SB 1439 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

municipalities; counties; recycling; prohibition

SB 1439 prohibits Arizona municipalities, counties, and other local governments from requiring or recommending that residents recycle products not currently being actively recycled. The bill defines "actively recycled" as a product that is reprocessed into a new item. It amends existing recycling laws for cities (ARS §9-500.07) and counties (ARS §11-269), and adds a new statewide prohibition (ARS §49-707) covering all political subdivisions. This directly affects local governments by restricting their ability to mandate recycling of materials without established processing infrastructure, and impacts residents who may no longer be required to sort certain items into recycling bins. The law takes effect upon enactment.

Issues: ✗ Environment

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Vetoed

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Vetoed Mar 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Senate Engrossed Version (02/18/2026) · 5 edits · Feb 18, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely replaced, shifting from a recycling prohibition measure to a new special license plate program for the 'Conservative Grassroots Network.' The original text banning municipalities and counties from requiring recycling of unrecyclable items was removed entirely. The new text establishes a $32,000 implementation fee paid by an individual to create a special plate, with ongoing fees funding a 501(c)(3) organization focused on traditional values and campus activism.

Scope change

The scope changed from a statewide ban on local recycling mandates to a specific program allowing one special license plate design for a specific political organization.

SCOPE

Removed all provisions prohibiting cities and counties from recommending or requiring residents to recycle products that are not currently being actively recycled.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new special plate category called 'Conservative Grassroots Network' available only if a person pays a $32,000 implementation fee to the department by December 31, 2026.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Conservative Grassroots Network Special Plate Fund' where annual fees are donated to a 501(c)(3) organization that must have been founded in 2012 and operate on high school and college campuses.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the definition of 'highway user revenues' to exclude the new special plate administration fees and donations from the state highway fund.

DEFINITION

Added new statutory sections defining the design, fees, and administrative fund for the new special plate program.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 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

Mar 6, 2026

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

executive

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

DPA/SE

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors