Official Summary Text
SB1194 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
HHS�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� FOR
COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1194
vaccination status;
denial; prohibition
Purpose
Prohibits health
professionals and health care institutions from denying or adversely affecting
a person's health care based on the person's vaccination status and establishes
a cause of action for individuals whose care is denied or adversely affected.
Background
Health professionals
include podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, medical
and osteopathic physicians and surgeons, naturopathic physicians, nurses, dispensing
opticians, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists, veterinarians,
physician assistants, radiologic technologists, homeopathic physicians, behavioral
health professionals, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists,
athletic trainers, massage therapists, nursing care institution administrators,
assisted living facilities managers, midwifes, audiologists and speech
pathologists
(
A.R.S. � 32-3201
).
Health care
institutions in Arizona are licensed and regulated by the Department of Health
Services. A
health care institution
is every place, institution,
building or agency, whether organized for profit or not, that provides
facilities with medical services, nursing services, behavioral health services,
health screening services, other health-related services, supervisory care
services, personal care services or directed care services and includes home
health agencies, outdoor behavioral health care programs and hospice service
agencies (
A.R.S.
� 36-401
).
There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1.
Prohibits health professionals and health care institutions from denying
care or services to any person or adversely affecting a person's options for,
priority level of or quality of health care based on the person's vaccination
status.
2.
Establishes a legal cause of action for a person who believes that the
person's health care has been adversely affected based on vaccination status.
3.
Subject a health professional or health care institution who denies care
based on vaccination status to a civil penalty of $500 per violation or three
times the amount of actual damages suffered, whichever is greater.
4.
Allows the court to award punitive damages, court costs and reasonable
attorney fees to plaintiff who prevails in an action.
5.
Specifies
that, notwithstanding any other law, a public health emergency declaration,
health care crisis or pandemic does not:
a)
exempt health professionals or health care institutions from the
prohibition on denying care based on vaccination status; or
b)
override
or exempt health professionals or health care institutions from the vaccination
status protections.
6.
Requires any health care-related mandate issued in response to a public
health emergency declaration, health care crisis or pandemic to be interpreted
and enforced in a manner that preserves protections relating to care regardless
of vaccination status.
7.
Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 16, 2026
MM/MS/hk
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB1194 - 572R - S Ver
Senate Engrossed
vaccination status;
denial; prohibition
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SENATE BILL 1194
AN
ACT
Amending title 32, chapter 32, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-3230.03; Amending title 36,
chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-420.06;
relating to health care services.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 32, chapter 32, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-3230.03, to read:
START_STATUTE
32-3230.03.
Health professionals; denial of care; vaccination status;
prohibition; civil penalty
A. A health professional may not deny
care or services to any person based on the person's vaccination status or
adversely affect a person's options for, priority level of or quality of health
care based on the person's vaccination status.
B. Any person who believes that the
person's health care has been adversely affected in violation of subsection A
of this section has a cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. A health professional who is found
to be in violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 per
violation or three times the amount of actual damages suffered by the person as
a result of the violation, whichever is more. The court may award a
plaintiff who prevails in an action under this section punitive damages, court
costs and reasonable attorney fees.
D. Notwithstanding any other law, a
declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic does
not:
1. exempt health professionals from
the requirements of subsection A of this section.
2. override or exempt health
professionals from the protections and requirements of this
section. Any health care-related mandate issued in response to
a declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic
shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner that upholds this section,
ensuring that the health care-related mandate does not conflict with the
fundamental rights that this section protects.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 2. Title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-420.06, to read:
START_STATUTE
36-420.06.
Health care institutions; denial of care; vaccination status;
prohibition; civil penalty
A. A health care institution may not
deny care or services to any person based on the person's vaccination status or
adversely affect a person's options for, priority level of or quality of health
care based on the person's vaccination status.
B. Any person who believes that the
person's health care has been adversely affected in violation of subsection A
of this section has a cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. A health care institution that is
found to be in violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500
per violation or three times the amount of actual damages suffered by the
person as a result of the violation, whichever is more. The court
may award a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this section punitive
damages, court costs and reasonable attorney fees.
D. Notwithstanding any other law, a
declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic does
not:
1. exempt health care institutions
from the requirements of subsection A of this section.
2. override or exempt health care
institutions from the protections and requirements of this
section. Any health care-related mandate issued in response to
a declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic
shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner that upholds this section,
ensuring that the health care-related mandate does not conflict with the
fundamental rights that this section protects.
END_STATUTE