Legislative schedule - week starting 11/8/2026

A relatively quiet week at the legislature this week, with just two interim committees meeting, both on Monday.  Still, it's easy to tell the election is over - activity at the legislature is picking up.

On Monday, 11/9 

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Legislative Study Committee on Secure State Mental Facilities meets at 10 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: a multitude of presentations, including one from a member of the next committee.

Substance Use Disorder Treatment Standards and Oversight Study Committee meets at 1 p.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: again,  a multitude of presentations.

Tuesday, 11/10, Wednesday, 11/11, and Thursday 11/12 - Nada.

A changing of the guard at the AZ legislature: New majority leadership in both chambers

Tuesday's Democratic landslide gave Ds a majority in both chamber of the legislature, something that hasn't happened since the 1960s.

One of the practical effects of that is election of new leadership in both chambers.

From the press release from House Democrats -

[snip]

Arizona's anticipated 37-member House Democratic Caucus has elected Representative Oscar De Los Santos of Phoenix to be Speaker of the House. De Los Santos, who has led the Caucus for the past two years and co-chaired the successful campaign effort to flip control of the chamber, will be Arizona's first Democratic Speaker of the House since 1966. 

The Caucus elected Representative Nancy Gutierrez of Tucson as Majority Leader. Whips will be Representatives Brian Garcia of Tempe and Kevin Volk of Tucson. Representative Quantá Crews of Phoenix will serve as Speaker Pro Tempore.

From the Senate Democrats -

  •    Senate President-elect Priya Sundareshan (D-18) was first elected to the Senate in 2022 and led Senate Democrats during the 57th Legislature. A mother of two, she has championed voting rights and worked to protect Arizona’s natural resources for future generations.

    •    Senate Majority Leader-elect Christine Marsh (D-5) is a public school teacher who previously served in the Senate from 2021 to 2025. She fought for public school funding and helped pass legislation to legalize fentanyl test strips.

    •    Senate Majority Whip-elect Analise Ortiz (D-24) began her legislative service in the Arizona House in 2023 and joined the Senate in 2025. She helped pass protections for workers facing extreme heat and has strongly advocated for childcare and homeless services.

As her first order of business, President-elect Sundareshan appointed Alma Hernandez (D-20) and Edgar Soto (D-17) as Senate President Pro Tempore and Rosanna Gabaldón (D-21) and Aaron Lieberman (D-4) as Senate Democratic Majority Chairs.

Congratulations to all.

Enjoy the moment, because after it's over, (and it will end quickly), the hard work starts.

Legislative schedule - week starting 11/1/2026

Another easy one - there's nothing on the schedule.

Officially.

However, on 11/5 (pending the election results), the caucuses are going to elect the 2027-2028 leadership of those caucuses.  No matter what happens in the elections, there *will* be a new Senate president.  The current AZSenate president, Warren Petersen, is running for AZAG and will not be returning to the legislature.

If the Rs retain control of both chambers, expect a lot of batshit crazy measures to make to the desk of the governor. 

Where they will be enthusiastically vetoed by Katie Hobbs (if she wins) or enthusiastically signed into law by Andy Biggs (if he wins).

If the Ds gain control of either chamber (not a prediction - the Ds have been saying "this is our year!" for decades, so I'm not going to predict it until it actually happens), most of the batshit crazy measures will be blocked and never make it to the governor's desk, regardless of who's there.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/25/2026

Another easy one - there's nothing on the schedule.

Though I expect that to change after the mid-terms.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/18/2026

Basically, a duplicate of last week - there's nothing on the schedule.

However, schedules can and do change, especially late in the week.

So pay attention to things.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/11/2026

Basically, a duplicate of last week - there's nothing on the schedule.

Legislative schedule - week starting 10/4/2026

The coming week will see a return to normal, as in there is nothing on the schedule at the AZ legislature.  And I expect that there won't be until after the election.  Unless a really pressing matter comes up.

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/27/2026

By intersession standards, this week will be a busy one at the state legislature - there will be three committees meeting.  There aren't many intersession weeks where one of the meetings may become popcorn-riffic, but this one of them.

On Monday, 9/28 

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- Public Property Towing and Impound Practices Study Committee meets at 11 a.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda: An organizational meeting, including a discussion of SB1366, which was the genesis of this committee.

On Tuesday, 9/29  

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- Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on State Land Oversight meets at 10 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: Asking someone from the State Land Department about many topics, including data centers.

On Wednesday, 9/30 

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- Joint Legislative Budget Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. in SHR109.  On the agenda: some pretty basic stuff, but what ISN'T on the agenda could make this the most colorful meeting of the week.  The committee's chair, Sen. David Farnsworth, has consented to do Sen. Jake Hoffman's bidding, and may issue legislative subpoenas to Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes in an attempt to compel their appearances before his committee.  Hoffman would do the deed himself, but he has some credibility issues.

On Thursday, 10/1 - Nada.

Priorities: Gotta have 'em.

Unfortunately, the best interests of the people of Maricopa County aren't a priority for the Republicans in the state legislature.

In early May of 2025, the Arizona Legislature approved SB1144, authorizing the voters of Maricopa County to vote on a proposition to extend the county's jail facilities excise tax.

It will appear on the ballots of Maricopa County Voters this November as Proposition 413..

What *didn't* the legislature approve?

A bill authorizing the voters of Maricopa County to consider extending the county's sales tax expansion for transportation.

Hmmm......

I'll be voting against the extension of jail facilities excise tax, not because I'm opposed to using public funds to pay for public infrastructure, but because there's a distinct vagueness and lack of accountability in the measure.

And the fact that most of the people who submitted arguments in favor of the proposition for the county's publicity pamphlet for the measure are people who will benefit from the measure...and its vagueness.

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/20/2026

Breaking news!  There's actually some activity at the legislature!

It may only be one committee meeting on the schedule, but it's still something.

On Monday, 9/21 

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Joint Legislative Audit Committee meets at 9 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda: a bunch of reports and presentations.  Given that we are approaching an election, expect some (OK, *lots*) posturing from the committee's Republicans.

On Tuesday, 9/22, Wednesday, 9/23, and Thursday, 9/24 - Nada

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/13/2026

There's nothing on the legislative schedule this coming week.

Last week, I wrote about a scheduled press conference by Andy Biggs, slated for 9/9.

It's been rescheduled to 9/22.

While Biggs didn't attend the MAGA pep rally/cult meeting in Dallas last week, apparently, he didn't wish to conflict with it.

Legislative schedule - week starting 9/6/2026

There's nothing on the legislative schedule this coming week, 

While I don't normally mention non-legislative event here, I'll make an exception is this case -

On Wednesday, 9/9, Republican candidate for governor of Arizona Andy Biggs will hold a press conference in his old stomping grounds (he used to be president of the state senate) to announce what he plans to do to AZ if he's elected.

He's scheduled to take 30 minutes to do something I can sum up here in a lot less time - 

Biggs' agenda:

1. Screw over the average Arizonan.

2. Aid and abet Cheeto.

Legislative schedule - week starting 8/30/2026

There's nothing on the legislative schedule this coming week, even though most of the week is in September.

Legislative schedule - week starting 8/23/2026

There's nothing on the legislative schedule this coming week.

Legislative schedule - week starting 8/16/2026

In a bit of a switch up, there's one meeting on the schedule.  Of course, it's the result of a court case, and is something they HAVE to do.  As it's not voluntary, they will almost mess things up again.

On Monday, 8/17 -Nada.

On Tuesday, 8/18 

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Legislative Council meets at 11:30 a.m. in HHR1.  On the agenda::they are meeting to revise their improper description of Proposition 212, the Protect Education Act, put on the ballot to rein in. ESAs/school vouchers by voters, but thoroughly opposed by legislative Rs.

They were upbraided by a couple of courts for their bad faith attempt to influence voters with the negative language they approved for the publicity pamphlet to be sent to all voters,

From the AZMirror, written by Gloria Rebecca Gomez -

Supreme Court orders GOP to rewrite ‘argumentative’ voucher measure summary

The Arizona Supreme Court shot down a request from Republican lawmakers to preserve their summary of the voucher-regulating Protect Education Act in a voter education pamphlet, ruling that the description violates state law because it tries to sway voters against the initiative. 

The Protect Education Act, which will be on November’s ballots as Proposition 212, would overhaul the state’s universal private school voucher system. Among other things, it seeks to add an income eligibility cap, crack down on voucher misuse and require schools that accept vouchers to meet certain educational and safety requirements

. 

The ruling was the Arizona Supreme Court upholding an initial ruling handed down in Maricopa County Superior Court.

The case there was CV2026-029280.

Information is available here.

On Wednesday, 8/19 and Thursday, 8/20 - Nada.

Legislative schedule - week starting 8/9/2026

No legislative committee is on the schedule this coming week.

Legislative schedule - week starting 8/2/2026

Yep, it's gotten hot in Phoenix, and it shows on the legislative schedule this week.

Absolutely nothing is on the schedule this week.

Legislative schedule - week starting 7/26/2026

On the schedule for the week: nada.

The primary is over but nothing is happening at the lege.

Legislative schedule - week starting 7/19/2026

On the schedule for the week: nada.

The primary election date is 7/21.

Legislative schedule - week starting 7/12/2026

On the schedule for the week: nada, and I'm guessing there won't be anything until after the primary...of course, there probably won't be much afterward.