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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
elected officials; salary; prohibition
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally prohibits the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Legislature from receiving salaries or subsistence payments if the General Appropriations Act for the next fiscal year has not been signed into law by April 30.
Background
The salaries of individuals holding elective state office are established by law and are subject to constitutional limitations, except that the salaries for members of the Legislature may only be altered by recommendation of the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers (Commission) and approved by the qualified electors at a general election. The Commission must biennially conduct a review of the rates of pay of elective state officers, justices and judges of courts of record and superior court clerks for the purpose of determining and providing the pay levels appropriate to the duties and responsibilities of the respective offices and positions. By June 1 of each year, the Commission must submit to the Governor a report of the results of each review conducted by the Commission. In the budget transmitted to the Legislature after the date of the submission of the report and recommendations of the Commission, the Governor must include recommendations for the exact rates of pay for outlined elective officers, judges, justices and superior court clerks. The Governor's recommendations become effective on the first Monday of January in the calendar year following the transmittal of the recommendations in the budget, unless, within 90 days of the transmittal: 1) no statute has been enacted to establish rates of pay other than those proposed by the recommendations; and 2) neither chamber of the Legislature specifically disapproves of the recommendations (Ariz. Const. art. 5 § 12; A.R.S. §§ 41-1903 and 41-1904).
The salary for members of the Senate or House of Representatives was set at $24,000 in 1998 by Proposition 302 (SOS). Statute outlines additional travel and subsistence reimbursement, or per diem, for members of the Senate or House of Representatives (A.R.S. § 41-1104).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor and members of the Legislature from receiving regular salaries or subsistence payments if the General Appropriations Act for the next fiscal year has not been signed into law by April 30.
2. Requires all compensation that is withheld to resume beginning the first full pay period following the enactment of the General Appropriations Act for the next fiscal year.
3. Prohibits any compensation that is withheld from being paid retroactively.
4. Determines that the salaries of elective state offices are established by law and that changes in salary may not apply during the term of any incumbent.
5. Removes the stipulation that all salaries that become effective by the constitutional Commission recommendation process supersedes all laws enacted prior to the salary effective date.
6. Makes technical and conforming changes.
7. Requires the Secretary of State to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
8. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
House Action
GOV 2/18/26 DP 4-3-0-0
3rd Read 3/2/26 31-25-3-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 23, 2026
AN/KP/ci