Legislative audit committee; procedures manual (Legislative council; procedures manual)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee would have been required to approve the official elections instructions and procedures manual before its issuance. AS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that this bill is an example of legislative interference in elections. |
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SB1216 - Health insurance coverage; insulin
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón (D) |
| Summary: |
Health and disability insurers are required to limit the total amount that a subscriber or enrollee must pay for a covered "prescription insulin drug" (defined) to $35 per 30-day supply of insulin, regardless of the amount or type of insulin required to fill the prescription. |
Ch. 163, Laws 2023 (SB1221 - Hospitals; fingerprints; private investigators; identification (Health information organizations))
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Thomas "T.J." Shope (R) |
| Summary: |
A licensed hospital is authorized to request assistance from a criminal justice agency to determine the identity of an unidentified patient who is either incapacitated or deceased through fingerprints or biometric identification techniques. A registered private investigator is authorized to obtain the biometric information from the unidentified patient and provide it to the criminal justice agency without the patient's consent. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1235 - Legal tender; specie; bitcoin
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R) |
| Summary: |
Legal tender in Arizona consists of any medium of exchange that is authorized by the U.S. Constitution or U.S. Congress for the payment of debts, public charges, taxes and dues, "specie" (defined) issued at any time by the U.S. government, any other specie that a court of competent jurisdiction rules by a final, unappealable order to be within the scope of state authority to make a legal tender, and "bitcoin" (defined). |
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SB1239 - State agencies; payments; cryptocurrency
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Wendy Rogers (R) |
| Summary: |
State agencies are authorized to accept "cryptocurrency" (defined) as a payment method for taxes, fees, fines, civil penalties, financial obligations, and special assessments by entering into an agreement with a "cryptocurrency service provider" (defined) to provide a method to accept cryptocurrency as a payment for any amount due to that agency or the state. Requirements for the agreement are listed. Effective January 1, 2024. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1250 - Employers; vaccines; religious exemption
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Janae Shamp (R) |
| Summary: |
Employers would have been required to allow employees to claim a religious exemption from taking the COVID-19 vaccination, influenza A or B vaccination or flu vaccination, or any vaccination approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use. Employers would have been prohibited from inquiring into the veracity of an employee's religious beliefs, and from discriminating against an employee regarding employment, wages, or benefits based on the employee's vaccination status. Employees would have been authorized to file a complaint with the Attorney General (AG) if the employer did not offer the employee a religious exemption form or improperly applied or denied the employee's religious exemption and the employee's employment was terminated. The AG would have been required to investigate all complaints. If the AG found a complaint valid, the AG would have been required to notify the employer and allow the employer the opportunity to correct the noncompliance within 10 days. The AG would have been required to assess a civil penalty of $5,000 on an employer that did not correct the noncompliance. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor called this bill unnecessary, as legal protections for an employee's religious beliefs already exist in federal employment law. |
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SB1255 - Regulatory costs; rulemaking; ratification
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
If a proposed rule was estimated to increase regulatory costs in Arizona in excess of $500,000 within five years after implementation, the proposed rule would have been prohibited from becoming effective until the Legislature enacted legislation ratifying the proposed rule. A process for the Legislature to ratify a proposed rule would have been established. Would not have applied to emergency rules or the Arizona Corporation Commission. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that the rulemaking process is essential to allowing state government to function at its best, and that if the Legislature disagrees with rules it can produce legislation to change them. |
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SB1258 - Public officers; announcements; report
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) |
| Summary: |
For any publication, resource or public service announcement that is issued by a public officer, that contains the public officer's name or likeness, and that is distributed free of charge or through the use of taxpayer resources, the public officer is required to publish a quarterly report describing the amount of money that was spent on the publication, resource, or public service announcement. |
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SB1259 - Public officials; home addresses; confidentiality.
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) |
| Summary: |
A "public official" (defined as a person who is duly elected or appointed to Congress, the Legislature, or a statewide office) is added to the list of persons who may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing public records containing that person's identifying information that are maintained by the county or the Department of Transportation. It is a class 5 (second lowest) felony to knowingly make available on the internet the personal information of a public official. |
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Ch. 23, Laws 2023 (SB1270 - Open meetings; capacity)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
Schools, school boards, executive boards, and municipalities are required to provide for an amount of seating sufficient to accommodate the reasonably anticipated attendance of all persons desiring to attend the deliberations and proceedings, when feasible. Does not require a public body to relocate a meeting outside of the largest regular meeting room. Except for a meeting through technological devices, the agenda for a public meeting is required to include notice of the time that the public will have physical access to the meeting place. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SB1323 - Schools; sexually explicit materials; classification
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
An employee or independent contractor of a public school who violates the prohibition on referring students to or using any sexually explicit material in public school is guilty of a class 5 (second lowest) felony. |
SB1418 - Religious; political beliefs; adverse actions (Attorneys; court professionals; discipline; juries)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Justine Wadsack (R) |
| Summary: |
A "government agent" (defined) is prohibited from initiating, taking, conducting, assisting, or participating in an "adverse action" (defined as a criminal or civil investigation, prosecution, or similar proceeding) against any natural person if a substantial motivation for the government agent's decision to do so is motivated by an "unlawful animus" (defined as a disagreement with or dislike of a person's religious or political beliefs, positions, associations, or expression), even if that natural person would otherwise properly be the subject of the adverse action. No court in Arizona has jurisdiction over an adverse action brought in violation of this prohibition. All judgments and decisions rendered in violation of this prohibition shall be deemed unenforceable and invalid. Any evidence obtained pursuant to a search or seizure that is in violation of this prohibition is inadmissible in any administrative, civil or criminal proceeding. An arrest that is made in violation of this prohibition is invalid. If a government agent violates this prohibition, the person whose rights are violated is authorized to bring a cause of action in state or federal court against both the government agent and the government entity that employs or contracts with the government agent, except that the state is not subject to a suit in federal court. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1500 - Government investments; fiduciaries; pecuniary benefit
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Frank Carroll (R) |
| Summary: |
A "fiduciary" (defined) would have been required to discharge his/her duties with respect to a "plan" (defined as any plan, fund, or program established or maintained by the state or a political subdivision to provide retirement income or benefits to employees, defer income, or invest taxpayer monies for any purpose) solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan, and would have been required to take into account only pecuniary factors when evaluating an investment. Only the governmental entity that established or maintained a plan would have been allowed to vote the shares held by the plan, and the shares held by a plan would have been required to be voted only in the pecuniary interest of the plan. A fiduciary would have been prohibited from adopting a practice of following the recommendations of a proxy advisory firm unless the firm's guidelines were consistent with these requirements. The State Treasurer would have been required to post a current list of state investments by name and a current list of investment managers on the State Treasurer's publicly accessible website. All state investments would have been required to be made in the sole interest of the beneficiary taxpayer. Contained legislative findings. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that politicizing decisions best made by the state's investment professionals can harm our state's long-term fiscal health. |
SB1594 - License plates; special plates (Sorority and fraternity special plates)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Catherine Miranda (D) |
| Summary: |
The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is required to issue sorority and fraternity special license plates if a person pays $32,000 in start-up costs by December 31, 2023. ADOT is required to design a different sorority and fraternity logo to be placed on each plate for each individual sorority and fraternity in existence on the effective date of this legislation. Of the $25 annual fee, $8 is an administrative fee and $17 is a donation to the newly established Sorority and Fraternity Special Plate Fund, to be allocated to an entity that was founded in 2018, that promotes the well-being of its affiliate sororities and fraternities, and that meets other specified requirements. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1611 - Public entities; contracts; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
A public entity would have been prohibited from requiring a company to implement an "environmental, social or governance standards policy" (defined) as a condition of entering into or renewing a contract with a company to acquire services, supplies, information technology, goods or construction services. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that she does not believe that tying the hands of the state's procurement and investment professionals is in the best interests of the people of Arizona. |
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SB1694 - Public monies; ideology training; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
"Public entities" (defined) are prohibited from requiring an employee to engage in a "diversity, equity, and inclusion program" (defined), spending public monies on a diversity, equity, and inclusion program, and advancing or adopting any policy or procedure designed to influence the composition of its workforce on the basis of race, sex, or color. An employee of a public entity who is required to participate in a diversity, equity, and inclusion program is authorized to bring an action against the public entity. AS PASSED SENATE |
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SB1696 - Sexually explicit materials; government; prohibition
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Jake Hoffman (R) |
| Summary: |
The state, a state agency, or a county, municipality, or political subdivision of Arizona would have been prohibited from exposing minors to "sexually explicit materials" (defined) and would have been required to prohibit its contractors from exposing minors to sexually explicit materials. A facility or property owned, leased or managed by these entities would have been prohibited from being used for filming or facilitating sexually explicit acts. Violations would have been classified as a class 5 (second-lowest) felony. AS VETOED BY GOVERNOR. In her veto message, the Governor stated that this bill is vague and serves as little more than a thinly veiled effort to ban books. |
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Ch. 133, Laws 2023 (SB1720 - General appropriations act; 2023-2024.)
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. John Kavanagh (R) |
| Summary: |
The "feed bill" for FY2023-24, containing appropriations for state agencies and programs. Provisions include: Continues deferment of $800.7 million in basic state aid payments to schools until FY2024-25. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $180.6 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for additional basic state aid formula costs. Appropriates $77.9 million from the general fund in FY2024-25 for a one time deposit in the New School Facilities Fund. Reduces the FY2023-24 appropriation to the New School Facilities Fund to $26.4 million, from $31.8 million. Reduces the FY2023-24 appropriation to the Long-Term Water Augmentation Fund by $143.8 million. Reduces the FY2022-23 general fund appropriation to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration by $25 million to remove funding for the construction of secure behavioral health residential facilities. Makes a supplemental appropriation of $20 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona Department of Housing for programs that provide shelter and services to unsheltered persons who are experiencing homelessness. Appropriates the following amounts from the general fund in FY2023-24 to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) for distribution to counties for maintenance of essential county services: $7.15 million for distribution to counties with a population of less than 900,000, $500,000 for distribution to Graham County, $3 million to supplement the normal cost plus an amount to amortize the unfunded accrued liability in the Elected Officials' Retirement Plan, which ADOA is required to allocate equally among all counties with a population of less than 300,000 persons, and $7 million for distribution to counties to establish a coordinated reentry planning services program. On or after April 1, 2024, the Department of Economic Security is authorized to use up to $25 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund to provide funding for reimbursement grants. This appropriation must be fully reimbursed by September 1, 2024. Requires various reports and makes various fund transfers. AS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR |
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SCR1002 - Constitutional amendments; sixty percent approval
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. Anthony Kern (R) |
| Summary: |
The 2024 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to require approval by 60 percent of the votes cast on the measure for an initiative or referendum measure that amends the state Constitution to become law, instead of a majority of the votes cast. |
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SCR1034 - General appropriation bill; continuing appropriation
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| Sponsor: |
Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R) |
| Summary: |
The 2024 general election ballot is to carry the question of whether to amend the state Constitution to provide that if a new fiscal year begins and no general appropriation bill has been signed into law for that fiscal year, the general appropriation bill in effect for the immediately preceding fiscal year continues in effect as if enacted into law for the new fiscal year until a general appropriation bill has been signed into law for that fiscal year. Allows the Joint Legislative Budget Committee or its successor agency, by a majority vote of all members appointed to the committee, adjust the amounts that were in effect for the immediately preceding fiscal year to remove onetime expenditures and account for inflation and enrollment growth for programs administered by the Arizona Department of Education, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Department of Economic Security, or their successor agencies, in the new fiscal year. Does not apply if after these adjustments, the general appropriation bill appropriates an amount that exceeds the projected general fund revenues for the new fiscal year. AS PASSED SENATE |
