Arizona Bills
What’s the Latest Transit Bills Update?
Representatives Cook and Livingston are working on two separate transit bills. Meetings are continuing with stakeholders and transit advocates on both bills. Right now as we watch these negotiations, it’s unclear what the next legislative steps will be.
SB1439: Appropriation; Braille Transcription Program
Appropriates $400,000 from the state General fund to expand the Braille Transcription Program in the AZ Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. This program needs to be expanded to meet the growth demands of braille materials for children in school.
SB1470: Graduation; Children with Disabilities
Clarifies that the IEP team (which would include the parents) have the authority to make the decision on how much time a student needs to graduation.
SB1502: Literacy Endorsement; Curricula; Special Education
Clarifies that the existing requirements for the review of reading curriculums and of teachers to obtain literacy endorsements apply to special education curriculums and teachers.
HB2894: Silver Alert; Criteria; Notification
Expands the “amber alert” type system called Silver Alert to include more disability groups.
SB1106: Public Entity Liability; Sexual Offenses
Closes a loophole in Arizona law. Eliminates an immunity clause so public entities may be liable if they fail to conduct a proper background check and the employee commits a sexual offence against a child with a disability.
HB2068: Landlord Tenant; Assistance Animals
We oppose this bill because it adds additional requirements from the person with the disability that is not required by the Fair Housing Act.
SB1102
The SB1102 striker is largely based on the legislation supported last year by transit advocates, however Rep. Livingston’s striker has the transit allocation at 39% instead of 40.4%. At the stakeholder meeting, Rep. Livingston shared a draft amendment that removed the non-transportation provisions as he promised to do. Rep. Livingston committed to holding additional stakeholder meetings, including bipartisan meetings with Democrats and the Governor’s office.
SB1246
Representative Cook, the House Transportation Chair, also held a stakeholder meeting to further discuss potential language of his striker to SB1246.
Rep. Cook and Senator Farnsworth participated. Rep. Cook indicated being open to increase the transit allocation from 26% to 38%, however Sen. Farnsworth and Senate staff were noncommittal to an increase to the transit allocation beyond the 20% proposed in his committee.
While these negotiations continue, tell your story!
Tell Legislators how you use public transportation and what it means to you.
Urge them to increase the transit allocation to 40.4 percent.
Steps you can take today:
1. Email or call your state legislators. You can find out who your state legislators are by clicking here and entering your home address.
Find a full list of legislators and their contact information. Regardless of whether you call their office and leave a message or email them, please be sure to tell them you are a constituent when you reach out and why transit matters to you!
2. Post to social media and tag your legislators.
Contact your Arizona State Legislators
Not sure who your Senator or Representatives are?
Click here and find out what district you are in
Now that you know your district, find out who represents you in the AZ Senate and the AZ House.
Federal Bills
Contact your Congressional Representatives
If you are interested in sharing your thoughts or concerns, find out how to contact your Representative or Senators
Links to the membership lists are provided below.
House members
Senate members