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View in browser Print Version Legislative Bulletin: Issue 3 – February 2, 2026 Legislative Update: Welcome to the fourth week of session. To date, 1,621 bills and 114 memorials and resolutions have been introduced. Today marks the Senate bill introduction deadline. Public Safety Technology Bills The Senate Committee on Appropriations, Transportation & Technology is scheduled to hear SB1138: automated license plate readers on Tuesday, February 3. A strike-everything amendment to the bill has been introduced in an attempt toaddress the concerns of public safety stakeholders. In particular, the striker removes language that would have prohibited third-party data storage — a requirement that would have imposed significant costs on local governments that contract with vendors to securely manage this information. The striker also revises the bill’s data-retention provisions. While the introduced version of SB1138 imposed a 90-day retention limit, the amended language instead requires law enforcement agencies to responsibly retain data, allowing flexibility to support criminal investigations and court proceedings. In addition, legislation targeting photo enforcement systems continues to advance. SCR1004: photo enforcement systems; prohibition passed the Senate Appropriation, Transportation & Technology committee on a party- line 6–4 vote last month, and a mirror measure, HCR2004, is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. The League supports the ability of cities and towns to use tools such as license plate readers and photo enforcement systems in a responsible manner to assist law enforcement, enhance public safety, and reflect local community priorities. Primary Election Fix Legislation to permanently move Arizona’s primary election earlier in the summer continues to advance. In 2024, lawmakers temporarily shifted the primary election date after county election officials warned that existing timelines could jeopardize compliance with federal deadlines and the timely certification of election results, particularly for military and overseas voters. This session, HB2022: elections; July primary; curing; observers passed the House Federal, Military Affairs & Elections Committee on January 21 and would permanently move the primary election from August to July. A companion measure, SB1425: elections; July primary; cure; petitions is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary & Elections committee on Wednesday. Both bills are intended to provide election officials with sufficient time to complete canvasses, conduct recounts if necessary, and meet all statutory and federal requirements ahead of the general election. Negotiations are underway to align the two bills, with the goal of advancing identical legislation that can be signed by February 13 with an emergency clause. This approach is intended to ensure clarity and certainty for election officials and to support the smooth administration of the upcoming primary election. Upcoming Hearings HB 2118: S/E mobile food vendors; licensure (Carter N) House Committee on Commerce Eliminates authority for municipalities and counties to require separate local licensure of mobile food vendors based on background checks, identification or fingerprinting of the owner. Position: OPPOSED Hearing: February 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 5 HB 2400: motor fuel tax holiday (Willoughby) House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water Suspends the motor vehicle fuel tax from May 1 through September 30 of each year for fuel purchased, sold, possessed, used, or consumed in Area A (Maricopa County) or Area C (Pinal County) and prohibits vendors from Session Deadlines Every session has deadlines pertaining to bill submissions and hearings. These are established by Senate and House rule and are subject to change. This year’s schedule is as follows: February Monday 2/2: Senate Bill Introduction Deadline Monday 2/9: House Bill Introduction Deadline collecting or recovering the tax during that period. Requires vendors to remit any fuel tax amounts collected in error and maintains all existing reporting requirements. Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation to annually allocate and transfer $72.6 million from the Arizona Highway User Revenue Fund to counties and municipalities. Position: OPPOSED Hearing: February 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 3 HB 2795: small modular reactors; zoning; approval (Carbone) House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water Prohibits a county from preventing, restricting or otherwise regulating the construction and operation of a small modular reactor if the owner or operator obtains a federal early site permit, completes the required federal public notice and comment process, receives a federal design certification and submits specified documentation to the county board of supervisors. Position: OPPOSED Hearing: February 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 3 SB 1241: municipalities; counties; private permitting providers (Bolick) Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Authorizes property owners or their contractors to use private permitting providers for building plan reviews and inspections for single-trade residential construction projects without municipal or county approval. Requires municipalities and counties to accept and track private permits and private certificates of completion and prohibits them from charging review or processing fees other than reasonable recording fees. Prohibits municipalities and counties from taking discriminatory action against a property owner or contractor for using a private permitting provider. Requires municipalities and counties to post building codes and permitting fee schedules on their websites and restricts their ability to charge permitting fees if they fail to do so. Position: OPPOSED Hearing: February 4, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in SHR 109 Friday 2/20: Last day for consideration of bills in chamber of origin March Friday 3/27: Last day for consideration of bills in opposite chamber April Friday 4/17: Last day for consideration of bills in conference committee Tuesday 4/21: 100th Day of Session Legislative Staff You may contact our legislative division by phone at (602) 258-5786 or by e- mail using the following information: Tom Savage, Legislative Director: tsavage@azleague.org Marshall Pimentel, Senior Legislative Associate: mpimentel@azleague.org Megan Didur, Legislative Associate: mdidur@azleague.org Nicholas Medel, Legislative Intern: nmedel@azleague.org #Keepup with us on X. Keep up with the issues and events. CLICK HERE What the League is Tracking Stay informed about legislation that affects municipalities throughout the state. Track proposed bills and resolutions, stay updated on their progress, and actively engage in the democratic process. Here are some priority measures the League is tracking: Legislative Bill Monitoring League of Arizona Cities and Towns 1820 W Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 info@azleague.org No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe.