HB 2022 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

elections; July primary; curing; observers

HB 2022 amends Arizona election laws to consolidate voting dates for local elections. It moves the primary election date from the first Tuesday in August to the first Tuesday in July, and establishes specific consolidated dates (like March 2nd Tuesday, May 3rd Tuesday, and November 1st Tuesday) for most local elections held in even-numbered years. This affects cities, towns, counties, school districts, and community college districts by limiting when they can hold candidate elections and special elections. The bill also maintains November 1st Tuesday as the required date for property tax and transaction privilege tax elections. These changes aim to reduce costs and increase voter participation by standardizing election schedules across the state.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Feb 2026

Introduced Nov 25, 2025 Signed Feb 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version (02/02/2026) → Chaptered Version · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill officially changes the date of the 2026 primary election from August to July and provides a legal safeguard for candidates and petitioners who used forms with the old August date. It also updates the statute to clarify that primary elections occur in even-numbered years and adjusts the start date for certain city council terms.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a specific transition rule for the 2026 election cycle, ensuring that petitions and nominations collected under the old date remain valid for the new date.

TIMELINE

Changed the primary election date from the first second-to-last Tuesday in August to the first second-to-last Tuesday in July for elections held in 2026 and later.

Added a provision stating that candidates and petitioners using forms with the old August 4, 2026 date may still submit them for the new July 21, 2026 date without their signatures being invalidated.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the start date for city council members and mayors elected in even-numbered years to begin on or after the second Tuesday in January following the election.

DEFINITION

Clarified that primary elections are held in even-numbered years and defined 'political subdivision' to include various governmental entities but exclude special taxing districts.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 5, 2026 · House Feb 2, 2026

How they voted

27–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 30

Feb 5, 2026

D Democratic13

11 Yea 1 Nay 1

84% Yea

R Republican17

16 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Feb 6, 2026

Signed into law

Signed by Governor

executive

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors