Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1135: death benefits; burial costs

This bill increases burial expense coverage under workers' compensation from $10,000 to $15,000 for workers who die on the job. It directly affects surviving family members (spouses, children, dependent parents, or siblings) who were financially reliant on the deceased worker. Key provisions clarify benefit calculations: for example, surviving spouses receive 35% of the deceased's average monthly wage (plus 31.6% for children), children receive benefits until age 18 (or 22 if in school), and dependent parents may receive 25% of the wage. Funeral costs for dependents who die before the benefit period ends are capped at $800. The changes apply to Arizona workers' compensation claims following a work-related death.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases burial expense coverage from $10k to $15k under workers' comp, directly expanding benefits for dependents of on-the-job fatalities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1136: workers' compensation; death benefits; remarriage

SB 1136 amends Arizona's workers' compensation law to clarify death benefits for surviving spouses who remarry. It specifies that when a surviving spouse remarries, they receive a lump sum payment equal to two years of benefits instead of benefits simply ending. This change applies to all surviving spouses (with or without children) who lose eligibility due to remarriage, and it also updates provisions for when children become ineligible (at age 18 or 22 if in school), ensuring the surviving spouse's benefits continue as if no children existed. The bill directly affects families of workers who died on the job, particularly those where the surviving spouse remarries. The key mechanism is the mandatory lump sum payment upon remarriage, replacing the prior practice of benefit termination without compensation.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies death benefits to provide lump sum upon remarriage, protecting surviving spouses' financial security under workers' compensation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1493: disciplinary action; appeal; superior court

SB 1493 amends Arizona law governing payroll deductions for state employees, specifying which deductions are permitted and setting conditions for certain types. It authorizes deductions for health insurance, credit union shares, dues to qualified employee associations (requiring minimum membership levels), and charitable contributions - while prohibiting deductions for organizations providing nonfederally qualified abortions. The bill requires the state to track administrative time spent on processing these deductions and sets membership thresholds for associations to qualify for payroll deduction. It also mandates that the state cover all costs of processing deductions without additional funding or fees to employees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes payroll deductions for health insurance, enabling state employees to access coverage through automatic payroll contributions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows payroll deductions for qualified employee association dues, directly supporting collective bargaining rights under labor protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1270: correctional officers; supplemental contributions

SB 1270 adds a new supplemental contribution option for correctional officers' retirement plans in Arizona. It allows employers to make one-time payments of up to $5,000 to a correctional officer's retirement account upon reaching specific service milestones (5, 10, or 15 years), provided the payment is equal for all eligible officers and doesn't require additional employee contributions. These supplemental payments are in addition to existing mandatory employer contributions and must be made from the employer's funds, not employee salary. The bill specifically affects correctional officers (defined as participants under A.R.S. §38-865, subd. 7(b)) and their employers, with no changes to baseline retirement contribution rates.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds supplemental retirement contributions for correctional officers, expanding their benefits without requiring employee payments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1400: public safety employees; counseling; wellness

This Arizona bill (SB 1400) allows law enforcement and public safety agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and the state public safety department) to create wellness programs offering mental health counseling, crisis support, and related resources to their employees. Agencies must establish written policies for these programs, and nearly all communications within them remain confidential - protected like attorney-client privilege - except when a participant shares a suicide plan, threat of violence, child abuse, or criminal admission. It also establishes similar confidentiality rules for peer support programs where trained coworkers provide emotional assistance after traumatic incidents. The bill aims to encourage mental health support for public safety workers while maintaining legal obligations for reporting specific threats or harms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates mandatory mental health counseling programs for public safety employees, expanding access to mental health services with strong confidentiality protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides mental health counseling and wellness programs for public safety employees, enhancing workplace well-being and safety protections per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

passed both · Arizona · Senate Jun 15, 2026

SCR 1032: educator salary increases; school reporting

SCR 1032 is a proposed referendum bill that would require Arizona school districts and charter schools to increase base salaries for eligible teachers if voters approve additional funding from the state land trust. It establishes a "teacher pay fund" using state land trust distributions to cover these salary increases, ensuring all eligible teachers receive the same amount regardless of experience. Schools must publicly post annual salary data on their websites and report to the state education department, with eligibility limited to full-time instructional staff who spend over 75% of their time teaching students. The bill does not take effect until approved by voters and requires ongoing reporting to ensure compliance with the salary increases.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses state land trust distributions to fund teacher salary increases, directing existing revenue toward essential education programs without new taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes state land trust-funded teacher pay increases, mandates salary transparency, and directly supports educator compensation through dedicated funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates salary increases for teachers using state land trust fund, directly advancing wage standards for educators in the labor sector.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Arizona · Senate Jun 12, 2026

SB 1016: 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.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires reasonable religious accommodations for medical products, protecting employee rights against discrimination and mandating confidentiality per employment standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2663: leaves of absence; military training

HB 2663 clarifies and strengthens protections for Arizona employees who serve in the military reserves or National Guard. It ensures these workers can take paid leave for training, drills, or active duty without losing vacation time, seniority, or pay - state employees get up to three times their weekly scheduled hours annually (or six times over two years) for military leave. The bill prohibits employers from penalizing service members for training absences, aligns with federal laws like USERRA, and specifies that leave days don’t count against scheduled work. It directly affects Arizona military reservists, National Guard members, and their employers across public and private sectors.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens military service members' leave protections, prevents loss of benefits/pay, aligns with USERRA - directly advances workers' rights in employment95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2253: testimony; disciplinary action; prohibition

HB 2253 modifies Arizona's process for law enforcement officers appealing disciplinary actions. It requires employers to share investigation files and witness information within 14 days of an appeal request, prohibits retaliation against witnesses for cooperating, and places the burden of proof on employers to justify disciplinary actions. The bill also mandates public hearings (with limited exceptions), sets 10-day deadlines for transcript delivery, and allows limited changes to hearing officers under specific conditions. These provisions aim to standardize appeal procedures and ensure transparency for officers challenging disciplinary decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires transparency in officer disciplinary appeals, shifts burden of proof to employers, prohibits witness retaliation - directly enhances police accountability.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill strengthens due process for law enforcement workers by requiring evidence sharing, prohibiting witness retaliation, and shifting burden of proof to employers, aligning with worker protection standards.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

passed both · Arizona · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 2192: video content; minors; employment; compensation

HB 2192 requires content creators (parents/guardians producing compensated video content featuring minors) to pay minors compensation when specific thresholds are met: the minor appears in at least 30% of the creator's compensated content over 30 days, and the content generates at least $0.10 per view or $15,000 in annual earnings. The bill mandates creators to deposit earnings into a trust account for the minor until age 18, maintain detailed records of minor appearances and earnings for 10 years after the minor turns 21, and provide regular access to these records. It directly affects minors under 18 featured in online content and their guardians who create such content for compensation. The law also allows minors to request removal of their identifiable information from content.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates compensation for minors in content creation, requiring trust accounts and records to protect earnings, advancing worker compensation standards for vulnerable workers.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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