AFCCA Legislative Update – February 13, 2026

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Provided by Capitol Consulting, LLC

AFCCA Updates

This week, we held productive discussions with staff and Representative Julie Willoughby (R-Chandler) regarding two key pieces of legislation Representative Willoughby is sponsoring  impacting the funeral industry.

Discussed Legislation

Our conversations down at the Capitol have remained positive, as staff and legislators are actively seeking a deeper understanding of industry operations. We are committed to providing this essential education and will continue to provide updates as these bills move through the legislative process.

You can track the status of these bills on your live interactive tracking link –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 Five

As the clock struck 5:00 p.m. this past Monday, the House of Representatives closed its doors on new bill submissions, but not before a record-breaking rush. Representatives pushed the final tally well past the 1,000-bill mark, culminating in the introduction of HB4137 and eclipsing previous years’ totals by the hundreds.

All of these legislative measures cover the state’s most pressing challenges, with particular focus on water security, housing affordability, and tax conformity amid ongoing fiscal constraints. Committee time has been heavily devoted to negotiations over groundwater management in rural Arizona, as well as the looming expiration of the Colorado River operating guidelines. Upper and lower basin states remain at odds as critical federal deadlines approach, adding additional urgency to state-level water policy discussions.

At the same time, lawmakers continue to grapple with tax conformity proposals to align Arizona statute with federal law, all while advancing infrastructure and workforce investments necessary to keep pace with the state’s rapid population growth.

Karrin Taylor Robson has announced she is suspending her campaign for governor, citing a desire to avoid a “divisive Republican primary.” In her statement, she noted her decision was intended to support party unity as Republicans look ahead to the general election. Her departure marks an early shift in the 2026 gubernatorial race and narrows the Republican primary field.

Republican leaders also advanced a second bill this week to align Arizona’s tax code with federal changes, even though Governor Katie Hobbs signaled she will veto it again, which she did on Thursday afternoon. While Republicans argue full conformity is necessary to avoid taxpayer confusion and amended returns, the Governor has reiterated that any changes must be paired with a clear plan for paying for tax cuts and protecting critical state services.

The pace of the session will only accelerate from here as the legislature moves toward its next critical milestones:

  • Friday, February 20: Last day for House consideration of House Bills, and Senate consideration of Senate Bills  – Any measure that has not received a committee hearing in its chamber of origin by this deadline will effectively be considered “dead” for the session, significantly narrowing the field of viable legislation moving forward.
  • Friday, March 27: Last day for House consideration of Senate Bills, and Senate consideration of House Bills – Any measure that has not been heard in the opposite chamber’s committees by this deadline will no longer be eligible to advance, further narrowing the pool of active legislation as the session progresses.
  • Friday, April 17: Last day for Conference Committees – The last day for the House and Senate to reconcile different versions of the same bills in a conference committee. It is also one of the last major procedural junctures where previously stalled or “dead” bills can reemerge, often in the form of strike-everything amendments attached to viable vehicles.
  • Tuesday, April 21: 100th Day of Session – The 100th Day traditionally serves as the informal target for concluding legislative business. However, in practice — particularly in years marked by divided government and slim legislative majorities — the Legislature rarely adjourns by this benchmark.
  • Saturday, April 25: Adjournment Sine Die – Under House Rule 2A, regular sessions are required to adjourn sine die no later than the Saturday of the week in which the 100th day of session falls. For 2026, that date is Saturday, April 25. It is important to note that this is a procedural rule rather than a firm constitutional deadline. The Speaker of the House and the Senate President may jointly extend the session for up to seven additional days. Beyond that, the Legislature may continue session with a simple majority vote of the members. In practice, this rule is often extended and while April 25 represents the technical adjournment target under rules, it should not be viewed as a guaranteed end date.

First Bill Signed: Permanent July Primaries in Arizona 

Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a bipartisan emergency bill, HB2022 (elections; July primary; curing; observers) sponsored by Representative Alexander Kolodin and Senator Wendy Rogers, that permanently shifts Arizona’s primary election calendar. This change is designed to give election officials more time to process ballots and ensure military and overseas voters can participate without delays.

The most significant change is the primary election date itself. Starting this year, 2026, Arizona primaries will move from the first Tuesday in August to the second-to-last Tuesday in July. This puts the new primary date for 2026 at July 21, 2026. Because the election has moved up two weeks, all related deadlines have also shifted. These are the new dates all voters should keep in mind:

  • Candidate Filling Period: February 21 – March 23, 2026
  • Voter Registration Deadline: June 22, 2026
  • Early Voting Begins: June 24, 2026
  • Primary Election: July 21, 2026

So why the change? These bills were moved through the legislative process to address a “calendar squeeze” caused by federal deadlines for overseas ballots and Arizona’s rigorous recount laws. By moving the primary to July, the state ensures there is enough cushion to finalize primary results before general election ballots must be mailed out in the fall.

By the Numbers:

Days of Session: 32
Bills Introduced: 1966
Bills Passed: 4
Bills Signed: 2
Bills Vetoed: 2

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