public records; hiring process documents

Plain English Breakdown

The official status shows the bill passed both chambers, but no specific effective date was found in the source material.

SB1085: Public Records and Hiring Documents

This bill adds new rules to Arizona law that keep most hiring documents private while a job is open, but allow the name, title, and salary of the chosen person to be shared after they are hired.

What This Bill Does

• Adds section 39-130 to state laws about public records for employment candidates.
• Stops public bodies from having to share documents related to a candidate's hiring process while the job is still open, including the candidate's name.
• Allows the selected candidate's name, job title, and salary to be shared after the hiring process ends if other laws allow it.
• Defines terms like 'candidate,' 'document,' and 'hiring process' for this rule.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who apply for jobs with public bodies in Arizona, except those applying to be senior leaders or elected officials.
• Public agencies that must follow these rules when handling hiring files.
• Senior level public officials and officers are not covered by the privacy protection.

Terms To Know

Candidate

A person who applies for a job with a public body, but does not include senior leaders or elected officials.

Document

Materials like resumes, applications, reference letters, background check reports, and other items used during hiring.

Hiring process

The time when an employer reviews applicants, holds interviews, and runs background checks.

Limits and Unknowns

• This law does not apply to senior level public officials or officers.
• Sharing the selected candidate's information must still follow other federal or state laws.
• The effective date for this bill is not listed in the provided text.

Official Summary Text

SB1085 - public records; hiring process documents

Current Bill Text

SB1085 - 572R - I Ver

PREFILED��� JAN 05 2026

REFERENCE TITLE:
public records; hiring process documents

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1085

Introduced by

Senator
Finchem

AN
ACT

amending title 39, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 39-130; relating to public records.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 39, chapter 1, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 39-130, to read:

START_STATUTE
39-130.

Employment candidate records; disclosure; exception; definitions

A. Except as provided in subsection B
of this SECTION, this chapter does not require the disclosure of any document
that is part of a candidate's hiring process, including the candidate's name.

B. On the conclusion of the hiring
process, The selected candidate's name, job title and salary may be disclosed
pursuant to this chapter and in accordance with any other applicable federal or
state law.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Candidate":

(
a
) means a PERSON who
during the hiring process applies for employment by a public body.

(
b
) Does not
include a senior level public official or officer.

2. "Document" includes a
resume, an application, a reference letter, a background check report and any
other materials that are submitted or obtained as part of the hiring process.

3. "Hiring process":

(
a
) Means the
period of time during which an employer evaluates a candidate for employment.

(
b
) Includes
the time when an application is submitted and during interviews and background
checks.

4. "Senior level public official
or officer" means both of the following:

(
a
) an
individual who is in a senior leadership position or who is appointed to a
position in any public body.

(
b
) a person
who is elected or appointed to hold any elective or appointed office of a
public body, a chief administrative officer, a SUPERINTENDENT or a cabinet-level
member who serves a public body.

END_STATUTE