Campaigns & Initiatives

2025 Legislative Session

Last updated on November 26, 2025

The ACLU of Arizona supports legislation that protects civil rights and liberties and fights against bills that infringe on our freedoms. Here’s what you need to know about Arizona’s 2025 Legislative Session.

Arizona’s legislative session begins in January and ends over the summer, typically in June. During this time, state representatives and senators come together to propose legislation, consider bills, set the state budget, and pass state laws.

In 2024, the ACLU of Arizona tracked 382 bills and weighed in on 120 of them. This year, we expect just as many bills impacting civil rights and liberties, if not more. Learn about each of our 2025 priorities below.

Introduction to Legislative Advocacy

Lawmakers make decisions that impact the rights of all Arizonans. That’s why the ACLU of Arizona dedicates extensive time and resources to advocate at the Capitol. Our policy team provides analysis and testifies at the capitol, our organizers turn out volunteers to committee hearings, and our communications team gets our position in the news – but nothing compares to your lawmakers hearing directly from you.

Your senator and representatives want and need to hear from the people they represent to make informed decisions. Sign up to receive the ACLU of Arizona’s Action Alerts to get updates about important legislation and connect with our organizing team to learn how you can get involved this legislative session.

Below are additional resources to help you learn about Arizona's legislative process and how to get involved.

2025 Legislative Priorities

Voting Rights

Some Arizona politicians perpetuate lies about voter fraud and lack of security in our election systems – particularly when results don’t go their way. This dishonest strategy leads to policy proposals that limit where, when, and how eligible voters can cast their ballot.

Voters pick their politicians, not the other way around. We’re prepared to fight against bills that undercut our democratic process and will advocate for a system of fair elections where all qualified voters may cast a vote and have it accurately counted. We will oppose any legislation that makes it more difficult for Arizonans to exercise their fundamental right to vote.

LGBTQ+ Rights

Year after year, attacks on trans Arizonans have ramped up at the state capitol, but we will use every tool in our toolbox to ensure that they are afforded the same rights, liberties, and dignity as everyone else.

Some of the first bills filed in the 2025 legislative session target transgender youth. The bill sponsors made it clear that they care more about making it harder for young people to be themselves rather than focusing on policies that uplift our communities or address real problems facing Arizonans. While Governor Hobbs has used her veto pen to stop the worst bills in the past, it will take all of us to show lawmakers that Arizonans will not accept their hateful agenda against our LGBTQ+ community.

Two hands holding in front of a trans pride flag

Immigrants' Rights

Immigrants are our co-workers, neighbors, friends, and — for many Arizonans — members of our family. The cruel anti-immigrant policy agenda of the Trump administration, and the rhetoric that fuels it, threatens the rights and safety of all our communities.

Already, the same fear mongering we saw in the presidential race led to the passage of Proposition 314 here in Arizona. We have no doubt that the results from the most recent election will further embolden some state lawmakers to push for even more extreme measures that threaten immigrants’ rights, but the ACLU of Arizona will fight back.

a parent and child hugging in front of a border fence

hand cuffs in front of a yellow and blue collage with prison bars behind it

Criminal Justice Reform

Arizona’s costly and inhumane criminal legal system locks too many people up for far too long. It is designed to disproportionately criminalize, incarcerate, and disenfranchise people of color and people living in poverty.

Free Speech

In our democracy, the government cannot cherry pick who can speak freely and who can’t. Freedom of speech, the press, association, assembly, and petition are a set of guarantees protected by the First Amendment.

Yet, Arizona lawmakers have attempted to use their power to stifle speech that they do not agree with, and we expect to see more attacks this year. The ACLU of Arizona, along with our partners and supporters, has a strong history of stopping bills that infringe on the right to protest, to read and learn what one wants, to record the police, and more. In 2025, we will double down to make sure speech is not criminalized, weaponized, or otherwise impeded.

hands holding up a sign of a yelling mouth, a hand holding a megaphone

January 13, 2025

Opening Day

Senators and house representatives convene at the capitol for the first time, and the governor gives a speech called the “State of the State.” Legislative hearings begin.

February 3, 2025

Senate Deadline

Last day for senators to introduce bills.

February 10, 2025

House Deadline

Last day for house representatives to introduce bills.

February 21, 2025

Hearing Deadline

Last day to hear senate bills in the Senate and to hear house bills in the House.

February 24, 2025

Crossover Week

House bills that have passed in the House move to the Senate. Senate bills that have passed in the Senate move to the House.

March 27, 2025

Hearing Deadline

Last day to hear house bills in the Senate and to hear senate bills in the House.

April 22, 2025

100th Day of Session

By Arizona law, the legislative session should end by the end of the week, but the Speaker of the House and Senate President may extend the session by a week. The session may be extended further by a majority vote of members.

June 30, 2025

Budget Deadline

By law, Arizona lawmakers must have passed a state budget by the last day of June, for the next fiscal year.