Arizona House approves dozens of bills, including measures on education, retirement and marijuana advertising

PHOENIX — The Arizona House of Representatives completed third readings and final passage on a broad set of bills on Feb. 13, 2025, voting to send more than 30 measures to the state Senate on topics ranging from state retirement-system changes to special‑education provisions and advertising limits for marijuana.

Lawmakers moved swiftly through floor business and roll-call votes in a session that produced a mix of unanimous passages and several contested measures. Notable debates during the floor session focused on protections for victims enrolled in the address‑confidentiality program, new statutory language identifying dyslexia in special‑education law and restrictions on marijuana advertising aimed at preventing youth exposure.

The day’s work began with the House reading a long list of bills and ARS sections to be amended and proceeded primarily by roll-call votes. Representative Gress explained HB 2170, which he said narrows classification language so students with dyslexia are more specifically identified within special education; he said, "this bill moves, moves us in that direction, and that's why I'm voting yes." Representative Julie Willoughby, speaking on HB 2172, framed the measure as providing enrollment‑time resources for parents about technology risks and resources: "This is just a way to provide information to the parents during the time of enrollment."

Debate on HB 2177, an appropriation change for the address‑confidentiality program fund, drew objections from Representative Collinan, who said the program "over the years, has continued to be expanded and expanded and expanded and now really, really threatens the ability of our county recorders to maintain accurate voter rolls." Representative Willoughby responded, "This program itself has not been expanded. It is simply just for domestic violence and *** trafficking individuals."

Members also debated HB 2179, a measure addressing marijuana advertising. Representative Bliss, who supported the bill, said stakeholders produced a robust floor amendment and argued advertising restrictions would help protect children, saying, in part, that regulators needed to "wrap our arms around this. Protect our children." Opponents said limits on political or commercial speech raised First Amendment concerns.

Most bills on the calendar passed with substantial margins or unanimous support. The clerk recorded votes and the House repeatedly ordered bills "signed in open session" and conveyed them to the Senate. After finishing the roll calls, the House adjourned to a joint session with the Senate for scheduled events.

Votes at a glance

- HB 2013 (amends Section 38‑643 ARS; public safety cancer insurance): Passed 50 ayes, 0 nays, 10 not voting. Conveyed to the Senate. - HB 2015 (amends Sections 38‑8‑10 and 30‑8‑? ARS; public retirement systems): Passed 49 ayes, 2 nays, 9 not voting. Conveyed to the Senate. - HB 2023 (amending Section 9‑4‑6.106 ARS; municipal planning): Passed 52 ayes, 0 nays, 8 not voting. - HB 2024 (amends Section 31‑2‑81 ARS; transition program): Passed 52 ayes, 0 nays, 8 not voting. - HB 2035 (amends Section 38‑7‑49 ARS; Arizona State Retirement System): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2036 (amends Section 38‑7‑45 ARS; Arizona State Retirement System): Passed 49 ayes, 3 nays, 8 not voting. - HB 2047 (amends Section 10‑13‑31 ARS; dissenters' rights): Passed 51 ayes, 1 nay, 8 not voting. - HB 2077 (amends Section 38‑7‑907.07 ARS; retirement): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2091 (amends multiple ARS sections relating to land division): Passed 43 ayes, 10 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2092 (amends Section 33‑4‑202 ARS; property): Passed 52 ayes, 1 nay, 7 not voting. - HB 2093 (amends Section 32‑21‑85.09 ARS; real estate): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2103 (appropriating money to the Department of Water Resources): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2094 (amends Section 30‑2‑101 ARS; real estate): Passed 42 ayes, 11 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2129 (amending election conduct statutes): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2170 (amending special education statute to identify dyslexia): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. Representative Gress said the change helps "raise awareness about dyslexia and empowering parents, staff, and the community to help kids with this disability." - HB 2172 (adding Section 15‑1‑200.05 ARS relating to education): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2177 (appropriating money to the address‑confidentiality program fund): Passed 43 ayes, 10 nays, 7 not voting. Representative Collinan urged caution, saying the program "threatens the ability of our county recorders to maintain accurate voter rolls," while Representative Willoughby said the program is limited to domestic‑violence and trafficking victims. - HB 2193 (relating to captive insurers and Title 20 changes): Passed 51 ayes, 2 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2207 (amending sentencing and imprisonment provisions): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2343 (amending Supreme Court statutes): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2345 (amending escrow agent statutes): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2386 (parity pay for law enforcement personnel): Passed 53 ayes, 0 nays, 7 not voting. - HB 2434 (requires charter schools to have emergency operations plans): Passed 46 ayes, 8 nays, 6 not voting. Representative Graess said the measure follows an auditor general review showing many schools lacked complete emergency plans and said, "we want our kids to be safe." - HB 2546 (amending school elections statutes): Passed 54 ayes, 0 nays, 6 not voting. - HB 2624 (amending manufactured housing office statutes): Passed 46 ayes, 8 nays, 6 not voting. - HB 2626 (amending taxation and other sections): Passed 54 ayes, 0 nays, 6 not voting. - HB 2688 (conformity and other tax code changes): Passed 54 ayes, 0 nays, 6 not voting. - HB 2179 (relating to marijuana advertising and restrictions): Passed 51 ayes, 3 nays, 6 not voting. Representative Bliss said stakeholder input produced a "robust floor amendment" and urged members to support the bill to "protect our children," while others raised First Amendment concerns.

What happened next

Clerk records show the passed bills were "signed in open session" and will be transmitted to the Senate for consideration. Members made several brief announcements, and the House adjourned to its scheduled joint session with the Senate.

Why it matters

The package includes near‑term operational funding and statutory changes affecting retirement systems, education policy, land and property law, and public safety. A handful of measures drew substantive floor debate about statutory scope and civil‑liberty limits, notably the address‑confidentiality appropriation and marijuana advertising restrictions, signaling possible continued debate in the Senate.

Endnotes

This article is based on the Feb. 13, 2025 House floor transcript of third‑reading proceedings. Vote tallies and quoted remarks reflect the public floor record.