Arizona 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session Status: To Executive 5 R cosponsors

SB 1097 — school districts; partisan elections

Last action — Vetoed by Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

Vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs (Democratic) on April 16, 2024.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

183 added · 38 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Senate Bill 1097 changed the language regarding nominating petitions for school district governing board candidates. Notably, it removed the requirement for elections to be conducted as partisan primary elections, meaning the candidates will no longer have party affiliations listed on the ballot. This matters because it simplifies the election process for school districts by focusing on the candidates themselves rather than their political parties, potentially making it easier for voters to choose based on qualifications rather than party loyalty.

→
Previous
Latest
Bill Number:
Senate Engrossed school districts;
S.B.
partisan elections State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session SENATE BILL 1097 AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 15-422 AND 16-502, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
1097 Wadsack Floor Amendment Reference to:
RELATING TO SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD ELECTIONS.
printed bill Amendment drafted by:
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) - i - S.B.
Leg Council FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 1.
1097 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Removes the requirement to conduct a partisan primary election for school district governing board.
Section 1.
Section 15-422, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-422.
Nominating petitions;
ballots;
partisan designation A.
Nominating petitions shall be filed with the county school superintendent as prescribed by title 16, chapter 3.
Nominating petitions shall be signed by a number of qualified electors of the district as provided in section 16-322.
Nominating petitions for persons seeking to fill a vacancy on a governing board shall be designated as provided in section 16-314.
B.
The county school superintendent may cause separate ballots to be prepared, or such THE NAMES OF CANDIDATES FOR school district candidates' names GOVERNING BOARD may be included as a part of the regular ballot.
In any event The names of all persons whose petitions have been filed shall appear on a ballot, without WITH EACH CANDIDATE'S partisan or other designation except the AND title of the office BEING SOUGHT.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE PARTISAN DESIGNATION SHALL BE THE POLITICAL PARTY OF WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS A QUALIFIED ELECTOR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR THE ELECTION CYCLE IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS A CANDIDATE.
Sec.
Reinstates the requirement that nomination petitions for school district governing board elections be filed with the county school superintendent as prescribed by statute.
Section 16-502, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
16-502.
Form and contents of ballot A.
Ballots shall be printed with black ink on white paper of sufficient thickness to prevent the printing thereon from being discernible from the back, and the same type shall be used for the names of all candidates.
The ballots shall be headed "official ballot" in bold-faced plain letters, with a heavy rule above and below the heading.
Immediately below shall be placed the words "type of election, (date of election)" and the name of the county and state in which the election is held.
The name or number of the precinct in which the election is held shall be placed on the ballot in a uniform location for all ballots.
No other matter shall be placed or printed at the head of any ballot.
Instructions to the voter on marking the ballot may be printed below the heading as follows:
1.
Put a mark according to the instructions next to the name of each candidate for each office for whom you wish to vote.
2.
If you wish to vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write such name in the blank space provided on the ballot and put a mark according to the instructions next to the name so written.
- 1 - S.B.
1097 3.
Put a mark according to the instructions next to the word "yes" or "for" for each proposition or question you wish to be adopted.
Put a mark according to the instructions next to the word "no" or "against" for each proposition or question you wish not to be adopted.
B.
Immediately below the ballot instructions shall be placed the following:
Section One Partisan Ballot C.
Immediately below the heading for section one there shall be placed in columns the names of the candidates of the several political parties.
Show all 98 changed rows (58 more)
Previous
Latest
Next to each candidate's name there shall be printed in bold-faced letters the name of the political party.
At the head of each column shall be printed the names of the offices to be filled with the name of each office being of uniform type size.
At the head of each column shall be printed in the following order the names of candidates for:
1.
Presidential electors, which shall be in a list and next to the list shall be printed in bold type the surname of the presidential candidate, and the surname of the vice presidential candidate who is seeking election jointly with the presidential candidate shall be listed directly below the name of the presidential candidate.
The indicator for the selection of the presidential and vice presidential candidates shall be directly next to the surname of the presidential candidate, and one mark directly next to a presidential candidate's surname shall be counted as a vote for each elector in the list next to the presidential and vice presidential candidates.
2.
United States senator.
Requires the partisan designation to be the political party of which the candidate is a qualified elector 120 days before the day of the primary election for the election cycle in which the individual is a candidate.
Representatives in Congress.
Makes conforming changes.
The several state offices.
Amendment explanation prepared by Mason Holler 02/15/2024 Fifty-sixth Legislature Wadsack Second Regular Session S.B.
5.
1097 WADSACK FLOOR AMENDMENT SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B.
The several county, SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD and precinct offices.
1097 (Reference to printed bill) Page 1, line 4, strike "Partisan nomination" insert "Nominating";
D.
strike "partisan elections;" Line 5, after "ballots" insert ";
The names of candidates for the offices of state senator and state representative along with the district number shall be placed within the heading of each column to the right of the office name for state offices and immediately below the candidates for the office of governor.
partisan designation" Strike lines 6 through 17, insert:
The number of the supervisorial district of which a candidate is a nominee shall be printed within the heading of each column to the right of the name of the office.
"A.
E.
Nominating petitions shall be filed with the county school superintendent as prescribed by title 16, chapter 3.
The lists of the candidates of the several parties shall be arranged with the names of the parties in descending order according to the votes cast for governor for that county in the most recent general election for the office of governor, commencing with the left-hand column.
Nominating petitions shall be signed by a number of qualified electors of the district as provided in section 16-322.
In the case of political parties that did not have candidates on the ballot in the last general election, such parties shall be listed in - 2 - S.B.
Nominating petitions for persons seeking to fill a vacancy on a governing board shall be designated as provided in section 16-314." Reletter to conform Line 23, after the period insert "FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE PARTISAN DESIGNATION SHALL BE THE POLITICAL PARTY OF WHICH THE CANDIDATE IS A QUALIFIED ELECTOR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS BEFORE THE DAY OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION FOR THE ELECTION CYCLE IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS A CANDIDATE." Amend title to conform JUSTINE WADSACK 1097FloorWADSACK.docx 02/12/2024 3:33 PM C:
1097 alphabetical order below the parties that did have candidates on the ballot in the last general election.
VS - 1 -
The names of all candidates nominated under section 16-341 shall be placed in a single column below that of the recognized parties.
Next to the name of each candidate, in parentheses, shall be printed a three-letter abbreviation that is taken from the three words prescribed in the candidate's certificate of nomination.
F.
Immediately below the designation of the office to be voted for shall appear the words:
"Vote for not more than _________" (insert the number to be elected).
G.
In each column at the right or left of the name of each candidate and on the same line there shall be a place for the voter to put a mark.
Below the name of the last named candidate for each office there shall be as many blank lines as there are offices of the same title to be filled, with a place for the voter to put a mark.
On the blank line the voter may write the name of any person for whom the voter desires to vote whose name is not printed, and next to the name so written the voter shall designate his choice by a mark as in the case of printed names.
H.
When there are two or more candidates of the same political party for the same office, or more than one candidate for a judicial office, the names of all such candidates shall be so alternated on the ballots used in each election district that the name of each candidate shall appear substantially an equal number of times in each possible location.
If there are fewer or the same number of candidates seeking office than the number to be elected, the rotation of names is not required and the names shall be placed in alphabetical order.
I.
Immediately below section one of the ballot shall be placed the following:
Section Two Nonpartisan Ballot J.
Immediately below the heading for section two shall be placed the names of the candidates for justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of appeals, judges of the superior court standing for retention or rejection pursuant to article VI, section 38, Constitution of Arizona, judges of the superior court standing for election pursuant to article VI, section 12, Constitution of Arizona, school district officials and other nonpartisan officials in a column or in columns without partisan or other designation except the title of office in an order determined by the officer in charge of the election.
K.
Immediately below the offices listed in subsection J of this section, the ballot shall contain a separate heading of any nonpartisan office for a vacant unexpired term and shall include the expiration date of the term of the vacated office.
- 3 - S.B.
1097 L.
All proposed constitutional amendments and other propositions or questions to be submitted to the voters shall be printed immediately below the names of candidates for nonpartisan positions in such order as the secretary of state, or if a city or town election, the city or town clerk, designates.
Placement of county and local charter amendments, propositions or questions shall be determined by the officer in charge of the election.
Except as provided by section 19-125, each proposition or question shall be followed by the words "yes" and "no" or "for ______" and "against ______" as the nature of the proposition or question requires, and at the right or left of and next to each of such words shall be a place for the voter to put a mark according to the instructions that is similar in size to those places appearing opposite the names of the candidates, in which the voter may indicate his vote for or against such proposition or question by a mark as defined in section 16-400.
M.
Instead of printing the official and descriptive titles or the full text of each measure or question on the official ballot, the officer in charge of elections may print phrases on the official ballot that contain all of the following:
1.
The number of the measure in reverse type and at least twelve point TWELVE-POINT type.
2.
The designation of the measure as prescribed by section 19-125, subsection C or as a question, proposition or charter amendment, followed by the words "relating to..." and inserting the subject.
3.
Either the statement prescribed by section 19-125, subsection D that describes the effects of a "yes" vote and a "no" vote or, for other measures, the text of the question or proposition.
4.
The words "yes" and "no" or "for" and "against", as may be appropriate and a place for the voter to put a mark.
N.
For any ballot printed pursuant to subsection M of this section, the instructions on the official ballot shall direct the voter to the full text of the official and descriptive titles and the questions and propositions as printed on the sample ballot and posted in the polling place.
Sec.
3.
Applicability Sections 15-422 and 16-502, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, apply to school district governing board elections held on or after January 1, 2025.
- 4 -
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. Vetoed by Governor

  2. Transmit to Governor

  3. Transmit to Senate

  4. PASSED

  5. DP

  6. House Placed on Consent Calendar

  7. DP

  8. House Second Reading

  9. House First Reading.

  10. Transmit to House

  11. PASSED

  12. DPA

  13. DP

  14. Senate Second Reading

  15. Senate First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 84 not signed on · 38 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (84)

84 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 84 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed

Passed 31 Yea · 28 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 02100
Republican 23000
Unaffiliated 8701
Total 312801
% of votes cast 52%47%0%2%
How each member voted (60)
Member Party Vote
Jevin D Hodge — Not Voting
Austin Smith — Yea
Barbara Parker — Yea
Ben Toma — Yea
Charles W Lucking — Nay
Cory McGarr — Yea
David L. Cook — Yea
Jacqueline Parker — Yea
Jennifer Pawlik — Nay
Judy Schwiebert — Nay
Justin Heap — Yea
Keith Seaman — Nay
Laura Terech — Nay
Marcelino Quiñonez — Nay
Melody Hernandez — Nay
Travis W. Grantham — Yea
Alma Hernandez Democrat Nay
Analise Ortiz Democrat Nay
Betty J Villegas Democrat Nay
Cesar Aguilar Democrat Nay
Christopher Mathis Democrat Nay
Consuelo Hernandez Democrat Nay
Elda Luna-Nájera Democrat Nay
Lorena Austin Democrat Nay
Lupe Contreras Democrat Nay
Lydia Hernandez Democrat Nay
Mae Peshlakai Democrat Nay
Mariana Sandoval Democrat Nay
Myron Tsosie Democrat Nay
Nancy Gutierrez Democrat Nay
Oscar De Los Santos Democrat Nay
Patty Contreras Democrat Nay
Quantá Crews Democrat Nay
Sarah Liguori Democrat Nay
Seth Blattman Democrat Nay
Stacey Travers Democrat Nay
Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Democrat Nay
Alexander Kolodin Republican Yea
Beverly Pingerelli Republican Yea
David Livingston Republican Yea
David Marshall, Sr. Republican Yea
Gail Griffin Republican Yea
John Gillette Republican Yea
Joseph Chaplik Republican Yea
Julie Willoughby Republican Yea
Justin Wilmeth Republican Yea
Kevin Payne Republican Yea
Laurin Hendrix Republican Yea
Leo Biasiucci Republican Yea
Lupe Diaz Republican Yea
Matt Gress Republican Yea
Michael Carbone Republican Yea
Michele Peña Republican Yea
Neal Carter Republican Yea
Quang H Nguyen Republican Yea
Rachel Keshel Republican Yea
Selina Bliss Republican Yea
Steve Montenegro Republican Yea
Teresa Martinez Republican Yea
Timothy "Tim" Dunn Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed

Passed 16 Yea · 10 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 0704
Unaffiliated 5300
Republican 11000
Total 161004
% of votes cast 53%33%0%13%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Anna Hernandez — Nay
Anthony Kern — Yea
Christine Marsh — Nay
Juan Mendez — Nay
Justine Wadsack — Yea
Ken Bennett — Yea
Sine Kerr — Yea
Sonny Borrelli — Yea
Brian Fernandez Democrat Not Voting
Catherine Miranda Democrat Not Voting
Denise “Mitzi” Epstein Democrat Nay
Eva Burch Democrat Nay
Eva Diaz Democrat Not Voting
Flavio Bravo Democrat Nay
Lela Alston Democrat Nay
Priya Sundareshan Democrat Nay
Rosanna Gabaldón Democrat Not Voting
Sally Ann Gonzales Democrat Nay
Theresa Hatathlie Democrat Nay
David C. Farnsworth Republican Yea
David Gowan Republican Yea
Frank Carroll Republican Yea
J.D. Mesnard Republican Yea
Jake Hoffman Republican Yea
Janae Shamp Republican Yea
John Kavanagh Republican Yea
Shawnna Bolick Republican Yea
Thomas "T.J." Shope Republican Yea
Warren Petersen Republican Yea
Wendy Rogers Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1097?
SB 1097 is sponsored by Alexander Kolodin (Republican), Rachel Keshel (Republican), Joseph Chaplik, Warren Petersen (Republican), Jake Hoffman (Republican), David C. Farnsworth (Republican), Justine Wadsack, Sonny Borrelli, and Cory McGarr.
What is the current status of SB 1097?
This bill died with 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session. It reached “To Executive” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1097?
Track SB 1097 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 1097

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Stay ahead of SB 1097

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →