Town staff outlines new state laws that affect Oro Valley operations

Assistant Town Manager Carl Shaddock presented a high‑level wrap up of the 2026 Arizona legislative session, telling council the legislature introduced 2,190 measures, about 264 bills reached the governor and were signed, and the League identified roughly 100 new laws potentially affecting cities and towns. He said staff tracked 46 measures relevant to Oro Valley and prioritized those that affect local authority, operations and long‑term interests.

Shaddock named specific enacted measures that require town action or administrative changes, including an emergency bill that moves the statewide primary and related election administration changes, SB1167 (an option for satisfying certain statutory publication requirements via town website and qualifying newspaper), HB2876 (restrictions on placing tax/fee proposals on consent agendas and executive session follow‑up requirements), and HP2265 (prohibiting municipal court assessments associated with appointment of a public defender). "Local control and local revenues remain our core defensive posture," Shaddock said, and he outlined next steps: assign departmental ownership, pursue legal review, and bring policy choices back to council as needed.