Arizona Senate adopts procedural rules, names committees and schedules as opening-day business

The Arizona Senate completed standard organizational business during opening day, approving procedural motions, appointing committees and announcing committee schedules and bill referrals.

The Majority Leader moved to declare an emergency and suspend rules so that bills, resolutions and memorials would be read by number and short title only for first and second readings and by number and title only for third and final readings. The chair announced the ayes prevailed and the change was ordered. There was no roll-call vote transcripted in the record provided.

The Senate also moved that a committee be appointed to notify the House that the Senate is organized and ready to transact business and to notify the governor that the second regular session of the 57th Legislature is organized and prepared to receive communications. Senators Bullock, Alston, Dunn and Miranda were appointed to that committee.

Members approved a proposed amendment to Senate Rule 7A and then adopted the amended rules to govern the 57th Legislature's second regular session; the clerk recorded the actions. The clerk also read long lists of standing and statutory committee appointments and announced committee meeting schedules for January 12–14 and additional calendar details for the coming days. Committee subjects and a series of numbered bills were placed on the record for referral to committees including appropriations, education, natural resources, public safety and technology-related panels.

The Senate concluded by agreeing to stand adjourned until Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, at 1:15 p.m., pending the joint session. Those procedural actions are foundational to committee operations and bill referrals; the record provided does not include detailed roll-call tallies for each motion, nor does it record floor debate on individual bills listed during the clerk’s reading.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to suspend reading rules: moved by the Majority Leader, outcome: approved (ayes announced; tally not specified).
- Motion to appoint committee to notify House and governor: outcome: approved; committee members named (Bullock, Alston, Dunn, Miranda).
- Amendment to Senate Rule 7A: moved and approved; rules of the 57th Legislature adopted as amended.

Next steps

Senate committees named on the floor are expected to begin meeting under the announced schedule; the clerk placed a long list of SB/SP numbers and subjects on the record for referral to specific committees. Any bill listed will follow regular committee referral, hearings and possible floor action under the adopted reading rules.