Summary
The Arizona Legislature is responsible for making laws in the state of Arizona. The first step in the legislative process is bill drafting. First, legislators must submit a bill request to the legislative council staff. Additionally, a legislator-elect may submit a bill request or private citizens can obtain authorization from a legislator to use the legislator’s name before giving instructions to the legislative council staff. The legislative council staff delivers a bill draft to the sponsor or requester and if directed, will prepare the bill for introduction.
OnAir Post: Arizona Legislative Committees
About
Legislative process
Bills undergo three or four readings during the legislative process. After the first reading, they are assigned to committee. Committees can amend measures or hold legislation and prevent it from advancing. Once committee action is completed, the bill undergoes a second hearing and a third hearing, which happens just before the floor vote on it. The bill is then sent to the opposite legislative house for consideration. If approved, without amendment, it is sent to the governor. If there is amendment, however, the Senate may either reconsider the bill with amendments or ask for the establishment of a conference committee to work out differences in the versions of the bill passed by each chamber. Once a piece of legislation approved by both houses is forwarded to the governor, it may either be signed or vetoed. If it is signed, it takes effect on the effective date of the legislation. If it is vetoed, lawmakers may override the veto with a vote by a three-fifths majority in both chambers.
Alternatively, instead of presenting the measure to the Governor, the Legislature may order that it be submitted to the people. If the measure is approved by the people, the Governor has no power to veto it, and the Legislature may not repeal it, and may not amend it unless the amending legislation furthers the purposes of such measure and at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature, by a roll call of ayes and nays, vote to amend such measure.
Joint Committees
Joint Committee on Capital Review
Joint Committee on Information Technology Authorization
Joint Legislative Adjudication Monitoring Committee
Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Joint Legislative Budget Committee [JLBC]
Legislative Council
Senate Committees
Appropriations Committee
Commerce Committee
Education Committee
Ethics Committee
Finance Committee
Government Committee
Health and Human Services Committee
Judiciary Committee
Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee
Rules Committee
Transportation and Technology Committee
House Committees
Ad Hoc Committee on Statewide Emergency Communications
Administration Committee
Appropriations Committee
Commerce Committee
County and Municipal Affairs Committee
Criminal Justice Reform Committee
Education Committee
Federal Relations Committee
Government and Elections Committee
Health and Human Services Committee
Judiciary Committee
Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee
Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee
Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee
Rules Committee
Transportation Committee
Ways and Means Committee
