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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 last week, 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.
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 Sixteen
On Monday, House and Senate leadership introduced their highly anticipated “skinny” budget, officially kicking off the process to reach a budget agreement with the governor. The proposed $17.8 billion budget is $800 million below Governor Hobbs’ executive budget proposal released in January. Additionally, the republican majority plan seeks to finance significant tax cuts through full tax conformity with the federal government in H.R.1., and in implementing a 5% across-the-board cut for nearly all state agencies, with only the departments of Public Safety, Child Safety, and Corrections being exempt from these reductions.
Under the proposed budget, Arizona would be the first state in the country to fully conform to the federal tax cuts passed in H.R.1. The Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) estimates the cumulative impact of full conformity changes through FY29 at $1.453 billion, however beginning in FY27, these impacts would be offset by approximately $77 million through the elimination of certain solar and renewable energy TPT exemptions and tax credits, along with the repeal of the refundable portion of the Research & Development tax credit.
The package also targets several other economic development and environmental initiatives for elimination, including nearly $100 million in funding for the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Compete Fund and the Tucson Rio Nuevo project. Beyond spending cuts, the plan proposes new work requirements for food stamp recipients and more frequent eligibility checks for Medicaid participants to find additional savings. It also seeks to repeal various sales tax exemptions and tax credits for solar energy and pollution control equipment.
Despite the introduction of the budget, Governor Hobbs has announced that she will not be lifting her bill moratorium. The Governor criticized the introduced budget bills for failing to address middle-class tax relief and public education funding, specifically noting the absence of a plan to renew Proposition 123.
The mirror bills in the Senate are scheduled to be voted on Monday and Governor Hobbs is expected to veto them shortly after. In his vote explanation, House Appropriations Chair David Livingston encouraged the Governor to negotiate the budget quickly so the legislature can adjourn sine die by May 15.
The Legislature Welcomes Back Sylvia Allen
On Wednesday, the Arizona House officially swore in Representative Sylvia Allen from LD7 to fill in the vacancy left by Representative David Marshall’s resignation. Representative Allen served at the legislature from 2008-2012 and again from 2015-2021. She also served as the Navajo County Recorder. Representative Allen is not seeking election in 2026 and is focusing her work on the state budget, sharing hopes with the rest of her caucus for a May sine die.
By the Numbers:
Days of Session: 110
Bills Introduced: 1,998
Bills Passed: 109
Bills Signed: 64
Bills Vetoed: 45
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