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AFCCA Updates
HB2184 (fetal death; funeral homes) sponsored by Representative Julie Willoughby (R – Chandler) extends the timeline for completing and registering death certificates from seven calendar days to 14 days, excluding weekends and holidays. Additionally, it mandates that funeral establishments obtain a disposition-transit permit for the transfer of fetal remains from a hospital or clinic when specific gestational or weight criteria are met and the woman authorizes the transfer. Lastly, the order of authority for the remains of a deceased minor is modified to defer to any existing legal decision-making awards or parenting plans that assign final authority. Following our meeting with the Governor’s office, this bill has not moved.
SB1668 (disposition; remains; authorization; legal decision making) Sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick moved through caucus since it was amended with a Strike Everything Amendment that replaces its text with legislation that would clarify in statute who has decision making authority over a decedent minor in very specific instances. This bill was voted unanimously out of the House and will now return to the Senate for a final vote before being sent to the Governor’s desk. With the Governor’s bill moratorium still in effect, significant movement on legislation is not expected until a final budget agreement is reached.
You can track the status of these bills on your live interactive tracking link found here –Skywolf AI– this link will automatically update as the bills move through the process. As always please do not hesitate to let me know if you would like to make any additions or removals from your bill tracking list.
Arizona Legislative Session Weekly Report – Week Seventeen
On Monday the Senate joined the House in passing the $17.8 billion majority budget package which Governor Hobbs vetoed on Tuesday when it hit her desk. In her veto message, the Governor cited the 5% across-the-board cuts to state agencies and the omission of a Prop 123 renewal as primary reasons for her rejection. Republican leadership described the package as a necessary reality check for the state’s finances, stating that the spending cuts were essential to offset revenue projections and fund tax conformity without raising fees.
With the proposed budget now vetoed, negotiations are expected to shift back toward a broader bipartisan budget deal. While the majority budget was not expected to become law in its current form, its passage and subsequent veto further clarified each side’s priorities and negotiating positions as discussions continue over agency funding levels, education funding, and other major budget components ahead of the end of session.
After the House completed its work on Tuesday, they adjourned until June 1. The Senate is scheduled to return on Monday, May 11 for the Director Nominations Committee and for Floor, and then will also adjourn until June 1. This will allow time for legislative leadership to negotiate with the Governor’s office before the July 1 constitutionally required deadline for the state budget. The legislature has less than two months to enact a budget to avoid a government shutdown and before the start of early primary voting, which begins on June 24.
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) met briefly this week as well to discuss and review the Attorney General’s Opioid Settlement expenditure plan, and Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) and Secretary of State budget transfers. Following this, the Joint Committee on Capital Review convened to consider project approvals and expenditure plans from several state agencies, boards, and universities.
What is the Budget Process?
In January, the Governor released her executive budget plan outlining administration policy goals. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) also released the Legislative Baseline, a non-partisan projection of the costs required to maintain services under existing law. These serve as the starting point for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, which conduct hearings to vet appropriations bills and analyze updated revenue forecasts provided by the Finance Advisory Committee.
The next phase of the budget process will focus on negotiating and drafting the actual budget bills, which establish funding levels for state agencies through the General Appropriations Act, also commonly referred to as the “feed” bill, along with a series of Budget Reconciliation Bills (BRBs). These BRBs contain the statutory and policy changes necessary to implement the budget’s fiscal assumptions, including adjustments to funding formulas, tax structures, and other related provisions. Once finalized, the budget package must receive a simple majority vote in both the House and Senate to advance.
Once approved by the Legislature, the budget is transmitted to the Governor, who possesses two distinct veto powers under the Arizona Constitution; a general veto authority allowing the rejection of an entire bill, and a line-item veto authority applicable to appropriations measures. Article V, Section 7 of the Arizona Constitution provides that, “If any bill presented to the Governor contains several items of appropriations of money, they may object to one or more of such items, while approving other portions of the bill.” This authority allows the Governor to remove specific appropriations or programs while signing the remainder of the budget into law.
Under the Arizona Constitution, a budget must be enacted before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. Failure to reach an agreement and adopt a budget by that deadline could result in a partial to full government shutdown and significant disruptions to state operations.
Candidate Challenge Update
With the May 11 ballot printing deadline approaching, Arizona’s courts have finished the candidate challenge process for the 2026 primary election. Of the 22 candidates who faced legal challenges across statewide, legislative, and congressional races, 12 were removed or withdrew voluntarily while 10 successfully defended their place on the ballot.
No Labels gubernatorial candidate Hugh Lytle successfully fended off two separate challenges, one targeting his signature count and another alleging he improperly listed a business address rather than his home address on his petition sheets. Both the Superior Court and Arizona Supreme Court ruled in his favor, with Chief Justice Ann Timmer concluding that his use of a business address in the same city and county where he resides was ‘unlikely to mislead voters.’ Democratic Representatives Alma Hernandez and Consuelo Hernandez also successfully defeated claims that unpaid campaign finance fines disqualified them from the ballot, with the Supreme Court affirming both rulings.
Democratic state Senate candidate Ryan Slawson in Legislative District 19 was barred from the ballot after falling short by a single signature. Several other candidates, including Republican Jerone Davison in CD4 and Democrat Michael Butts running for Superintendent of Public Instruction, were removed after courts found they failed to collect the required minimum number of signatures. A number of additional candidates across congressional and legislative districts chose to withdraw rather than litigate.
Key Election Dates / Deadlines:
Candidate Filling Period: February 21 – March 23, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline: June 22, 2026
Early Voting Begins/Ballots Mailed: June 24, 2026
Primary Election: July 21, 2026
Voter Registration Deadline: October 5, 2026
General Election Early Voting Begins/Ballots Mailed: October 7, 2026
Election Day: November 3, 2026
By the Numbers:
Days of Session: 117
Bills Introduced: 1,998
Bills Passed: 125
Bills Signed: 64
Bills Vetoed: 61
Key Dates:
Opening Day: January 12th, 2026
Senate Bill Introduction Deadline: February 2nd, 2026
House Bill Introduction Deadline: February 9th, 2026
Last week to hear bills in committee in chamber of origin: February 16th to February 20th
Final week of committees: March 23rd to March 27th
100th day of session: April 21st, 2026
Budget Deadline (constitutionally required): July 1st, 2026