SB1406 • 2026

citizen suits committee; solid waste

SB1406 - citizen suits committee; solid waste

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Denise “Mitzi” Epstein, Analise Ortiz, Mariana Sandoval
Last action: 2026-01-29
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms all membership details, deadlines, and compensation rules found in the candidate explanation.

SB1406: Solid Waste Citizen Suit Study Committee

This bill creates a temporary committee to study whether Arizona should add rules allowing citizens to sue over solid and hazardous waste issues.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Solid and Hazardous Waste Citizen Suit Study Committee with nine members from different groups.
Requires two lawmakers from each chamber who belong to different political parties to serve on the committee, with one from each group acting as cochairperson.
Includes representatives for environmental groups, citizens' rights organizations, industrial interests, waste facilities, and the Department of Environmental Quality as members.
Directs the committee to gather information about adding a citizen suit rule to state solid waste laws.
Sets a deadline of December 31, 2026, for the committee to submit its findings report to top state leaders.

Who It Names or Affects

State lawmakers who serve on natural resources committees in the House and Senate.
The director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality or their representative.
Representatives from environmental groups, citizens' rights organizations, industries, and waste facilities.

Terms To Know

Citizen suit provision: A law that allows private individuals to file lawsuits against others for breaking specific rules about solid or hazardous waste.
Delayed repeal: A rule stating that the committee and its powers will end automatically on June 30, 2027.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say if a citizen suit law will be created; it only creates a group to study the idea.
Committee members do not receive payment for their work but can get money back for travel or other costs.

Bill History

2026-01-29 Senate
Senate second read
2026-01-28 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-01-28 Senate
Senate Natural Resources: None
2026-01-28 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1406 - citizen suits committee; solid waste

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1406 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
citizen suits committee; solid waste

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1406

Introduced by

Senators
Epstein: Ortiz;� Representative Sandoval

AN
ACT

establishing the solid and hazardous
waste citizen suit study committee.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Solid and
hazardous waste citizen suit study committee; membership; purpose; report;
delayed repeal

A. The solid and hazardous
waste citizen suit study committee is established consisting of the following
members:

1. Two members of the house
of representatives natural resources, energy and water committee who are not
members of the same political party and who are appointed by the speaker of the
house of representatives.� The speaker of the house of representatives shall
designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2. Two members of the
senate natural resources committee who are not members of the same political
party and who are appointed by the president of the senate.� The president of
the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of
the committee.

3. The director of the
department of environmental quality or the director's designee.

4. One member who
represents the interests of environmental nongovernmental entities in this
state and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

5. One member who
represents the interests of citizens' rights nongovernmental entities in this
state and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

6. One member who
represents industrial interests in this state and who is appointed by the
speaker of the house of representatives.

7. One member who
represents solid waste or hazardous waste facilities in this state and who is
appointed by the president of the senate.

B. Committee members are
not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of
expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

C. The committee shall meet
to consider and collect information on the need for a citizen suit provision in
this state's solid waste and hazardous waste statutes.� On or before December
31, 2026, the committee shall submit a report of its findings to the governor,
the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and
provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

D. This section is repealed
from and after June 30, 2027.