Arizona’s legislative session started barely 15 days ago, and is already moving at a brisk speed. The pandemic brought the 2020 legislative session to a grinding halt last March (even though adjournment did not occur until May 26, 2020). Out of 1,607 bills posted last year, only 90 made it. That is significantly less than the 350 plus bills that usually make it through the process.
Many of the 1,000 bills already posted are replicates of bills that almost made it to the finish line last year. Some of these have identical bills in the House and Senate, and will move, hopefully, seamlessly and quickly through the process. Many will start the laborious process at the beginning, with the hope that this session doesn’t prematurely end.
We are watching, and awaiting, a slew of bills across all of our practice areas. For real estate, we are tracking bills on community facilities districts (H2317, complete with an emergency measures clause), eminent domain (H2049), and land division surveys (H2057). For employment, we looking at bills that define “on the basis of sex” to include pregnancy (H2045) and an expansion of family leave (S1173). There should be no shortage of health care bills this session, and we expect bills that increase a health professional’s scope of practice (S1016 as a start), and, of course, telemedicine (S1145). Finally, we are tracking all of the alcohol-related bills, including the liquor omnibus (H2050), alternating proprietorships (H2305), and upcoming bills on restaurant to-go sales and craft producers.
We are happy to assist you with any bill that may affect your business. For questions or to learn more about which bills might affect your business, contact Camila Alarcon at calarcon@gblaw.com.
