agency; chief medical officer; license

Plain English Breakdown

The official text references 'title 32, chapter 13 or 17' for licensing requirements but does not define those chapters within this document.

HB2178: License Requirement for State Chief Medical Officers

This law requires anyone serving as a chief medical officer for an Arizona state agency to hold an active license to practice medicine.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the chief medical officer of any state agency to have an active medical license from the Arizona Medical Board or the Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery.
• States that this rule applies even if other laws say something different.

Who It Names or Affects

• People serving as chief medical officers for Arizona state agencies

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify a unique effective date beyond the general effective date.
• The text does not explain what happens if someone is already serving as chief medical officer without this license.

Official Summary Text

HB2178 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2178

agency; chief medical
officer; license

Purpose

Requires any
person serving as a chief medical officer for a state agency to possess an
active license to practice medicine.

Background

Arizona law
regulates the licensure of physicians through the Arizona Medical Board (AMB)
and the
Board of Osteopathic Examiners
in Medicine
and Surgery (Board of Osteopathic Examiners). A
doctor of medicine
is a
person holding a license, registration or permit to practice medicine pursuant
to AMB requirements and a
doctor of osteopathy
is a person holding a
license, registration or permit to practice medicine pursuant to requirements
of the Board of Osteopathic Examiners. An
active license
refers to a
valid and existing license to practice medicine issued pursuant to either AMB
or Board of Osteopathic Examiners requirements and, for osteopathic medical
licenses, includes licenses on probation or subject to restrictions or
conditions (A.R.S. ��
32-1401

and
32-1800
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Requires, notwithstanding any other law, any person serving as the chief
medical officer for a state agency to possess an active medical license from
the AMB or the Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

2.

Makes technical changes.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 2, 2026

MM/MS/mg

Current Bill Text

Chapter 0050 - 572R - H Ver of HB2178

House Engrossed

agency; chief medical
officer; license

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

CHAPTER 50

HOUSE BILL 2178

AN
ACT

Amending title 41, chapter 57, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-5902; relating to state
agencies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Heading change

The article heading of title 41,
chapter 57, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from
"VACCINATION STATUS" to "STATE AGENCIES
generally
".

Sec. 2. Title 41, chapter 57, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-5902, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-5902.

Chief medical officer; medical license

Notwithstanding any other law, any person who is
serving as the chief medical officer for a state agency must possess an active
license to practice medicine in this state pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or
17.
END_STATUTE

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 13, 2026.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 13, 2026.