Arizona 57th Legislature - First Regular Session Status: Enacted 1 R cosponsors

SB 1461 — law enforcement officers; probation; termination

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 04, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Katie Hobbs (Democratic) on April 18, 2025.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    4 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

24 added · 13 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill SB 1461 clarify protections for law enforcement officers during their probationary periods. The updated version now explicitly states that officers cannot be disciplined for having a designated representative, such as an attorney, present during certain proceedings. This is significant because it strengthens the rights of officers facing disciplinary actions, ensuring they have support and representation when needed. Additionally, the amendments specify conditions under which probationary evaluations apply, particularly around promotions and transfers, which helps to define the rules more clearly.

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Senate Engrossed law enforcement officers;
House Engrossed Senate Bill law enforcement officers;
termination State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session SENATE BILL 1461 AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 38-1104, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
termination State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session CHAPTER 70 SENATE BILL 1461 AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 38-1104, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS PROMOTED AND PLACED ON PROBATIONARY STATUS FOR FAILING TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S PROBATIONARY PERIOD, BUT MAY DEMOTE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS PROMOTED ABOVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S CURRENT RANK AND PLACED ON PROBATIONARY STATUS FOR FAILING TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S PROBATIONARY PERIOD, BUT MAY DEMOTE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
E.
THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY IN WHICH THE POLICE RECRUIT WAS TRAINED.
AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND WHO FAILS TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD.
G.
AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS LATERALLY TRANSFERRED, WHO IS ON AN INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND WHO FAILS TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.
E.
H.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 18, 2025.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 21, 2025.
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How this bill changes current law

5 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill modifies the conditions under which law enforcement officers on probation may be terminated or demoted, emphasizing that an employer may not terminate an officer promoted above their current rank if they fail to complete their probationary period satisfactorily.

  • Section 38-1104

    NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW, AN EMPLOYER MAY NOT TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS PROMOTED ABOVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S CURRENT RANK AND PLACED ON PROBATIONARY STATUS FOR FAILING TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S PROBATIONARY PERIOD, BUT MAY DEMOTE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AT ANY TIME WITH JUST CAUSE.

    This establishes that officers promoted above their rank cannot be terminated for not completing the probationary period, allowing only for demotion.

  • Section 38-1104

    E. → H.

    This change renumbers the sections following the new subsection E.

  • Section 38-1104

    A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY IN WHICH THE POLICE RECRUIT WAS TRAINED. AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND WHO FAILS TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD. → THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE POLICE ACADEMY IN WHICH THE POLICE RECRUIT WAS TRAINED. AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A POLICE RECRUIT WHO IS PROMOTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND WHO FAILS TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

    This maintains but clarifies the existing provision regarding police recruits.

  • Section 38-1104

    AN EMPLOYER MAY TERMINATE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO IS LATERALLY TRANSFERRED, WHO IS ON AN INITIAL PROBATIONARY PERIOD AND WHO FAILS TO SATISFACTORILY COMPLETE THE PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

    This allows for the termination of law enforcement officers who are laterally transferred and do not complete their probation.

  • Section 38-1104

    This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is employed by an agency of this state as an at will employee. → This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer who is employed by an agency of this state as an at will employee.

    This reaffirms that at-will employees are not covered by these regulations.

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Transmit to Governor

  3. PASSED

  4. PASSED

  5. Transmit to Senate

  6. PASSED

  7. DPA

  8. PASSED

  9. DPA

  10. DPA

  11. House Second Reading

  12. House First Reading.

  13. Transmit to House

  14. PASSED

  15. DP

  16. Senate Second Reading

  17. Senate First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 92 not signed on · 29 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (92)

92 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 92 →

"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 42 Yea · 17 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 91701
Republican 33000
Total 421701
% of votes cast 70%28%0%2%
How each member voted (60)
Member Party Vote
Aaron Márquez Democrat Nay
Alma Hernandez Democrat Yea
Anna Abeytia Democrat Nay
Betty J Villegas Democrat Nay
Brian Garcia Democrat Nay
Cesar Aguilar Democrat Not Voting
Christopher Mathis Democrat Nay
Consuelo Hernandez Democrat Yea
Elda Luna-Nájera Democrat Yea
Janeen Connolly Democrat Nay
Junelle Cavero Democrat Yea
Kevin Volk Democrat Yea
Lorena Austin Democrat Nay
Lupe Contreras Democrat Yea
Lydia Hernandez Democrat Yea
Mae Peshlakai Democrat Nay
Mariana Sandoval Democrat Nay
Myron Tsosie Democrat Yea
Nancy Gutierrez Democrat Nay
Oscar De Los Santos Democrat Yea
Patty Contreras Democrat Nay
Quantá Crews Democrat Nay
Sarah Liguori Democrat Nay
Seth Blattman Democrat Nay
Stacey Travers Democrat Nay
Stephanie Simacek Democrat Nay
Stephanie Stahl Hamilton Democrat Nay
Alexander Kolodin Republican Yea
Beverly Pingerelli Republican Yea
Chris Lopez Republican Yea
David Livingston Republican Yea
David Marshall, Sr. Republican Yea
Gail Griffin Republican Yea
James Taylor Republican Yea
Jeff Weninger Republican Yea
John Gillette Republican Yea
Joseph Chaplik Republican Yea
Julie Willoughby Republican Yea
Justin Olson Republican Yea
Justin Wilmeth Republican Yea
Khyl Powell Republican Yea
Laurin Hendrix Republican Yea
Leo Biasiucci Republican Yea
Lisa Fink Republican Yea
Lupe Diaz Republican Yea
Matt Gress Republican Yea
Michael Carbone Republican Yea
Michael Way Republican Yea
Michele Peña Republican Yea
Neal Carter Republican Yea
Nick Kupper Republican Yea
Pamela Carter Republican Yea
Quang H Nguyen Republican Yea
Rachel Keshel Republican Yea
Ralph Heap Republican Yea
Selina Bliss Republican Yea
Steve Montenegro Republican Yea
Teresa Martinez Republican Yea
Tony Rivero Republican Yea
Walt Blackman Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Passed

Passed 17 Yea · 12 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 11101
Republican 16100
Total 171201
% of votes cast 57%40%0%3%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Analise Ortiz Democrat Nay
Brian Fernandez Democrat Nay
Catherine Miranda Democrat Yea
Denise “Mitzi” Epstein Democrat Nay
Eva Burch Democrat Not Voting
Eva Diaz Democrat Nay
Flavio Bravo Democrat Nay
Lauren Kuby Democrat Nay
Lela Alston Democrat Nay
Priya Sundareshan Democrat Nay
Rosanna Gabaldón Democrat Nay
Sally Ann Gonzales Democrat Nay
Theresa Hatathlie Democrat Nay
Carine Werner Republican Yea
David C. Farnsworth Republican Yea
David Gowan Republican Yea
Frank Carroll Republican Yea
Hildy Angius Republican Yea
J.D. Mesnard Republican Yea
Jake Hoffman Republican Yea
Janae Shamp Republican Yea
John Kavanagh Republican Yea
Kevin Payne Republican Yea
Mark Finchem Republican Yea
Shawnna Bolick Republican Yea
Thomas "T.J." Shope Republican Yea
Timothy "Tim" Dunn Republican Yea
Venden "Vince" Leach Republican Yea
Warren Petersen Republican Nay
Wendy Rogers Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety labor
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 1461?
SB 1461 is sponsored by Kevin Payne (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 1461?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 04, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 1461?
Track SB 1461 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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