Minutes - Arizona State Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee (January 21, 2026)
Summary
Minutes of the Arizona State Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, 57TH LEGISLATURE, for January 21, 2026, with Senator Shawnna Bolick as chairman and Senator Frank Carroll as vice-chairman. The minutes record SB 1023 (optometrists; eye exams; prescriptions) with a DO PASS recommendation moved by Senator Carroll and carried on a roll call vote of 7-0-0. They record SB 1013 (public employees; merit; hiring practices) as DO PASS AMENDED: a Carroll amendment dated 01/16/2026 was adopted by voice vote, and the bill as amended received a DO PASS recommendation on a roll call vote of 4-3-0. Testimony on SB 1013 is recorded from Tabia Lee and Travis Morrell of Do No Harm. The minutes close with the name of Jackson Cooper, Committee Secretary.
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“Minutes - Arizona State Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee (January 21, 2026).”
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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
57TH LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION
MINUTES OF COMMITTEE ON
REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
DATE: January 21, 2026 TIME: 10:00 A.M. ROOM: SHR 109
CHAIRMAN: Senator Shawnna Bolick VICE-CHAIRMAN: Senator Frank Carroll
ANALYST: Jason Theodorou
ATTENDANCE BILLS
Committee Members Pr Ab Ex Bill Number Disposition
Senator Epstein X SB 1013 DPA
Senator Fernandez X SB 1023 DP
Senator Leach X
Senator Ortiz X
Senator Payne X
Senator Carroll, Vice-chairman X
Senator Bolick, Chairman X
Members of the public may access a livestream of the meeting here:
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2026011046
Chairman Bolick called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. and attendance was noted.
CONSIDERATION OF BILLS
SB 1023 – optometrists; eye exams; prescriptions – DO PASS
Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Research Intern, explained SB 1023.
Senator Kavanagh, bill sponsor, further explained SB 1023 and answered questions posed by the
Committee.
Don Isaacson, Arizona Optometric Association, testified in support of SB 1023.
Senator Carroll moved that SB 1023 be returned with a DO PASS recommendation.
The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 7-0-0 (Attachment 1).
INTRODUCTIONS OF MEMBERS AND STAFF
Chairman Bollick requested that the Senators and Staff introduce themselves.
The staff introduced themselves as follows:
• Jason Theodorou, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Research Analyst
• Nicholas Gustoff, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Assistant Research Analyst
• Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Research Intern
• Jackson Cooper, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Secretary
• Emma Blair, Majority Policy Advisor
• Kady Binsbacher, Majority Staff Policy Intern
• Talonya Adams, Democratic Senior Policy Advisor
• Owen Washburn, Senate Page
• Rocco Bonini, Senate Page
• Ungildil "Nini" True Kyota, Senate Page
SB 1013 – public employees; merit; hiring practices – DO PASS AMENDED
Nicholas Gustoff, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Research Assistant Analyst,
explained SB 1013 and the 2-page Carroll amendment to SB 1013 dated 01/16/2026 at 3:18 p.m. (Attachment
A) and answered questions posed by the Committee.
Senator Shamp, bill sponsor, further explained SB 1013 and answered questions posed by the
Committee.
Senator Carroll, amendment sponsor, further explained the 2-page Carroll amendment to SB 1013
dated 01/16/2026 at 3:18 p.m. (Attachment A).
Senator Shamp answered additional questions posed by the Committee.
The Committee offered comments.
Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
2 January 21, 2026
Tabia Lee, Director of Education, Do No Harm, founding member, Free Black Thought, testified
in support of SB 1013.
Dr. Travis Morrell, Senior Fellow, Do No Harm, testified in support of SB 1013 and answered
questions posed by the Committee.
The Committee offered comments.
Senator Carroll moved that SB 1013 receive a DO PASS recommendation.
Senator Carroll moved the 2-page Carroll amendment to SB 1013 dated 01/16/2026
at 3:18 p.m. (Attachment A) be ADOPTED. The motion CARRIED by voice vote.
Senator Carroll moved that SB 1013 as AMENDED receive a DO PASS
recommendation. The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 4-3-0 (Attachment 2).
Senators Epstein, Ortiz, Fernandez and Carroll explained their votes.
Attached is a list noting the individuals who registered their positions on the legislation (Attachment B).
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:48 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jackson Cooper
Committee Secretary
(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio
archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)
Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
3 January 21, 2026
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