AZBio 2019 Legislative Watch List

As Arizona’s Statewide Bioscience Industry Association, AZBio works with our elected leaders to educate and inform on the key issues that will help to make Arizona a Top-Tier Bioscience State and works across our community to support our members, our industry, our healthcare partners, and patient advocacy organizations.

Each year, AZBio publishes its Policy Initiatives as approved by the AZBio Board of Directors.

Click the link to view the AZBio Government Affairs Policy for 2019

AZBio is supported at the State Capitol by our contract lobbyists at Dorn Policy Group

The 2019 AZBio Watch List

The following bills and budget items are being monitored by the AZBio Government Affairs Team during Arizona’s  54th Legislature – 1st Regular Session in 2019.

Legislative Deadlines:

  • Monday 1/14 Session Begins 
  • Tuesday 1/22* Senate Bill Request Deadline (5:00 p.m.) 
  • Monday 1/28 Senate Bill Intro Set Preparation Deadline (5:00 p.m.) 
  • Monday 2/4 Senate Bill Introduction Deadline (5:00 p.m.) 
  • Friday 2/8** House Bill Request Deadline (5:00 p.m.) 
  • Monday 2/11 House Bill Introduction Deadline (5:00 p.m.) 
  • Friday 2/22 Last Day to Hear SBs in Senate Committees/Last Day to Hear HBs in House Committees 
  • Friday 3/29 Last Day to Hear SBs in House Committees/Last Day to Hear HBs in Senate Committees 
  • Friday 4/19 Last Day for Conference Committees (By Senate and House Rule) 
  • Tuesday 4/23 100th Day of Session
  • Tuesday. 5/28 Adjourned Sine Die

Saturday, April 27, 2019 – Adjournment sine die – regular sessions shall be adjourned sine die no later than the Saturday of the week in which the 100th day (April 23) of session falls. (The Speaker and the President may extend the session for a period not to exceed seven additional days. Thereafter, the session can be extended only by a majority vote of the Members.


Active Bills at the  54th Legislature – 1st Regular Session (2019)

The list below highlights bills that pertain to our areas of focus.   As these bills progress, our positions to support, monitor, or oppose will be added.    All AZBio Members have the option to add bills to the Watch List.  To do so, email AZBio.

Signed By The Governor

HB2166  unfair claims practices; cost sharing – S/E: health plans; cost sharing; calculation – Signed 4/11/2019

HB2285  pharmacy benefit managers; pharmacy benefits – Support – Signed 4/30/2019

HB2488   veteran suicides; annual report – Support – Signed 4/17/2019

HB2025 animal cruelty; domestic animals; classification (Striker  HB2671) Signed 5/8/2019

SB1089 insurance; telemedicine –  Support – Signed 4/18/2019

SB1533      Alzheimer’s disease research special plates – Support – Signed 5/27/2019

Remaining Senate Bills

SB1037      TPT; distribution; community college districts – Support – Sent to the Governor on 5/23

SB1354      GME Appropriation – Support  $18.9M added to Budget!


Bills that did not progress 

Bills must be heard in the originating chamber by February 22, 2019 and in the second chamber by March 29, 2019.  Additional time is given to appropriations bills and for rules.

SCR1011  TPT and use tax; education – Support  (Follow SCR 1001)

SB1080     TPT; use tax; education — Support –  Senate COW DPA

HB2563  /HCR 2024  education funding; use tax; TPT – Support  – Companion to  SCR 1001 and SB1080

SCR1001   education; TPT; use tax – Support – Senate COW DPA

SB1106     appropriation; STEM internships  – Support

SB1201  schools; immunization rate; website posting – Support

SB1345  education funding; TPT; use tax – Support 

HB2003 university employees; tenure; retirement eligibility

HB2028  laetrile; prohibition

HB2040  community colleges; baccalaureate degrees

HB2064  CTEDs; 9th grade; workforce need – Support

HB2121 investigational stem cell treatment 

HB2148  syringe service programs; authorization – Support

HB2159  prescription drugs; municipal tax exemption

HB2162  schools; immunizations; personal exemption; elimination – Support

HB2167  insurer responsibility; pharmacy benefits 

HB2168  pharmacies; fees; prohibition

HB2172  rear-facing car seats – Support

HB2218  appropriations; primary care loan repayment

HB2223  youth entrepreneurship; pilot program; appropriation – Support  

HB2359   income tax; charitable deductions – Support 

HB2350  appropriations; children’s health insurance program – Support

HB2351  medical services; purchase; study committee 

HB2399  tax expenditures; review; sunset

HB2408  end-of-life decisions; terminally ill patients

HB2413   appropriation; drug research and development – Support

HB2470  schools; immunization; religious exemption – Oppose 

HB2471   informed consent; vaccinations. – Oppose 

HB2472   vaccinations; antibody titer testing; notification – Oppose 

HB2478    biological characteristics; biometric identifiers Pending House 3rd Read – Needs amendment for Medical Research to match federal laws and regulations

HB2512  terminally ill patients; care choices

HB2513  children’s health insurance program; appropriations. –Support

SB1527      smoking devices; tax; medical research – Support