Back to Arizona

HB2729 • 2026

nursing board; continuation

HB2729 - (NOW: health boards; DES; continuations)

Children
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Selina Bliss
Last action
2026-06-13
Official status
Sent to governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text provides detailed information about each board and agency, but does not specify any changes to the functions of these entities beyond extending their operation dates.

Continuing Health Boards and DES

This bill extends the operation of several health-related boards and agencies in Arizona until specific dates in the future.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the Department of Economic Security (DES) until July 1, 2030.
  • Continues the Arizona State Board of Nursing until July 1, 2030.
  • Keeps the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners active until July 1, 2030.
  • Maintains the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants in operation until July 1, 2030.
  • Ensures the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy continues to operate until July 1, 2032.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Economic Security (DES)
  • Health professionals including nurses, occupational therapists, physician assistants, and pharmacists
  • Arizona residents who rely on social services and welfare programs provided by DES

Terms To Know

Department of Economic Security (DES)
A state agency that provides various social services and welfare programs.
Retroactive
Effective as if it had taken place in the past, specifically from July 1, 2026.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after the specified termination dates.
  • There is no expected financial impact on the state's general fund.
  • It only extends existing boards and agencies; it does not create new ones or change their functions significantly.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Amendment explanation prepared by Michael Madden 06/10/2026 Bill Number: H.B.

  • Amendment explanation prepared by Michael Madden 06/10/2026 Bill Number: H.B.
  • 2729 Werner Floor Amendment Reference to: House engrossed bill Amendment drafted by: Leg.
  • Council FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 1.
  • Continues the Department of Economic Security, the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners and the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants for four years.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-13 Arizona State Legislature

    Sent to governor

  2. 2026-06-12 House

    House passed

  3. 2026-06-12 House

    House passed

  4. 2026-06-12 House

    House minority caucus

  5. 2026-06-11 House

    Transmitted to House

  6. 2026-06-11 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  7. 2026-06-11 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  8. 2026-06-10 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  9. 2026-06-10 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  10. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  11. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  12. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate Health and Human Services: DP

  13. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate first read

  14. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  15. 2026-02-26 House

    House third read passed

  16. 2026-02-24 House

    House minority caucus

  17. 2026-02-24 House

    House majority caucus

  18. 2026-02-23 House

    House consent calendar

  19. 2026-01-21 House

    House second read

  20. 2026-01-20 House

    House Rules: C&P

  21. 2026-01-20 House

    House Health & Human Services: DP

  22. 2026-01-20 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2729 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
HHS�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS
PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2729

nursing
board; continuation

(NOW:
health boards; DES; continuations)

Purpose

Continues the Department of Economic Security (DES), the Arizona State
Board of Nursing, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners, the
Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants and the Arizona State Board of
Pharmacy.

Background

DES

DES was established in 1972, assuming
the authority, power and duties of the Employment Security Commission of
Arizona and its divisions, the State Department of Public Welfare, the Division
of Vocational Rehabilitation, the State Office of Economic Opportunity and the
State Office of Manpower Planning. DES provides protective and assistance
services to Arizona's children, adults and families. DES administers programs related
to child support enforcement, developmental disabilities, vocational
rehabilitation, domestic violence, adult protective services, medical
assistance eligibility, nutritional assistance, independent living, employment
assistance, and unemployment insurance.
DES terminates on July 1, 2026,
unless continued by the Legislature
(
Arizona State Library
; A.R.S.
��
41-1954
and
41-3026.21
).

Health
Profession Regulatory Boards

The Arizona State Board of Nursing is the regulatory body responsible for
the licensing and oversight of nursing professionals in Arizona, consisting of
11 members appointed by the Governor. The Arizona State Board of Nursing
terminates on July 1, 2026, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. �
32-1602
;

32-1606
;
and
41-3026.08
).

The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners is the regulatory
body responsible for the licensing and oversight of occupational therapists in
Arizona, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor. The Arizona
Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners terminates on July 1, 2026, unless
continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. ��
32-3402
;

32-3404
;
and
41-3026.09
)

The Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants is the regulatory
body responsible for the licensing and oversight of physician assistants in
Arizona, consisting of 11 members appointed by the Governor. The Arizona
Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants terminates on July 1, 2026, unless
continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. ��
32-2502
;

32-2504
;
and
41-3026.12
).

The Arizona
State Board of Pharmacy is the regulatory body responsible for the licensing
and oversight of pharmacies and pharmacy professionals in Arizona, consisting
of nine members appointed by the Governor. The Arizona State Board of Pharmacy
terminates on July 1, 2026, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. ��
32-1902
;
32-1904
;
and
41-3026.07
).

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

Provisions

DES

1.

Continues,
retroactive to July 1, 2026, DES until July 1, 2030.

2.

Repeals
DES on January 1, 2031.

Health
Profession Regulatory Boards

3.

Continues,
retroactive to July 1, 2026, the
Arizona State Board of
Nursing
until July 1, 2030.

4.

Repeals
the Arizona State Board of Nursing on January 1, 2031.

5.

Continues,
retroactive to July 1, 2026, the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy
Examiners until July 1, 2030.

6.

Repeals
the Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners on January 1, 2031.

7.

Continues,
retroactive to July 1, 2026, the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician
Assistants until July 1, 2030.

8.

Repeals
the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants on January 1, 2031.

9.

Continues,
retroactive to July 1, 2026, the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy until July 1,
2032.

10.

Repeals the Arizona State
Board of Pharmacy on January 1, 2033.

Miscellaneous

11.

Contains purpose statements.

12.

Becomes effective on the
general effective date, with retroactive provisions as noted.

Amendments
Adopted by Committee of the Whole

1.

Continues
DES, the Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners and the Arizona Regulatory
Board of Physician Assistants for four years.

2.

Continues
the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy for six years.

House Action
����������������������������������������������������������
Senate
Action

HHS��������������� 2/19/26����� DP������ 9-0-0-3�������������� HHS��������������� 3/18/26����� DP������������� 6-0-1�������������������������

3
rd

Read��������� 2/26/26����������������� 51-1-7

Prepared by
Senate Research

June 11, 2026

MM/MS/hk

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2729 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed
House Bill

nursing board; continuation

(now:� health boards;
DES; continuations)

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2729

AN
ACT

Repealing sections 41-3026.07,
41-3026.08, 41-3026.09, 41-3026.12 and 41-3026.21, Arizona Revised
Statutes; amending title 41, chapter 27, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes,
by adding sections 41-3030.19, 41-3030.22, 41-3030.23, 41-3030.27
and 41-3032.11; relating to state boards and agencies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Repeals

Sections 41-3026.07, 41-3026.08
, 41-3026.09, 41-3026.12 and 41-3026.21,
Arizona Revised Statutes,
are repealed.

Sec. 2. Title 41, chapter 27, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding sections 41-3030.19, 41-3030.22,
41-3030.23, 41-3030.27 and 41-3032.11, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-3030.19.

Arizona state board of nursing; termination July 1, 2030

A. The Arizona state board of nursing
terminates on July 1, 2030.

B. Title 32, chapter 15 and this
section are repealed on January 1, 2031.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
41-3030.22.

Board of occupational therapy examiners; termination July 1, 2030

A. The board of occupational therapy
examiners terminates on July 1, 2030.

B. Title 32, chapter 34 and this
section are repealed on January 1, 2031.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
41-3030.23.

Arizona regulatory board of physician assistants; termination
July 1, 2030

A. The Arizona regulatory board of
physician assistants terminates on July 1, 2030.

B. Title 32, chapter 25 and this
section are repealed on January 1, 2031.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
41-3030.27.

Department of economic security; termination July 1, 2030

A. The department of economic
security terminates on July 1, 2030.

B. Title 41, chapter 14 and this
section are repealed on January 1, 2031.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
41-3032.11.

Arizona state board of pharmacy; termination July 1, 2032

A. The Arizona state board of
pharmacy terminates on July 1, 2032.

B. Title 32, chapter 18 and this
section are repealed on January 1, 2033.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.
Purpose

Pursuant to section 41-2955, subsection
B, Arizona Revised Statutes, the legislature continues the Arizona state board
of nursing to promote the safe and professional practice of nursing and its
related professions.

Sec. 4.
Purpose

Pursuant to section 41-2955,
subsection B, Arizona Revised Statutes, the legislature continues the board of
occupational therapy examiners to promote the safe and professional practice of
occupational therapy.

Sec. 5.
Purpose

Pursuant
to section 41-2955, subsection B, Arizona Revised Statutes, the
legislature continues the Arizona regulatory board of physician assistants to
promote the safe and professional practice of health care tasks performed by
physician assistants.

Sec. 6.
Purpose

Pursuant to section 41-2955,
subsection B, Arizona Revised Statutes, the legislature continues the
department of economic security to provide social services, welfare programs,
vocational rehabilitation and employment services and developmental disability
programs.

Sec. 7.
Purpose

Pursuant to section 41-2955,
subsection B, Arizona Revised Statutes, the legislature continues the Arizona
state board of pharmacy to promote the safe and professional practice of
pharmacy in this state.

Sec. 8.
Retroactivity

Sections 1 and 2 of this act apply
retroactively to from and after July 1, 2026.