employment; workplace communications; exclusions

HB2670 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
employment; workplace communications; exclusions

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2670

Introduced by

Representatives
Hernandez C: Hernandez A, Hernandez L, Luna-N�jera

AN
ACT

amending title 23, chapter 2, article 1,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 23-207; relating to
employment.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 23, chapter 2, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 23-207, to read:

START_STATUTE
23-207.

Employers; workplace communication; civil action; exclusions;
definitions

A. An employer, including this state
and any instrumentality or political subdivision of this state, may not coerce,
interfere with or threaten an employee with discharge, discrimination,
RETALIATION, penalty or other adverse employment action because the employee
declines to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or affirmatively
declines to participate in or receive communications related to the employer's
religious beliefs or political matters.

B. An aggrieved employee may BRING a
civil action to enforce this section not later than one hundred twenty days
after the date of the alleged violation.

C. An employer who violates this
section is liable to the employee for all of the following:

1. Injunctive relief.

2. Reinstatement to the employee's
former position or an equivalent position.

3. Back pay and reestablishment of
employee benefits, including Seniority to which the employee would otherwise
have been eligible if the violation had not occurred and any other appropriate
relief.

4. Reasonable attorney fees and
costs.

D. Within thirty days after the
effective date of this section, an employer that is subject to this section
shall post a notice of employee rights under this section where employee
notices are customarily placed.

E. This section does not restrict any
of the following:

1. An employer or the employer's
agent, representative or designee from communicating information that is
required by law.

2. An employer or the employer's
agent, representative or designee from communicating information that is
necessary for employees to perform job duties.

3. An institution of higher education
or an agent, representative or designee of the institution of higher education
from meeting with or participating in communications that are part of
coursework curriculum, any symposia or an academic program.

F. This section does not apply to a
religious corporation, entity, association, educational institution or society
that is exempt from requirements of title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(P.L. 88-352; 78 Stat. 255; 42 united states code section 2000
e
through
e-17
).

G. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Political matters"
includes information that relates to any of the following:

(
a
) Elections
for political office.

(
b
) Political
parties.

(
c
) Federal,
state or local legislation.

(
d
) Federal
regulation or state or local rules.

(
e
) Public
policy.

(
f
) Supporting
a political party or a civic, community, fraternal or labor organization.

2. "Religious beliefs"
means matters that relate to religious affiliation and practice and information
on how to join or support any religious organization or association.
END_STATUTE