Minutes — Arizona State Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency (March 18, 2026)

Summary

Minutes of the Arizona State Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency for its meeting on March 18, 2026 at 9:00 A.M., called to order by Chairman Bolick at 9:01 a.m. and adjourned at 10:04 a.m. Without objection, the minutes of March 11, 2026 were approved. The committee considered HB 2686, HB 2051, HB 2837, HB 2875, HB 2324, HB 2439, HB 2457 and HB 2953, each with a DO PASS recommendation. Roll call votes were 6-0-1 on HB 2686, and 4-2-1 on HB 2439 as amended and on HB 2457, where Sandy Bahr of the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter testified in opposition.

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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
57TH LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION

MINUTES OF COMMITTEE ON
REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

DATE: March 18, 2026 TIME: 9:00 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 HB 2051 DP
Senator Fernandez X HB 2324 DP
Senator Leach X HB 2439 DPA
Senator Ortiz X HB 2457 DP
Senator Payne X HB 2686 DP
Senator Carroll, Vice-Chairman X HB 2837 DP
Senator Bolick, Chairman X HB 2875 DPA
HB 2953 DP

Members of the public may access a livestream of the meeting here:
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2026031089
Chairman Bolick called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and attendance was noted.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Senator Bolick stated that without objection, the minutes of March 11, 2026 were approved as
distributed.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS

HB 2686 – physicians; surgical centers; call coverage – DO PASS

Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Intern,
explained HB 2686.

Representative Heap, bill sponsor, further explained HB 2686 and answered questions posed by the
Committee.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2686 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 1).

HB 2051 – AHCCCS; lactation care; breastfeeding – DO PASS

Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Intern,
explained HB 2051.

Senator Bolick offered comments in lieu of testimony from Representative Fink, bill sponsor.

Natalie Olson, Phoenix Gilbert Chapter, Chamber of Mothers, testified in support of HB 2051.

Steve Berg, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, testified as neutral on HB 2051 and
answered questions posed by the Committee.

Dr. Laurie Wood, Arizona Perinatal Trust, testified in support of HB 2051.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2051 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 2).

Senators Epstein, Ortiz and Bolick explained their votes.

HB 2837 – notary public; examination; repeal (NOW: public hearing definition; hearing officer)
– DO PASS

Jason Theodorou, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Analyst,
explained HB 2837.

Representative Weninger, bill sponsor, further explained HB 2837 and answered questions posed
by the Committee.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2837 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 3).
Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
2 March 18, 2026
HB 2875 – local regulation; prohibition; unmanned aircraft – DO PASS AMENDED

Nicholas Gustoff, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Assistant Analyst,
explained HB 2875 and the 6-page Bolick amendment to HB 2875 dated 03/17/2026 at 2:32 p.m.
(Attachment A).

Representative Weninger, bill sponsor, further explained HB 2875.

Jake Robinson, Zipline International Inc., testified in support of HB 2875 and answered
questions posed by the Committee.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2875 receive a DO PASS recommendation.

Senator Carroll moved the 6-page Bolick amendment to HB 2875 dated 03/17/2026
at 2:32 p.m. (Attachment A) be ADOPTED. The motion CARRIED by voice vote.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2875 as AMENDED receive a DO PASS
recommendation. The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 4).

HB 2324 – fire code; municipalities; county buildings – DO PASS

Jason Theodorou, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Analyst,
explained HB 2324.

Kaytlin King, County Supervisors Association of Arizona, testified in support of HB 2324.

Alexis Susdorf, Yuma County, testified in support of HB 2324.

Dante Mitchell, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, testified as neutral on
HB 2324.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2324 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 5).

HB 2439 – public cold plunge; rules; exemption – DO PASS AMENDED

Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Intern,
explained HB 2439 and the 6-page Bolick amendment to HB 2439 dated 03/11/2026 at 11:17 a.m.
(Attachment B).

Kaytlin King, County Supervisors Association of Arizona, testified in support of HB 2439 and the
amendment. Ms. King answered questions posed by the Committee.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2439 receive a DO PASS recommendation.

Senator Carroll moved the 6-page Bolick amendment to HB 2439 dated 03/11/2026
at 11:17 a.m. (Attachment B) be ADOPTED. The motion CARRIED by voice vote.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2439 as AMENDED receive a DO PASS
recommendation. The motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 4-2-1 (Attachment 6).

Senator Epstein explained her vote.

Committee on Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency
3 March 18, 2026
HB 2457 – public utilities; plant construction; colocation – DO PASS

Nicholas Gustoff, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Assistant Analyst,
explained HB 2457.

Sandy Bahr, Director, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, testified in opposition to HB 2457 and
answered questions posed by the Committee.

David Morris, Americans for Prosperity Arizona, testified in support of HB 2457.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2457 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 4-2-1 (Attachment 7).

Senators Epstein, Carroll and Bolick explained their votes.

HB 2953 – pharmacy board; civil penalties. – DO PASS

Hayden Darst, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee Research Intern,
explained HB 2953.

Dianne McCallister, Stryker Sustainability Solutions, testified in support of HB 2953.

Senator Carroll moved that HB 2953 receive a DO PASS recommendation. The
motion CARRIED with a roll call vote of 6-0-1 (Attachment 8).

Attached is a list noting the individuals who registered their positions on the legislation (Attachment C).

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:04 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
4 March 18, 2026

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