The Arizona Legislature wrapped up the 2026 session on June 13th, and we have been sitting with it, weighing the wins against the gaps, and thinking about what it all means for the communities we serve.
Here is some context for how big this session was: lawmakers introduced more than 2,100 bills this year, a record for the state of Arizona. WFSA tracked, opposed, and advocated through all of it. We fought cuts to the Healthy Families home visitation program. We opposed harmful anti-trans legislation at every turn. We pushed hard for lactation care coverage through AHCCCS. We showed up, and we are not done.
The outcome is complicated.
There is real money in the approved Arizona budget for child care, food access, and tax relief that will matter to families across Arizona. But there are also places where the Legislature fell short, and bills are still sitting on the Governor’s desk right now that concern us deeply, including legislation that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors.
And then there is November.
Arizona’s Primary is July 21st, and the Midterm Election on November 3rd will bring a slate of ballot measures with real consequences for women, girls, and gender-expansive Arizonans, including one that lawmakers sent directly to voters without the Governor’s signature. As the ACLU of Arizona put it, lawmakers ‘bypassed the governor’s veto pen to send harmful ballot referrals to voters.’
WFSA will analyze every measure and break down exactly what is at stake for our communities. Voter guides, fill-out-your-ballot gatherings, calls to action, and everything you need to vote with confidence will all live at womengiving.org/advocacy.
But first things first. One of the most powerful things you can do right now is make sure your voice will count, and your voice is your vote.
If you are not yet registered to vote in Arizona you should know that the deadline to register for the Primary Election is June 22nd. That is less than a week away.
Register or check your registration status at servicearizona.com before the deadline (7/22/2026) so you are ready when Primary Day arrives on July 21st, and again when the Midterms come around on November 3rd.
Here is WFSA’s breakdown of the 2026 Legislative Session:
The Arizona Legislature adjourned Sine Die on June 13, 2026. The legislature enacted and the Governor signed an $18.3 billion bipartisan budget deal that included several investments supporting women, children and families in Arizona. While the budget provides important funding for programs that strengthen childcare and food security, it fell short in other areas, including the absence of funding for the Department of Child Safety Healthy Families program and expanded lactation services and coverage through AHCCCS.
Investments in Child Care
$44.8 million one-time investment for the Child Care Assistance Program to support child care access across the state.
$3 million one-time investment for Bright Futures AZ, an out of school time grant program to provide child care services for children ages 5-12 when school is not in session.
Food Access
$4 million one-time investment for Double Up Food Bucks, a program that helps families receiving SNAP maximize their benefits by providing additional funds to purchase fruits and vegetables. The funding will be distributed as $2 million in FY27 and $2 million in FY28.
$3.6 million one-time investment for SUN Bucks, a program that provides grocery benefits to families with school-aged children who lose access to free or reduced-price school meals during the summer. The funding will be distributed as $1.8 million in FY27 and $1.8 million in FY28.
Tax Conformity and Child Care Deduction
The Arizona Legislature approved full conformity for tax year 2025 with the federal changes enacted in H.R.1, making Arizona the first state to do so. The tax updates include changes to the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, increasing the amount of eligible child care expenses a parent can claim on their annual taxes. Unfortunately, full tax conformity is also expected to reduce state revenue by $1 billion over the next three fiscal years, which could create future budget cuts to state agencies and programs.
Ballot Initiatives
In addition to the budget, lawmakers approved several measures that will appear on the ballot at the 2026 General Election. One of these is HCR2003 (interscholastic; intramural athletics, biological sex), designated the Protecting Girls’ Sports in Arizona Act. If approved by the voters, the measure would require schools to designate interscholastic and intramural athletic teams based on sex assigned at birth and prohibit individuals from using private athletic spaces that are not designated for their sex assigned at birth, such as bathrooms or lockers. Because this measure was a resolution, it bypasses the Governor’s signature or veto and will instead move directly to the ballot.
Outstanding Bills
Of the remaining bills which WFSA is tracking, HB2043 (felony murder; unborn child), did not receive a full body vote in the Senate and therefore died. As of this writing, the following bills await the Governor’s action:
SB1094 civil liability; gender reassignment
Authorizes a minor to bring a civil action against a physician who provides irreversible gender reassignment surgery in violation of law.
SB1095 gender transition; minors; prohibition
Prohibits a physician from providing gender transition procedures or referrals for minors.
SB1015 gender transition procedures; provider liability
Requires health care professionals who treat minors to pay all costs of detransition procedures and makes them liable for any physical, psychological, or emotional injury.
Now that the Legislature has adjourned, the Governor has 10 days, excluding Sundays, to act on these bills. All three bills were transmitted to the Governor’s Office on June 10, so we are anticipating action in the coming days.
Post-Session
Unless there is an emergency clause or otherwise specified, the general effective date for legislation is 90 days after adjournment. The general effective date for legislation enacted during this legislative session is September 12th.
