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SB1651 • 2026

state elected officials; absence; protection

SB1651 - state elected officials; absence; protection

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Mark Finchem
Last action
2026-02-10
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Protection for State Elected Officials During Events

This law allows certain state officials to be away from their usual work area during specific events and requires the Department of Public Safety to find a safe place for them.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, or state treasurer to leave their normal workplace during important state events like inaugurations and the annual governor's state of the state address.
  • Requires these officials to stay away from the event location until it is over.
  • Asks the Department of Public Safety to find a safe place for the official who is not at the event.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State elected officials like the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer.
  • The Department of Public Safety which must arrange a secure location for an absent official.

Terms To Know

Inauguration
A ceremony where a new elected leader officially starts their job.
Governor's State of the State Address
An important speech given by the governor to discuss the state’s condition and plans for the future.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an event is canceled or postponed.
  • It doesn't explain how often officials will rotate their absences from events.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Government: None

  4. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1651 - state elected officials; absence; protection

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB1651 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
state elected officials; absence; protection

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1651

Introduced by

Senator
Finchem

AN
ACT

Amending title 38, chapter 2.1, article
1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 38-387; relating to state
elected officials.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 38, chapter 2.1, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 38-387, to read:

START_STATUTE
38-387.

Absence of state elected official during official state events

A. The lieutenant governor, the
secretary of state, the attorney general or the state treasurer, on a rotating
basis, shall be excused and absent from the vicinity of the seat of government
during the inauguration of state elected officials, the annual governor's state
of the state address or any other state address by the governor or
gubernatorial event where members of the executive department participate or
are in attendance.

B. For an event described in
subsection A of this section, the department of public safety shall coordinate
an off-site location for the excused and absent elected official.� The
elected official shall remain off-site until the conclusion of the event.

END_STATUTE