Roadmap to Legislative Research

  1. Introduction
  2. Find a current set of Arizona Revised Statutes, Annotated.
  3. Find all relevant Arizona session laws.
  4. Find the bill status or chronology.
  5. Find the introduced version of the bill.
  6. Find items in the bill files at the Arizona House of Representatives and at the Arizona State Senate.
  7. Find standing committee minutes.
  8. Find interim or study committees.
  9. Find additional resources that might mention the legislation.

 

1. Introduction

In general, a legislative history is a compilation which follows a bill chronologically through the legislative process, usually with the purpose of discovering legislative intent. In the Arizona Legislative Manual (Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Legislative Council, 2003), Legislative Intent is defined as:

A goal of the Legislature in enacting legislation. Intent may be stated in enacted legislation or may be ascribed from the provisions of the law and circumstances contemporaneous with its enactment. Intent does not have the force of law but may be used to interpret statutory provisions.

Unlike at the Federal level where intent might be picked up from a floor debate recorded in the Congressional Record, in Arizona, in general, the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Senate only record the introduction and the final disposition of bills along with the details of votes.

It is possible that a legislative history of a statute has already been compiled and published in a law review or some other source. If not, primary and secondary Arizona legal materials for use in the compilation of Arizona legislative history can be found at:

  • Arizona Legislature, 1700 W. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007
    • Clerk of the Arizona House of Representatives
    • Senate Resource Center
  • Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Polly Rosenbaum Archives and History Building, 1901 W. Madison, Phoenix Arizona 85009

 

2. Find a current set of Arizona Revised Statutes, Annotated.

The print edition is the best for legislative research because it has the most detailed information.
The current print A.R.S. and Westlaw are available at the State of Arizona Research Library. Older volumes of A.R.S. are also avilable for researchers tracking changes.

  • Find the section of the code that you want to research, e.g., A.R.S. § 4-101(16)
    • Consult the "Historical and Statutory Notes" to find when the section adopted and amdended.
    • Note: the "Law Review and Journal Commentaries," the "Notes of Decisions," and other annotations also may be relevant to your research.
    • Check the pocket part at the back of the volume to make sure you are workingw ith the most recent version of the statute. There may be additional Historical and Statutory Notes, Law Review and Journal Commentaries, Notes of Decisions, or other annotations that are helpful for your research.
    • You may request copies for a fee. Copy the title page and verso of the volume and the "Historical and Statutory Notes. "

 

3. Find all relevant Arizona session laws.

Find the chapters of the Session Laws referenced in the "Historical and Statutory Notes." The State of Arizona Research Library also has earlier statutory codes cited in the Notes.

  • 1997+
  • Before 1997
    • Use the Session laws, State of Arizona online or
    • The print set of Session Laws, State of Arizona, available at the State of Arizona Research Library.
    • Find the correct year, session and chapter listed in the annotations in A.R.S.
    • You may request copies for a fee. Copy the title page and verso of the volume(s) and chapter(s) and the relevant sesion law.
  • For official copies
    • ​​Find the print set of Session laws, State of Arizona in the Arizona Law Collection at the State of Arizona Research Library.

 

4. Find the bill status or chronology.

Find the bill number in the caption of the Session Law

  • 1997+
  • Before 1997
    • Find the sets of the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Senate online or
    • Find the sets of the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Senate at the State of Arizona Research Library.
    • In the Journals, locate an index titles "History of House Bills" or "History of Senate Bills" and look up the bill number to find a summary of action on the bill. Note the committees that heard the bill, the dates, whether the bill was amended in committee or on the floor, and whether it went to a conference committee.
      • Note: The House and Senate each compile a Journal of the legislative action in that chamber. To be thorough, consult both.
    • You may request copies for a fee. Copy the title page and verso and the chronology of actions taken in each chamber.
  • For official copies
    • ​​Find the print sets of the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Senate at the State of Arizona Research Library.

 

5. Find the introduced version of the bill.

The bill number is in the caption of the Session Law

  • 1997+
  • Before 1997
    • The State of Arizona Research Library has the official copy of the Introduced Bills in print from 1917- present.
    • Note: The introduced bill will be a part of the bill file from the chamber in which it was introduced.

 

6. Find the bill files of the arizona house of representatives and the arizona state sentate.

Bill files contain the documents created during the legislative process. They usually include:

  • The introduced bill
  • Adopted amendments
  • Record of votes
  • Engrossed versions of bill (The "engrossed" bill includes adopted amendments.)
  • Conference committee members and recommendation

The bill file may include:

  • Staff summaries of the bill
  • Proposed amendments that were not adopted
  • Messages from the Governor

Note: The House and Senate each compile a bill file of the legislative process in that chamber. To be thorough, review both.

  • 1997+
  • 1969-1996
    • The State of Arizona Research Library has bill files on micorfilm for the following years:
      • Senate: 1969-1990
      • House: 1971-1994

If you need different years:

  • 1969+
    • Request the Senate bill file at the Senate Resource Center located on the 1st floor of the Arizona State Senate at the State Capitol.
  • 1965 +
    • Request the House bill file at the service window of the Clerk of the House on the 2nd floor of the Arizona House of Representatives at the Arizona State Capitol.

You may request copies for a fee.

 

7. Find the standing committee minutes.

Working with the bill status or chronology:

  • 1997+
    • Go to the Arizona Legislative Information System (A.L.I.S.) web site.
    • Use the drop-down menu to select the appropriate year and session.
    • Consult the Overview screen to identify the standing committees that heard the bill in each chamber and the dates it was voted out of committee.
    • Use the Agenda link at left to select the committee and hearing date. Click the minutes link under the agenda.
  • 1967-1996 Senate Committee minutes
    • Visit the Senate Resource Center located on the 1st floor of the Arizona State Senate at the Arizona State Capitol.
    • Ask to see the relevant committee folder(s)
  • 1965-1996 House Committee minutes
    • Contact the Arizona State Archies at 602-926-3720 with the year and name of the House committee to request minutes.

 

8. Find relevant interim or study committees.

  • 1997+
    • Consult the Arizona Legislative Information System (A.L.I.S.) web site for Interim Committees
    • Consult the State or Arizona Research Library's online catalog
      • Select "Advanced Catalog Search" and enter study committee in the general search box and one search term in the subject search box, e.g., internet and select "State Documents" as the location
      • Click the Search button.
      • Some reports may be available online. If not, you may access a copy from the State of Arizona Research Library.
    • Committee information can also be found in the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Sentate for the year of the bill being researched. Check the prior years for interim or study committees.
    • You may request copies for a fee. Copy the title pages and verso of the volumes and the committee references.

Reports of interim and study committees

  • 1997+
  • 1990-1996
    • Request the minutes of interim and study committees from the State Archives at 602-926-3720
  • 1989+ House Committee folders
    • Request the committee folder from the service window of the Clerk of the House on the 2nd floor of the Arizona House of Representatives at the Arizona State Capitol.
    • Committee folders from earlier years may be avilable.
    • You may request copes for a fee.
  • 1967+ Senate Committee folders
    • Request the committee folder from the Senate Resource Center located on the 1st floor of the Arizona State Senate at the State Capitol.

 

9. Find additional resources that might mention the legislation.