memorial; Don Bolles

Plain English Breakdown

While state rules generally require construction within two years of approval (A.R.S. § 41-1363), this specific bill only sets a repeal date for the authorization itself in September 2029, leaving the exact timeline dependent on when the Legislative Council approves the project.

HB2079: Memorial for Journalist Don Bolles

This bill authorizes the Legislative Council to place a memorial honoring journalist Don Bolles in Wesley Bolin Plaza, with all costs and construction handled by private supporters.

What This Bill Does

• Authorizes the placement of a memorial dedicated to Don Bolles in Wesley Bolin Plaza through the Legislative Council.
• Requires that current state rules for memorials apply to this project's design and approval process.
• Prohibits the use of public money to pay for any part of the monument or its upkeep.
• Makes private supporters fully responsible for raising funds, hiring artists, and building the memorial.
• Sets a deadline that repeals this authorization if not completed by September 30, 2029.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Legislative Council, which must approve the memorial's details before it is built.
• Private groups or individuals who want to build and fund the monument.
• Visitors to Wesley Bolin Plaza where the memorial will be located.

Terms To Know

Legislative Council

A group of lawmakers that reviews and approves plans for state memorials, including design and location.

Proponents

The people or organizations supporting the project who must pay for it and handle all contracts.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill does not provide any public funds, so the memorial cannot be built without private donations.
• The law expires on September 30, 2029, if the authorization is still in effect at that time.

Official Summary Text

HB2079 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House:
GOV DP 7-0-0-0

HB
2079
: memorial; Don Bolles

Sponsor:
Representative Bliss, LD 1

House
Engrossed

Overview

Dedicates
a memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza to Don Bolles.

History

Don Bolles

was an investigative journalist for The Arizona Republic throughout the early
1970s. Bolles, an Arizona Press Club award-winner, discovered information
pertaining to organized crime and fraud in Arizona. During an investigation in
1976, Don Bolles was fatally injured by an explosion.

Procedures for establishing a memorial, after
legislative authorization, include a review and approval by the Legislative
Council. After taking recommendations from the Historical Advisory Commission,
the Legislative Council must approve of the design, dimensions, location,
maintenance, minimum cost of any deposit into the state monument and memorial
repair fund and any inscription for the memorial with a correlating contract of
conditions. An approved memorial must be constructed within two years of the authorized
legislation
(A.R.S. � 41-1363)
.

Provisions

1.

Authorizes a memorial, provided by the
Legislative Council, in the Wesley Bolin Plaza dedicated to Don Bolles. (Sec.
1)

2.

Specifies
that procedures currently in statute apply to the placement of the monument.
(Sec. 1)

3.

Prohibits
public monies from being used for the cost of the monument and prohibits the
state from facilitating fund-raising or establishing a state fund for deposit
of the monies. (Sec. 1)

4.

Mandates
that all fundraising and contracts for artistic design and construction are the
sole responsibility of the proponents. (Sec. 1)

5.

Repeals this
legislation on September 30, 2029. (Sec. 1)

6.

Contains a
legislative findings clause. (Sec. 2)

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2079

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Current Bill Text

HB2079 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

memorial; Don Bolles

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2079

AN
ACT

providing
for a don bolles memorial in wesley bolin plaza.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Don Bolles memorial; procedures; delayed repeal

A. Pursuant to section 41-1363,
subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, this act authorizes the legislative
council to provide for the placement in Wesley Bolin plaza of a memorial
dedicated to the commemoration of Don Bolles.

B. The procedures
prescribed in section 41-1363, Arizona Revised Statutes, apply to the
establishment of the memorial.

C. Public monies are
not authorized for the costs of the memorial. All fundraising and contracts for
artistic design and construction of the memorial are the sole responsibility of
the proponents. This state may not facilitate fundraising or
establish a state fund for the deposit of the monies.

D. This section is repealed
from and after September 30, 2029.

Sec. 2.
Legislative
findings

The legislature finds that the
memorial authorized by this act is in recognition of Don Bolles, a
well-respected Arizona reporter, who was killed in a car bombing nearly fifty
years ago in connection with his investigative work.