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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
compensation; elective state officers; inflation
Purpose
Subject to voter approval, constitutionally adjusts each state legislator's most recently approved salary for inflation from the calendar year that the salary was approved and on January 1 of each year.
Background
The Arizona Constitution sets the term for a Member of the Senate or House of Representatives (Member) at two years. A Member may not serve more than four consecutive terms in that office and a Member who has served the maximum number of terms, including any part of a term served, may not serve in the same office until the Member has been out of office for at least one full term (Ariz. Const. art. 4, pt. 2, § 21).
The Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers (Commission) is established to recommend the rates of pay of elected state officers, including legislative salaries. The recommendations of the Commission as to legislative salaries must be certified to the Secretary of State (SOS) and submitted to the qualified electors at the next regular general election for approval (Ariz. Const. art. 5, § 12; A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 13). In 1998, the salary for a Member was set at $24,000 by Proposition 302 (SOS). Statute outlines additional travel and subsistence reimbursement, or per diem, for Members (A.R.S. § 41-1104).
If adjusting the salary of a Member for inflation results in a change to the annual budget for the Senate or the House of Representatives, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Sets the salary of a Member as the amount most recently approved by the voters as adjusted on January 1 of each year for inflation or deflation from the calendar year that the salary was approved, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index, or its successor index, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics or its successor agency.
2. Requires the adjusted annual salary for a Member to take effect on the second Monday in January of each year.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Requires the SOS to submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election.
5. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 30, 2026
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