legislative issues
APA Arizona Legislative Report
One of the primary objectives and purpose of the Arizona Police Association is to protect the interest of Arizona Law Enforcement, Corrections, Detention, and Probation Officers in the legislative process on the State, Local, and National level. Below are some of the law-enforcement-related bills that were introduced by the Arizona Police Association (APA) or were monitored/lobbied by our lobbyist, Tassinari Terrazas and the APA.
This is NOT a complete list of all the bills the APA was involved with. We opposed and/or supported numerous other bills that harmed or benefited public safety.
For further information and updates on these and other bills, please check the Arizona Legislature’s bill status inquiry page at; https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview
HB 1461: Law Enforcement Officer; probation; termination
This bill was sponsored by the APA and makes it impermissible to terminate an officer who was promoted to a supervisory position for failing to successfully complete probation in the promoted classification, the officer can only be demoted to the lower classification from which they were promoted. The officer can still be terminated for just cause. The bill also recognizes the current practice of allowing on duty officers to represent officers under investigation (consistent with Cheatham vs City of Phoenix) but does not require the employer to ensure any additional cost associated with the representation.
Bill sponsor: Sen. Payne
Bill status: Sign by Governor 4-18-25
SB 1232: Arrest Warrant; issuance; Affidavit
APA Sponsored bill; this bill simply allows an officer to go directly to a judge to obtain an arrest warrant upon an affidavit. Currently, the process goes through the prosecutor’s office, which is unnecessary and significantly slows the obtaining of a warrant, especially on non-business times/days.
Bill Sponsor; Sen. Payne
Bill status; Sign by the Governor 6-27-2025
SB 1365: PSPRS; member contributions
This bill is the product of a coalition of public safety labor groups; PFFAZ, FOP, AZCOPS, and the APA. This bill would cap the employee contribution rate to PSPRS at 9.5%. Currently, the rate is 50/50 split between the employer and employee.
Bill sponsor: Sen. Kavanagh
Bill status: passed out of Military Affairs and Border Security Committee 7-0 but failed to move out of the Rules Committee.
HB 2689: Cancer insurance; retirees; public safety
This bill was the product of stakeholder meetings between PSPRS, employers, employee representative associations, including the APA. Purpose Allows, effective January 1, 2026, a person who did not receive covered Cancer Insurance Program (CIP) benefits to elect to continue CIP coverage after retirement by paying the CIP premium. Prescribes requirements for the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) Board of Trustees when determining the cost of the CIP premium for people who elected to continue coverage. Extends, permanently, the requirement for the state and political subdivisions to offer a supplement benefit plan for public safety employees who have a duty-related injury
Bill sponsor; Livingston
Bill status; signed by the Governor 5-13-25
HB2678: Indistinguishable; visual depiction; definition
This bill was supported by the APA and all law enforcement. This bill simply adds the creations/possession of AI generated pornographic imagery to the definition of child porn.
Bill sponsor; Rep. Willoughby
Bill status; sent to the Governor 5-6-25
SB 1010: appropriation; state department of corrections
This is an APA/ACA sponsored bill. Appropriate $103.3 million in FY 2026 from the state general fund to ADCRR for a salary increase of: a) 20 percent for correctional officers employed by ADCRR; and b) 10 percent for all other ADCRR employees. This bill, and all pay raise bills never actually get signed by the Governor, are a means for the APA and the Arizona Correctional Association the opportunity to speak in committee on the critical importance of the need for pay raises for correctional officers and staff. Ultimately, these become part of the budget negotiations during which the APA/ACA continues to advocate for your pay raises.
Bill sponsor; Sen Payne
Bill status; passed out of the Senate and House PSLE committee, currently in Rules/Appropriations committees. Unfortunately, ADCRR correctional officers only received a one-time 4% stipend, while appreciated, it does nothing to relieve the critical staffing shortages at Arizona state prisons.
SB 1060: internal investigations; notice; confidentiality
This bill was supported by the APA, requires an employer to provide relevant materials to a law enforcement officer at least 24 hours before an interview for an administrative investigation, except as specified.
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Gowan
Bill Status: Signed by the Governor 3-3-1-25
HB 2221: law enforcement; defunding; prohibition (APA Opposed)
Ironically, the APA supported this bill initially. However, a late amendment to the bill in the Senate forced us to oppose the bill. The amendment read “THE REGULATION OF FUNDING OF A CITY'S OR TOWN'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IS A MATTER OF STATEWIDE CONCERN. THE FUNDING AND PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY DIRECTLY IMPACT PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION ACROSS THIS STATE AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO FURTHER REGULATION BY A CITY, TOWN OR CHARTER CITY PROVISION OF THIS STATE.” This amendment would have prevented departments/cities from managing virtually every aspect of public safety, including contract negotiations.
Bill status: This bill was vetoed by the Governor on 5-12-25
SB 1055: municipalities; retired police officers; volunteers (APA Opposed)
This bill would have allowed retired officers to work off-duty traffic jobs without any authority or affiliation with a law enforcement agency.
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Rodgers
Bill Status: failed to get out of Senate PS committee
HB2722: public resources; expenditures; prohibition (APA Opposed)
The title of the bill is a bit misleading. The bill attempted to address concerns with the “Gift Clause” of the Arizona Constitution which already make it prohibited to spend public resources except for public good. The bill was an extreme overreach and way out of decades of established case law on what constitutes public good. The bill went so far as to prohibit cooperation for economic development which could devastate city revenues and thereby public safety.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Carter
Bill status: died in senate rules committee
SB 1361: peace officer violence victims' rights (APA Opposed)
This bill is without a doubt the most anti police officer/law enforcement legislation introduced. Here are the definitions of who qualifies as a “victim of peace officer violence”. "CRITICAL INCIDENT" MEANS AN INTERACTION BETWEEN A PEACE OFFICER AND A CIVILIAN THAT RESULTS IN PHYSICAL INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF THE CIVILIAN. "VICTIM" MEANS A PERSON WHO EXPERIENCES INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM A PEACE OFFICER INTERACTION, REGARDLESS OF THE STATUS OR OUTCOME, OR BOTH, OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, CIVIL INVESTIGATION AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT ARE TAKEN BY THE PEACE OFFICER'S POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Here is just one provision of the law.
“NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, A PEACE OFFICER WHO IS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING OR IN-CUSTODY DEATH MUST BE PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE AND THE PEACE OFFICER'S PENSION MUST BE PERMANENTLY WITHHELD. FOLLOWING A CRITICAL INCIDENT, THE ROLE OF THE PEACE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICERS INVOLVED SHALL BE REVIEWED AND REMOVAL SHALL BE CONSIDERED.” Fortunately, this bill never got a hearing.
Bill sponsor: Sen. Ortis
Bill status: dead, bill never got a hearing
HB 2034: DOC Officers; personnel system: covered
This bill reestablished employee due process rights (covered) for supervisors below the rank of Major and others. Their employee protection was removed in 2012. This bill was brought forward by the Arizona Corrections Association. It was the third year we ran the bill.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Cook
Bill status; Signed into law by the Governor on 6-21-24
HB 2103: traumatic event counseling; constables
This bill ensured counseling under the “Craig Tiger act” for Constables involved in traumatic incidents. This bill was brought forward by the Arizona Constables Association.
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Payne
Bill status; Signed into law by the Governor on 4-9-24
SB 1174: Tuition: family; posttraumatic stress; suicide
This bill provides in state college benefits to the surviving families of police, firefighters, and veterans who suffer an on-the-job PTSD injury and subsequently commit suicide.
Bill Sponsor; Sen. Gowan
Status of the bill; Signed into law by the Governor on 6-21-24
SB 1196: Vehicle lighting; law enforcement; exceptions
This bill made it lawful for police officers working off-duty directing traffic to have emergency lights on their personal vehicles.
Bill sponsor: Sen. Kern
Bill status: Signed into law by the Governor on 4-23-24
HB 2327: Appropriations; State Department of Corrections
This bill would have given all DOC correction officers a 15% pay raise.
Bill sponsor; Rep. Payne
Status of the bill; Failed to get out of house Rules/Appropriations committee.
1447 Fentanyl; manufacturing Drugs; machines
This bill made certain precursor chemicals used in the manufacturing of fentanyl illegal. and required the registration of pill presses/encapsulating machines to be regulated.
Bill sponsor; Sen. Kavanagh
Status of the bill; Failed in the house by vote of 24-36 on 6-4-24
HB 2002: DOC officers” personnel system: covered (APA sponsored Bill)
This Bill will make Arizona Correction Supervisors up to the rank of Captain “covered” employees again, providing them with “Just cause” employment due process.
The Bill passed out of the House on a vote of 60=0. However, it was held in the Senate.
Bill failed in the Senate.
HB2336: tuition: family; posttraumatic stress; suicide (APA sponsored Bill)
This Bill would provide tuition at the state universities and community colleges for the surviving dependents of police officers, firefighters, and veteran who suffer from a duty related PTSD and subsequently commit suicide.
This Bill passed out of the House but failed to get a floor vote after passing out of the Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee on 2-6-23 on a vote of 6-0-1.
Bill failed in the Senate.
HB 2418: law enforcement: response times; requirements
Bill to become a “strike everything” and now will create a study committee to standardize the process of measuring emergency police response time and focus on recruitment, and retention of Arizona Law enforcement. The bill passed out of the House but failed on a floor vote in the Senate on a 11-18-1 vote.
Bill failed in the Senate.
HB 2478: aggravated assault: law enforcement employees (APA sponsored Bill)
Bill will protect non-sworn police employees by covering them with increased aggravated assault charges if assaulted in the course of their duties. Bill passed out of House on a vote of 44-16. It also passed out of the Senate 23-6.
Bill Passed; signed by the Governor on 5-19-23.
HB 2484: failure to return vehicle: repeal (APA sponsored Bill)
Bill would repeal the failure to return vehicle-security interest law (A.R.S. 13-1813) if passed. Currently under this law the vehicle is considered a stolen vehicle and the police are essentially acting as the repo man if someone fails to make their car payments. After considerable discussion with the auto industry the bill was amended so the vehicle is no longer considered stolen. Now the vehicles registration is suspended by MVD. This amendment was necessary in order to obtain the votes for the bill to get the police out of the repo business. The bill passed both houses.
Bill Passed; signed by the Governor on 5-1-23.
SB 1301: law enforcement investigations: applicability (APA sponsored Bill)
Bill would retro actively apply to all disciplinary investigations not incompliance with 38-1110. The agency in violation of 38-1110 would have been given one year to finish investigations that are older than 180 days, after which they are dismissed. This bill passed out of the senate 19-11. It also passed out of the House 31-27-1.
The governor vetoed the bill on 6-20-23.
SB 1301: law enforcement investigations: applicability (APA sponsored Bill)
Bill would retro actively apply to all disciplinary investigations not incompliance with 38-1110. The agency in violation of 38-1110 would have been given one year to finish investigations that are older than 180 days, after which they are dismissed. This bill passed out of the senate 19-11. It also passed out of the House 31-27-1.
The governor vetoed the bill on 6-20-23.
SB 1307: Constables; salaries
This bill was introduced by our constable association members and was supported by the APA. The bill allowed for the counties to provide pay increases if they wished by expanding the statutory pay range for elected constables.
Bill was singed by the Governor on 6-20-23.
HB2159; law enforcement officers; polygraph; examinations
This bill is our 38-1100 Officer bill of rights legislation, and it has 4 main components. They are:
38-1104 and 38-1108; Eliminates the use of the polygraph in administrative investigations. Although most agency rarely use them now due to their unreliability, this bill will eliminate their use statewide.
38-1106; Affirmatively allows the hearing officer in an administrative appeal to consider as a mitigating factor any violation of 38-1100 in the determination of discipline.
38-1110; In the event of multi officers involved in the same investigation. If it is determined that any individual officer has not committed any wrongdoing, that officer must be provided a notice of findings and exited out of the investigation as it proceeds. The officer would still be under advisement not to speak about the investigation.
38-1112; Adds psychological examinations to fitness for duty exams. Currently the law was silent of psychological exams. This provision provides the same protections and procedures for psychological exams as it does for physical exams. Also, now requires the agency to provide the officer a copy of the medical report within five days of the department receiving it.
Our bill sponsor was Representative Kavanagh
The bill was signed by the Governor on April 25th, 2022
HB2354: Tuition; family; post-traumatic stress; suicide
The bill failed to move to the Senate floor for a vote despite over whelming support in the House. We will likely run this bill next session.
This bill would have provided free college tuition at any state university for the surviving dependents of police, firefighters, and veterans who suffer from duty related PTSI and subsequently commit suicide.
Our bill sponsor was Representative Biasiucci.
HB2589; 2589; DOC officers; personnel system; covered
Bill failed to get a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee despite overwhelming support in the House.
Several years ago, sworn Arizona Department of Corrections supervisors lost their employment protections and became “at-will” employees. This bill attempts to reinstate those employment protections.
Our bill sponsor was Representative Cook.
HB2248; failure to return vehicle; repeal
This bill failed to get a hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee.
This bill would repeal ARS 13-1813; stolen vehicle-security interest. This law essentially makes the police the repo man for used car dealers and auto loan companies.
SB1268; PSPRS; deferred retirement option plan
SB1268 is an APA bill. It was APA President Justin Harris who presented the idea.
This bill extends the current DROP plan from 5 to 7 years. It will have a different rate of return from the original DROP plan. The bills’ purpose is to encourage and incentivize officers to stay longer to help address the current staffing crisis. The bill will also create a task force to address possible plan improvements to tiers 2 and 3 to assist in recruitment and retention of officers. (Contrary to what others have inferred, this bill has always considered tiers 2 & 3. The APA discussed extending DROP to tiers 2-3, increasing the multiplier to 3% for a max pension of 90%. However, Due to the complexities of increasing benefits for tiers 2-3 and the timing, we decided the best option was the creation of the committee to officially study improvements to tiers 2-3. The APA from the onset decided we would NOT run the bill if the bill did not contain something for tiers 2-3!)
Although many other groups believed the bill to be dead and unattainable. The APA along with the Arizona State Troopers Association continued to work on the bill with the League of Cities and Towns, ATRA, and the Governor’s office up until the very last days of the session to address the concerns of the employers, taxpayers, and the fund while still accomplishing what we set out to do which is to keep officers on the street longer.
This bill extends the DROP program by 2 years with the following stipulations:
Those currently in DROP may extend for two years with the agreement of their employer. (This is due to the current DROP contracts signed by DROP participants and their employer)
Those not in DROP when the law goes into effect must have 24.5 years of service and be at least 51 years of age to be eligible for the 7-year DROP. (The 5-year DROP remains available and unchanged.).
The most significant part of the bill is the creation of a committee to look at improvements to tiers 2 and 3. Due to the complexity of benefit changes around tiers 2 and 3 it will require a tremendous amount of cooperation between employers and all other the stakeholders.
Our bill sponsor was Senator Livingston.
The bill was signed by the Governor on 7-6-2022
HB2862 Appropriations; DPS and Corrections Pay Increases
The APA along with the Arizona State Troopers Association, and the Arizona Correction Association worked long before session to ensure our State Troopers and Corrections Officers received the 15% and 20% (respectively) pay increases temporarily awarded by the Governor as permanent increases.
Signed into law by the Governor on 6-28-2022
HB 2721: law enforcement officers; AZPOST
This bill requires any entities (with some exceptions) that investigate, or discipline law enforcement officers have as their members at least 2/3 law enforcement officers from the same department on those entities.
This bill reinstated the provision of the original bill that were struct due to the “single subject” lawsuit by the City of Phoenix.
Our bill sponsor was Representative Kavanagh.
The bill was signed by Governor Ducey on 7-6-2022
SB 1396; PSPRS; survivor benefits
Would amend the guideline for a surviving spouse’s pension from the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan (CORP) currently set at 40% of the deceased member’s average monthly salary, to that amount or four‑fifths of what the deceased member’s pension would have been on the date of death had the member been retired, whichever is greater
HB 2295; Law enforcement officers; database; rules
Would require that a prosecuting agency send a notice to a law enforcement officer at least 10 days upon considering placing them in a Rule 15.1 database (aka Brady list) and would allow them to appeal being placed in the database. It would also forbid an agency from using an officer’s placement in a Rule 15.1 database as the sole reason for demoting, suspending, or firing them.
HB 2348: Failure to return vehicle; offence; repeal
Would repeal Section 13‑1813 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which classifies as theft the unlawful failure to return a motor vehicle subject to a security interest.
HB 2462: Civilian review board members; training
Would require that, before a person becomes a member of a civilian review board that reviews the actions of peace officers, they must satisfactorily complete a community college police academy or 80 hours of specific training of which 20 hours must be simulated event law enforcement training.
HB 2504; Appropriations; DPS; salary increase
Would appropriate money from the state’s general fund for a salary increase for all Department of Public Safety employees.
HB 2505; Appropriations; corrections officers; salary increase
Would appropriate money from the state’s general fund for a salary increase for Department of Corrections officers and investigators, as well as for Department of Juvenile Corrections officers.
HB 2567: Peace officers; investigator membership requirements
Would require that at least two-thirds of the voting membership of any government committee, board or other entity that investigates law enforcement misconduct or recommends discipline be made up of AZPOST-certified law enforcement officers from the same agency, excluding AZPOST, as the officer who is subject to the investigation.
HB 2763; County officials; practice of law: Would end the prohibition on county sheriff’s deputies from practicing law. The prohibition would still prohibit the Sheriff, Constables, and their deputies from doing so.
Lobbying services provided by Tassinari Terrazas LLC
At TASSINARI | TERRAZAS (T-two) we are more than just lobbyists — that’s a narrow view taken by some firms that excludes too many solutions. We are business consultants skilled in the use of all manner of government relations tools to deliver results.
If you want a team that will take the time to learn the details of your business, a team that will help you understand ALL your options and pick the best one – a team that will execute and win, we’d like to hear from you. That’s what we do.
Brian Tassinari
(Tas-si-nar-ee)
Partner
Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts and raised in Arizona, Brian Tassinari is a graduate of Arizona State University (ASU) with a B.A. in Journalism and a Master of Business Administration/Finance.
With more than two decades of experience encompassing both state and federal politics, Brian’s expertise has evolved over the years from media to government relations and lobbying. He began his career in politics in 1995 when he joined the staff of U.S. Senator William V. Roth, Jr. on Capitol Hill where he served as a Deputy Press Secretary for two years and Press Secretary for another two years. In addition to serving as the Senator’s spokesman in the local and national media, Brian wrote speeches and position papers for Senator Roth. He also worked on legislation relating to transportation and telecommunications issues.
In 2012 Brian co-founded Willetta Partners, Inc. (WPI) and grew it into one of the largest and most influential firms in Arizona. Prior to WPI Brian was a lobbyist and communications consultant as a sole proprietor and before that worked for the firm Williams & Associates. His first job back in Arizona was Director of Communications for the President of the Arizona Senate.
In addition to volunteering on numerous political campaigns over the years, Brian has been a coach and assistant coach for many of his daughter’s softball teams.
Angélica Terrazas
(Teh-rrah-zahs)
Partner
Born in Sinaloa, Mexico and raised in Arizona, Angélica Terrazas is a graduate of Northern Arizona University (NAU) with a B.A. in Public Administration.
With experience in industries ranging from health care to public and charter schools and mortgage lending, Angélica Terrazas began her government relations career in 2014 after transitioning out of six years in the behavioral health industry- four years in the general mental health and two years in the SMI fields, where she daily handled sensitive executive level HR and consumer related issues. Her other experiences include new hire trainings, data systems implementation and migration for HR and health consumer projects with IT, and coordinating and assisting in state required clinical site audits.
Prior to forming Tassinari Terrazas LLC- Angélica worked at Willetta Partners as its Government Affairs Director. She also advocated for public policy issues on behalf of clients at the state and local level as the Chief Legislative Associate for The Aarons Company LLC where she learned to lobby.
Angélica volunteered for the campaigns of the late U.S. Senator John McCain in 2016 and Governor Doug Ducey in 2018. She is also a proud Fellow alumni of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Arizona Industry Fellows program. Currently, she serves on the Estrella Village Planning Committee.
