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

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Solid Waste Citizen Suit Study Committee

This bill establishes a committee to study whether Arizona needs laws that allow citizens to sue over solid waste issues.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Solid and Hazardous Waste Citizen Suit Study Committee.
Sets up membership for the committee, including representatives from both houses of the legislature, environmental groups, citizen rights organizations, industrial interests, and waste facility operators.
Requires the committee to meet and gather information about whether Arizona should have laws that let citizens sue over solid waste issues.
Asks the committee to submit a report by December 31, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of the House Natural Resources Committee
Members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee
Environmental and citizen rights organizations in Arizona
Industrial interests and solid waste facility operators

Terms To Know

Citizen Suit Provision: A law that allows citizens to sue over environmental issues.
Solid Waste: Trash or garbage, including household and industrial waste.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what actions the committee should take after submitting their report.
It is unclear how the findings of the committee will be used in future legislation.

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.