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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
county seal; authority; sheriff's posse
Purpose
Expands the procedures and requirements to authorize a person to use, display or otherwise employ a county seal to include the logo, insignia or another visual or textual identifier of the county or county office, as prescribed. Grants the exclusive right to name a posse associated with the county sheriff's office and dissolve a posse that operates under the county sheriff's jurisdiction to each county sheriff.
Background
A person may use, display or otherwise employ a facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance of a county seal only after obtaining the approval of the county board of supervisors (county BOS) of that county. The county BOS may grant a certificate of approval on application by any person showing good cause for the use of the county seal for a proper purpose. No person other than a county department may use the county seal to advertise or promote the sale of any article of merchandise or to promote any other commercial purpose. The county BOS may adopt rules for the use of the county seal or any facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance of the county seal, including rules for the use of the county seal for official county business. If a county maintains a website, it must display the adopted seal and the permission requirements for use of the county seal on its website. A county BOS must issue a cease and desist order to any person in violation of the permission requirements, and a person in violation who fails to comply with the order is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 11-251.17).
A county sheriff, in executing the duties of the office, may request the aid of volunteer posses and reserve organizations located in the county sheriff's county. A county sheriff may authorize members of the county sheriff's volunteer posse to carry a deadly weapon without a permit while on duty if the member has received and passed firearms training that is approved by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (A.R.S. § 11-441).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires a person to receive approval from the county BOS before using, displaying or otherwise employing any facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance of the county logo or insignia or another visual or textual identifier of the county, whether identical or substantially similar, that implies affiliation with the county.
2. Allows a county BOS to grant a certificate of approval on application by any person showing good cause for the use of a county logo or insignia or another visual or textual identifier of the county for a proper purpose.
3. Prohibits any person other than a county department from using a county logo or insignia or another visual or textual identifier of the county to advertise or promote the sale of any article of merchandise or to promote any other commercial purpose.
4. Allows a county BOS to adopt rules for the use of a county logo or insignia or another visual or textual identifier of the county or any facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance thereof, including rules for the use of the logo or insignia or identifier for official county business.
5. Requires a person to receive approval from the elected official in control of a county office before using, displaying or otherwise employing any facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance of the logo, insignia or another visual or textual identifier of that county office, whether identical or substantially similar, that implies affiliation with the county office.
6. Allows the elected official in control of the appropriate county office to grant a certificate of approval on application by any person showing good cause for the use of a logo, insignia or another visual or textual identifier of that county office for a proper purpose.
7. Prohibits any person other than a county department from using a county logo, insignia or another visual or textual identifier of a county elected office to advertise or promote the sale of any article of merchandise or to promote any other commercial purpose.
8. Allows a county BOS to act to adopt rules for the use of the logo, insignia or another visual or textual identifier for any county office or any facsimile, copy, likeness, imitation or other resemblance thereof, including rules for the use of the logo or insignia or identifier for official county business.
9. Allows a county BOS to act on a request relating to authorized use by a county elected official for the county office to which the requesting county official is elected.
10. Requires a county that maintains a website to display the logo or insignia on its website and post the instruction on how to obtain approval to use the insignia or logo.
11. Asserts that the outlined permission requirements do not limit the ability of a person to use a county seal, logo or insignia to engage in satire or parody.
12. Grants the county sheriff the exclusive right to name any posse that is associated with the county sheriff's office and to dissolve any posse that operates under the county sheriff's jurisdiction.
13. Makes technical and conforming changes.
14. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
PSLE 2/16/26 DP 12-1-0-2
3rd Read 3/4/26 50-3-6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 16, 2026
KJA/SDR/hk