Arizona State Legislature

Legislative branch of the state government of Arizona

Arizona State Legislature

56th Arizona Legislature
Type
Type|

Bicameral

Houses| Senate
House of Representatives
History
Founded| February 14, 1912 (1912-02-14)
Preceded by| Arizona Territorial Legislature

New session started

| January 9, 2023
Leadership

President of
the Senate

Warren Petersen (R)
since January 9, 2023

President pro
Tempore

TJ Shope (R)
since November 8, 2022

Speaker of
the House

Ben Toma (R)
since January 9, 2023

Speaker pro
Tempore

Travis Grantham (R)
since January 11, 2021

Structure
Seats|

* 90
* 30 Senators
* 60 Representatives

Senate political groups

* Republican (16)
* Democratic (14)

House political groups

* Republican (31)
* Democratic (29)

Elections

Last Senate election

| November 8, 2022

Last House election

| November 8, 2022

Next Senate election

| November 5, 2024

Next House election

| November 5, 2024
Redistricting| Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission
Meeting place
Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, Arizona • 85007
Website
www.azleg.gov

33°26′53″N 112°5′47″W﻿ / ﻿33.44806°N 112.09639°W﻿ / 33.44806; -112.09639

The Arizona State Capitol grounds in Phoenix

The Arizona State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. Composed of 90 legislators, the state legislature meets in the Capitol Complex in the state capital of Phoenix, Arizona. Created by the Arizona Constitution upon statehood in 1912, the Arizona State Legislature met biennially until 1950. Today, they meet annually.

Arizona's electoral districts are different from those in most U.S. states. The state is divided into 30 legislative districts, each of which elects one senator and two representatives. Legislators are term limited to eight consecutive years in office, but can run again after two years or run for a seat in the other house.

## History[edit]

### Pre-statehood[edit]

Congress formed the New Mexico Territory in 1850 consisting of the land that is now Arizona north of the Gila River, along with what is now New Mexico, parts of Colorado and Nevada.[1] In 1853, the territory expanded under the Gadsden Purchase agreement by nearly 30,000 square miles of land south of the Gila River in Arizona, forming the state’s boundary with Mexico.[1] In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Arizona Organic Act creating the Territory of Arizona. In 1864, the First Territorial Legislature convened in Prescott, the territory’s first capital.[1] The capital moved from Prescott to Tucson and back to Prescott before being permanently established in Phoenix in 1889.[1]

### Early years of statehood[edit]

On June 20, 1910, President William Howard Taft signed the Enabling Act, allowing the Arizona Territory to hold a constitutional convention. Elected Arizona delegates convened in Phoenix at the territorial capitol on October 10, 1910, to draft the Arizona Constitution.[1] Although constitutional provisions for prohibition and women’s suffrage were rejected, voters added both within three years of statehood.[1] The new constitution was ratified by voters on February 9, 1911, and Arizona statehood took place on February 14, 1912, after eliminating a provision to recall judges that caused an initial veto by President Taft. A few months later, illustrating Arizona's independent streak, voters reinstated the provision permitting the recall of judges.[1]

Arizona's First Legislature had 19 state senators and 35 state representatives and convened March 18, 1912.[1] The Legislature met on a biennial basis until 1950, when a constitutional amendment provided for annual sessions.[1]

## Legislative process[edit]

The Arizona Legislature is responsible for making laws in the state of Arizona. The first step in the legislative process is bill drafting. First, legislators must submit a bill request to the legislative council staff.[2] Additionally, a legislator-elect may submit a bill request or private citizens can obtain authorization from a legislator to use the legislator's name before giving instructions to the legislative council staff.[2] The legislative council staff delivers a bill draft to the sponsor or requester and if directed, will prepare the bill for introduction.[2]

Bills undergo three or four readings during the legislative process. After the first reading, they are assigned to committee. Committees can amend measures or hold legislation and prevent it from advancing. Once committee action is completed, the bill undergoes a second hearing and a third hearing, which happens just before the floor vote on it.[1] The bill is then sent to the opposite legislative house for consideration. If approved, without amendment, it is sent to the governor. If there is amendment, however, the first legislative house may either reconsider the bill with amendments or ask for the establishment of a conference committee to work out differences in the versions of the bill passed by each chamber. Once a piece of legislation approved by both houses is forwarded to the governor, it may either be signed or vetoed. If it is signed, it takes effect on the effective date of the legislation. If it is vetoed, lawmakers may override the veto with a vote by a two-thirds majority in both chambers.[1]

Alternatively, instead of presenting the measure to the Governor, the Legislature may order that it be submitted to the people.[3] If the measure is approved by the people, the Governor has no power to veto it,[4] and the Legislature may not repeal it,[5] and may not amend it unless the amending legislation furthers the purposes of such measure and at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature, by a roll call of ayes and nays, vote to amend such measure.[6]

## Membership[edit]

Main article: List of representatives and senators of the Arizona Legislature by district, 2023–2033

### Districting[edit]

There are 30 legislative districts in Arizona, each of which is a multi-member constituency. Each district elects a state senator and two state representatives for a two-year term. The combining of upper and lower house districts into a single constituency is known as nesting and is found in only seven U.S. state legislatures: Arizona, Idaho, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington.

### Term limits[edit]

Under article 4, part 2, section 21 of the Constitution of Arizona, members of the Arizona Legislature serve two-year terms, and legislators are subject to term limits.[7] Members may only serve four consecutive terms (or eight years) in each house; however, once serving the limit, former members are re-eligible for election after a 2-year respite.[7] Members who are term-limited in one house frequently seek election to other positions within the state.

### Party composition and elections[edit]

See also: Political party strength in Arizona

Party division of the legislature since the 1996 Elections:[8]

Year  | Senate  | House

|
|

1997–1998  | 18 R, 12 D  | 38 R, 22 D
1999–2000  | 16 R, 14 D  | 40 R, 20 D
2001–2002  | 15 R, 15 D  | 36 R, 24 D
2003–2004  | 17 R, 13 D  | 39 R, 21 D
2005–2006  | 19 R, 11 D  | 38 R, 22 D
2007–2008  | 16 R, 14 D  | 33 R, 27 D
2009–2010  | 18 R, 12 D  | 35 R, 25 D
2011–2012  | 21 R, 9 D  | 40 R, 20 D
2013–2014  | 17 R, 13 D  | 38 R, 22 D
2015–Nov. 2015  | 17 R, 13 D  | 36 R, 24 D
Dec. 2015–2016  | 18 R, 12 D[9] | 36 R, 24 D
2017–2018  | 17 R, 13 D  | 35 R, 25 D
2019–2020  | 17 R, 13 D  | 31 R, 29 D
2021–2022  | 16 R, 14 D  | 31 R, 29 D
2023–2024  | 16 R, 14 D  | 31 R, 29 D

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Legislative Manual" (PDF). Arizona Legislative Council. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
2. ^ a b c "Legislative Council". Azleg.gov. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
3. ^ Ariz. Const. Art. IV, Part I, § 1(15).
4. ^ Ariz. Const. Art. IV, Part I, § 1(6)(A).
5. ^ Ariz. Const. Art. IV, Part I, § 1(6)(B).
6. ^ Ariz. Const. Art. IV, Part I, § 1(6)(C).
7. ^ a b "Constitution of Arizona, art. 4, pt. 2, § 21". Arizona State Legislature. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
8. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
9. ^ "Arizona lawmaker Carlyle Begay switches political party". AZCentral. November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arizona State Legislature.

* Official Arizona State Legislature website
* Arizona State Legislature at Ballotpedia
* Works by Arizona State Legislature at Open Library
* Arizona House of Representatives website
* House member rosters
* Arizona State Senate website
* Senate member rosters

Portals:

* Arizona
* Politics

* v
* t
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Arizona House of Representatives

56th Legislature (2023–2025)

Speaker of the House
Ben Toma (R)
Speaker pro tempore
Travis Grantham (R)
Majority Leader
Leo Biasiucci (R)
Minority Leader
Lupe Contreras (D)

1. ▌Quang Nguyen (R)
▌Selina Bliss (R)
2. ▌Judy Schwiebert (D)
▌Justin Wilmeth (R)
3. ▌Joseph Chaplik (R)
▌Alexander Kolodin (R)
4. ▌Matt Gress (R)
▌Laura Terech (D)
5. ▌Sarah Liguori (D)
▌Charles Lucking (D)
6. ▌Myron Tsosie (D)
▌Mae Peshlakai (D)
7. ▌David Cook (R)
▌David Marshall (R)
8. ▌Melody Hernandez (D)
▌Vacant
9. ▌Lorena Austin (D)
▌Seth Blattman (D)
10. ▌Justin Heap (R)
▌Barbara Parker (R)
11. ▌Marcelino Quiñonez (D)
▌Oscar De Los Santos (D)
12. ▌Patty Contreras (D)
▌Stacey Travers (D)
13. ▌Jennifer Pawlik (D)
▌Julie Willoughby (R)
14. ▌Travis Grantham (R)
▌Laurin Hendrix (R)
15. ▌Jacqueline Parker (R)
▌Neal Carter (R)
16. ▌Teresa Martinez (R)
▌Keith Seaman (D)
17. ▌Rachel Jones (R)
▌Cory McGarr (R)
18. ▌Christopher Mathis (D)
▌Nancy Gutierrez (D)
19. ▌Gail Griffin (R)
▌Lupe Diaz (R)
20. ▌Alma Hernandez (D)
▌Betty Villegas (D)
21. ▌Consuelo Hernandez (D)
▌Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D)
22. ▌Lupe Contreras (D)
▌Elda Luna-Nájera (D)
23. ▌Mariana Sandoval (D)
▌Michele Peña (R)
24. ▌Lydia Hernandez (D)
▌Analise Ortiz (D)
25. ▌Tim Dunn (R)
▌Michael Carbone (R)
26. ▌Cesar Aguilar (D)
▌Quantá Crews (D)
27. ▌Kevin Payne (R)
▌Ben Toma (R)
28. ▌David Livingston (R)
▌Beverly Pingerelli (R)
29. ▌Steve Montenegro (R)
▌Austin Smith (R)
30. ▌Leo Biasiucci (R)
▌John Gillette (R)

* ▌Republican (31)
* ▌Democratic (28)
* ▌Vacant (1)

* Arizona State Legislature
* Arizona House of Representatives
* Arizona Senate

* v
* t
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Arizona Senate

56th Legislature (2023-present)

President of the Senate
Warren Petersen (R)
President pro tempore
T. J. Shope (R)
Majority Leader
Sonny Borrelli (R)
Minority Leader
Mitzi Epstein (D)

1. ▌Ken Bennett (R)
2. ▌Shawnna Bolick (R)
3. ▌John Kavanagh (R)
4. ▌Christine Marsh (D)
5. ▌Lela Alston (D)
6. ▌Theresa Hatathlie (D)
7. ▌Wendy Rogers (R)
8. ▌Juan Mendez (D)
9. ▌Eva Burch (D)
10. ▌Dave Farnsworth (R)
11. ▌Catherine Miranda (D)
12. ▌Mitzi Epstein (D)
13. ▌J. D. Mesnard (R)
14. ▌Warren Petersen (R)
15. ▌Jake Hoffman (R)
16. ▌T. J. Shope (R)
17. ▌Justine Wadsack (R)
18. ▌Priya Sundareshan (D)
19. ▌David Gowan (R)
20. ▌Sally Ann Gonzales (D)
21. ▌Rosanna Gabaldón (D)
22. ▌Eva Diaz (D)
23. ▌Brian Fernandez (D)
24. ▌Anna Hernandez (D)
25. ▌Sine Kerr (R)
26. ▌Flavio Bravo (D)
27. ▌Anthony Kern (R)
28. ▌Frank Carroll (R)
29. ▌Janae Shamp (R)
30. ▌Sonny Borrelli (R)

* ▌Republican (16)
* ▌Democratic (14)

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