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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
governor; question time
Purpose
Requires the Governor, beginning January 4, 2027, to appear before the Legislature and answer questions from outlined members once every month during the Legislative Session.
Background
The Governor is
elected by a statewide vote for four-year terms to serve as the chief executive
officer of the state. The Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the military
forces of the state and must transact all executive business with the officers
of the government, civil and military. Statute and the Arizona Constitution
outlines the powers and duties of the Governor, including requiring that the
Governor be the official means of the communication between the state and any
other state or the Federal Government. At the beginning of each Legislative
Session, the Governor must address the Legislature regarding the condition of
the state and outline the Governor's legislative priorities, otherwise known as
the State of the State Address (A.R.S.
ยง 41-101; Ariz.
Const. art. 5).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the Governor, beginning on January 4, 2027, on the third Wednesday of each month during the Legislative Session, to appear before the Legislature and answer questions asked by members of the Legislature.
2. Requires the Governor to appear for questioning in front of the House of Representatives (House) and Senate on alternating months, beginning with the Senate in odd-numbered years and the House in even-numbered years.
3. Requires the Governor to answer:
a) two questions posed by the Majority Leader or the Majority Leader's designee;
b) two questions posed by the Minority leader or the Minority Leader's designee;
c) one question each by four members of the body, selected at random by the presiding officer of the body; and
d) one follow-up question to each question asked, if requested by the questioner.
4. Requires the Lieutenant Governor to perform the duties of the Governor relating to questioning before the Legislature if the Governor is not present in Arizona.
5. Stipulates that in other circumstances, the Governor, with the approval of the presiding officer of the body to be attended, may designate the Lieutenant Governor to perform the duties of the Governor relating to questioning before the Legislature.
6. Specifies that the requirements relating to questioning before the Legislature does not:
a) affect any of the Legislature's or Governor's other rights or privileges that may exist at law;
b) recognize, create or disparage any other rights or privileges; or
c) prevent each body from enforcing any of the body's rules, including rules of decorum.
7. Contains a statement of legislative findings.
8. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
GOV 1/22/25 DP 4-3-0-0
3rd Read 3/5/25 32-26-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 17, 2025
AN/DL/mg