REFERENCE TITLE: light rail expansion; participation; prohibition

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1332

Introduced by

Senator Kavanagh

AN ACT

Relating to this state's participation in light rail expansion.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Light rail construction; state participation; prohibition; report; delayed repeal; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law, this state may not provide state participation for any light rail construction project. 

B. On or before December 31, 2027, the department of transportation, in coordination with an independent transportation research entity, shall conduct a comprehensive feasibility review of light rail expansion in Maricopa county and submit a report on their findings.  The report shall be submitted to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy to the secretary of state and to the mayor of Phoenix and each member of the Phoenix city council.  The comprehensive feasibility review may not presume the superiority of any mode of transit and shall include:

1. Capital and operating cost comparisons between a light rail and autonomous or semi-autonomous transit vehicles, including bus rapid transit, passenger vans and shuttle systems.

2. Environmental impact per dollar invested for acquiring, constructing and operating a light rail.

3. Ridership trends and post-pandemic usage patterns.

4. Flexibility, scalability and adaptability to population shifts.

5. Long-term maintenance and replacement costs.

6. Policy recommendations regarding future state involvement in light rail construction.

7. Analysis of whether continuation, modification or discontinuation of state participation in light rail expansion is warranted.

C. This act is repealed from and after June 30, 2028.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Light rail construction" means the planning, permitting or physical construction of new fixed-guideway rail transit lines or extensions.

2. "State participation" means any of the following:

(a) Appropriating state monies.

(b) Issuing state bonds or guarantees.

(c) Approving, certifying or matching monies by the department of transportation.

(d) Approving state permits or other authorizations.