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SB1046 • 2026

telecommunications infrastructure; equipment requirements

SB1046 - telecommunications infrastructure; equipment requirements

Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
Wendy Rogers
Last action
2026-06-19
Official status
Governor vetoed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates a gubernatorial veto; whether this was overridden is not confirmed by the provided text.

SB1046: Secure Telecommunications Act of 2026

This bill would ban telecommunications equipment made by China from Arizona's critical networks and require providers to remove existing banned gear, but it was vetoed by the governor.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines 'critical telecommunications infrastructure' as physical broadband systems with microchips that connect users to publicly regulated utility-owned networks.
  • Prohibits building new critical infrastructure using equipment made by China or companies controlled by China.
  • Requires providers to remove and replace all existing prohibited equipment in their Arizona operations.
  • Allows providers to swap out banned gear without extra state permits if they notify officials first and the replacement is similar to the old equipment.
  • Mandates that providers submit an annual certification to the Corporation Commission stating they do not use banned equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Telecommunications providers operating in or serving Arizona
  • The Arizona Corporation Commission, which oversees compliance and certifications

Terms To Know

Critical telecommunications infrastructure
Physical broadband equipment with microchips that connects users to networks owned by publicly regulated utilities.
Foreign adversary
The People's Republic of China, as defined specifically in this bill.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill was vetoed by the governor on June 19, 2026, so it did not become law unless lawmakers later overrode that veto.
  • The text does not specify a deadline for removing and replacing existing banned equipment after the effective date.

Amendments

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

Plain English: This amendment creates a new law that bans the use of telecommunications equipment made by China or Chinese-owned companies in Arizona and requires providers to remove any existing banned gear.

  • It defines 'foreign adversary' specifically as the People's Republic of China for this law.
  • Telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona cannot be built with, or contain, equipment manufactured by a foreign adversary or its state-owned companies.
  • Providers must remove and replace any existing prohibited equipment that is still operating within the state.
  • Companies can swap out banned gear without needing new permits if they notify local officials first.
  • The law does not take effect until December 31, 2026.
  • Specific details on how to prove a company is 'owned' or 'controlled' by China are based on the company's governing documents but may require further legal interpretation.

Plain English: This amendment creates a new law that bans the use of telecommunications equipment made by China or Chinese-owned companies in Arizona and requires providers to remove any existing banned gear.

  • It defines 'foreign adversary' specifically as the People's Republic of China for this law.
  • It stops telecom companies from building new infrastructure using equipment manufactured by, owned by, or controlled by a foreign adversary.
  • It requires companies to remove and replace any existing banned equipment that is still operating in Arizona.
  • It sets daily fines between $10,000 and $100,000 for breaking the rules and bans violators from receiving state or local funding.
  • The text does not explain how officials will check if a company is following these new rules.
  • It is unclear exactly which specific parts of equipment count as 'critical components' that must be banned, even though the law mentions them.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-10 V

    Governor vetoed

  2. 2026-06-09 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  3. 2026-06-09 House

    House third read passed

  4. 2026-04-13 House

    House committee of the whole

  5. 2026-03-31 House

    House minority caucus

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    House majority caucus

  7. 2026-03-30 House

    House consent calendar

  8. 2026-03-19 House

    House second read

  9. 2026-03-18 House

    House Rules: C&P

  10. 2026-03-18 House

    House Science & Technology: DP

  11. 2026-03-18 House

    House first read

  12. 2026-03-16 House

    Transmitted to House

  13. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  14. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  15. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  16. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  17. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Senate second read

  18. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  19. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Senate Public Safety: DPA

  20. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1046 - telecommunications infrastructure; equipment requirements

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1046 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

telecommunications
infrastructure; equipment requirements

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1046

AN
ACT

amending title 18, Arizona Revised Statutes,
by adding chapter 8; relating to information technology.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section
1.
1. Title
18, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding chapter 8, to read:

CHAPTER
8

PROHIBITED
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

ARTICLE
1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

START_STATUTE
18-801.

Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise
requires:

1. "Critical telecommunications
infrastructure" means all physical broadband infrastructure and equipment
that
meet all of the following requirements:

(
a
)
Support the transmission of information of a user's choosing,
regardless of the transmission medium or technology employed
.

(
b
)
Connect to a network
that is owned by a publicly
regulated utility and that allows the end user to engage in communications,
including service provided directly to the public or to the classes of uses as
to be effectively available directly to the public.

(
c
) Contain at
least one microchip.

2. "Foreign adversary"
Means The people's republic of China.

3. "Telecommunications
provider" means any corporation, public or private, that
offers telecommunications services.

4. "Telecommunications
services" has the same meaning prescribed in section 9-581.

END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
18-802.

Critical telecommunications infrastructure; prohibited equipment;
replacement; notification

A. A critical telecommunications
infrastructure that is located within or that serves this state must be
constructed without including any equipment that is manufactured by a
foreign adversary.

B. A critical telecommunications
infrastructure that is located within or that serves this state must be
constructed without having any equipment that is manufactured in or by,
including any equipment whose critical or necessary components are manufactured
in or by, a foreign adversary, a state-owned enterprise of a foreign
adversary, a company that is domiciled within a foreign adversary or a company
that is owned by
A foreign adversary or w
here a foreign adversary
is entitled to control
the COMPANY by the company's governing documents, a foreign adversary state-owned
enterprise or a foreign adversary-domiciled company.

C. A critical telecommunications
infrastructure that operates within or that serves this state, including any
critical telecommunications infrastructure that is not permanently disabled,
must remove and replace all equipment that is prohibited by this section with
equipment that is not prohibited by this section.

D. A telecommunications provider that
removes, discontinues or replaces any prohibited telecommunications equipment
or service is not required to obtain any additional permit from any state
agency or political subdivision of this state to remove, discontinue or replace
the telecommunications equipment or service if the state agency or political
subdivision of this state is properly notified of the necessary removal,
discontinuation or replacement and any replacement telecommunications equipment
is similar to the existing telecommunications equipment.

END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
18-803.
Telecommunications providers; critical telecommunications
infrastructure; corporation commission oversight; violations; civil penalties;
prohibition on receiving state and federal monies

A. On or before January 1 of each
year, each telecommunications provider shall certify to the corporation
commission that all critical telecommunications infrastructure and equipment
within the telecommunications provider's operation do not use or provide any
telecommunications equipment or service that is prohibited by section 18-802.

B. A telecommunications provider that
violates this section is subject to a civil penalty of at least $10,000 per day
and not more than $100,000 per day of noncompliance with this section.

C. A telecommunications provider that
knowingly submits a false
certification pursuant to
subsection A of this section is subject to a civil penalty of at least $10,000
per day and not more than $100,000 per day of noncompliance.

D. A telecommunications provider that
fails to comply with this section is prohibited from receiving any state or
local monies to develop or support new or existing critical telecommunications
infrastructure and is prohibited from receiving any federal monies that are
subject to distribution by state or local governments to develop or support new
or existing critical telecommunications infrastructure.

END_STATUTE

Sec.
2.
2.
Purpose

The purpose of this act is to secure
Arizona's telecommunications grid and protect national security by eliminating
from Arizona's telecommunications grid telecommunications hardware and software
that come from foreign adversaries and sanctioned entities.

Sec.
3.
3.
Effective
date

This act is effective from and after
December 31, 2026.

Sec.
4.
4.
Short
title

This act shall be known and may be
cited as the "Secure Telecommunications Act of 2026".