SB 1016 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

employers; medical products; religious exemption

SB 1016 requires Arizona employers to provide reasonable accommodations for employees whose sincerely held religious beliefs, moral, or ethical beliefs prevent them from using medical products (like vaccines), unless it causes undue hardship. It mandates employers to offer a specific exemption form for such requests and prohibits questioning the sincerity of religious beliefs beyond federal limits. Employers must keep exemption requests confidential and cannot discriminate against employees for refusing medical products. Employees can file complaints with the Attorney General if denied accommodations, leading to potential $5,000 civil penalties for noncompliant employers. The law directly affects employees seeking religious exemptions and Arizona employers subject to medical product requirements.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Governor

Introduced Dec 9, 2025 Last action Jun 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Engrossed Version (06/11/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version (03/18/2026) · 6 edits · Mar 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to shift from municipal improvement districts to employment practices. The new version adds protections for employees who cannot take COVID-19 vaccines or other medical products due to sincerely held religious beliefs, requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless it causes undue hardship. It also mandates a specific form for requesting these exemptions and establishes a process for employees to file complaints with the Attorney General if their requests are improperly denied.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed entirely from regulating municipal improvement districts and property assessments to regulating employer-employee relationships regarding medical product mandates and religious exemptions.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions related to municipal improvement districts, property assessments, street lighting, and infrastructure projects.

ELIGIBILITY

Added eligibility for employees with sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or moral/ethical beliefs to request exemptions from taking medical products.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for employers to provide a specific form for employees to declare their religious beliefs and request exemptions.

Added a prohibition on employers inquiring into the veracity of an employee's religious beliefs beyond what is allowed under federal law.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a new enforcement mechanism allowing terminated employees to file complaints with the Attorney General, who can investigate and impose a $5,000 civil penalty for noncompliance.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'sincerely held religious beliefs' to explicitly include moral or ethical beliefs.

Floor votes · House Jun 11, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Jun 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Jun 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA/SE

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors