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SB1546 • 2026

religious institutions; charitable services

SB1546 - religious institutions; charitable services

Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
David C. Farnsworth
Last action
2026-02-04
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the bill will affect other types of permits or safety and health regulations.

Rules for Religious Institutions Giving Help

This bill stops cities from making rules that require religious groups to get special permission or change how their land is used when they give free food, goods, or services on their own property.

What This Bill Does

  • It says cities cannot make laws that require religious institutions or charitable organizations to obtain permits or rezoning for distributing free items like food and clothes on their owned property.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Religious institutions in Arizona
  • Charitable organizations in Arizona
  • Cities and towns in Arizona

Terms To Know

charitable organization
A group that helps people without making money from it, and doesn't have to pay federal income tax.
religious institution
An institution owned, controlled, operated, and maintained by a church or religious denomination operating as a nonprofit religious corporation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the religious group is not following local rules about safety and health.
  • It's unclear how this will affect other types of permits that might be needed for different reasons, like building or zoning changes unrelated to charity work.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate Government: None

  4. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1546 - religious institutions; charitable services

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1546 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
religious institutions; charitable services

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1546

Introduced by

Senator
Farnsworth

AN
ACT

amending title 9, chapter 4, article 8,
arizona revised statutes, by adding section 9-500.54; relating to municipal
regulations.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 9, chapter 4, article 8,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 9-500.54, to read:

START_STATUTE
9-500.54.

Municipalities; religious institutions; charitable organizations;
charitable foods, goods or services; permits; rezoning; prohibitions;
definitions

A. NOtwithstanding any other law, a
municipality may not enact any law, ordinance or OTHER regulation that requires
a religious institution or charitable organization to rezone property that is
owned by THE religious institution or charitable organization or obtain any
type of permit for the religious institution or charitable organization to
distribute charitable foods, goods or services on the property that is owned by
the religious institution or charitable organization.

B. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Charitable foods, goods or
services" means food, goods or services that are distributed free to
members of the public.

2. "Charitable
organization" means a charitable organization that is exempt from federal
income taxation under section 501(
c
)(3) of the internal
revenue code.

3. "Religious institution"
means an institution that is owned, controlled, operated and maintained by a
church, religious denomination or religious organization that is lawfully
operating as a nonprofit religious corporation.
END_STATUTE