Legislative History Research
Arizona State Library, Archives & Records COVID-19 Response – Temporarily suspending all in-person services, while maintaining our statutory responsibilities
- Our number one goal is to keep the public and our employees safe
- The situation related to COVID-19 is rapidly developing, as is the response from this office and the state. Please check back regularly for updates
- We are committed to providing continuity of services while reducing exposure risks
- In-person trainings for ALL divisions are on hold until further notice. Divisions will hold trainings by webinar as needed.
- Department staff will attend community meetings virtually or by phone, when available.
- Services impacted:
- In-person Patent and Trademark Resource Center consultations
- In-person retrieval and immediate checkout of materials to patrons of Arizona Talking Book Library
- Walk-in reference service for Archives & the Research Library
- Ask a Question - online reference service
- Digital Arizona Library, including statewide electronic resources
- Records retention schedules assistance
- Arizona Talking Book Library requests and link to downloads
- Tools and resources for library staff
- Online continuing education for library staff
- Consulting for library staff on grants, electronic resources, digital inclusion efforts, Public Library Survey and all library services
- Communications channel for County Librarians
- E-rate Services offered online and by phone
- Arizona Capitol Museum Giftshop orders can still be placed online
- Arizona Capitol Museum collections can be viewed online through the Arizona Memory Project and Google Cultural Institute
- Arizona Capitol Museum staff can respond to email and phone call inquiries.
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
Included in our legislative history materials are step-by-step instructions for how perform research and useful collections containing session laws, introduced bills, legislative journals, and more.
Start by taking advantage of our how-to guides:
- Introduction to Terminology and Process
- Legislative History Statehood through 1996
- Legislative History 1997 through present
- Roadmap to Legislative Research
The Territorial Legislature is examined in George H. Kelly’s Legislative History Arizona 1864-1912. Spanning the years between the creation of the Territory to Arizona’s admission as a state, the work includes profiles of early leaders, maps of the Territory, and a description of the work of the Territorial Legislature.
The period of Statehood through 1966 is analyzed in The History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966 by J. Morris Richards. This narrative of the work of the Arizona Legislature from Statehood through 1966 summarizes major legislation considered by each Legislature. It includes political development of the issues, the roles of prominent figures of the day, floor speeches, and news reports.
You may also find these links to be helpful:
Introduced Bills of the Territory of Arizona includes bills introduced in the Territorial Legislature between 1899 and 1909
The Session Laws of the Territorial Legislature includes laws adopted by the Legislative Assembies of the Territory of Arizona from 1864 to 1909.
Arizona Session Laws are a resource for tracking how laws have changed over time and for determining the bill number for the legislation that initiated the changes
The Journals of the Senate record the proceedings of each session of the Arizona Senate, including the Governor's Opening Message to the Legislature, disposition of bilss, votes, and veto messages.
The Journals of the House of Representatives record the proceedings of each session of the Arizona House of Representatives, including the Governor's Opening Message to the Legislature, disposition of bills, votes, and veto messages.
Historic Election Materials include publicity pamphlets from 1912 to the present, Folletos de Publicidad desde 1980 hasta el presente, and the Official Canvass from 1906 to the present.
State Agency Histories are summaries of the legal authority, funciton, and history of agencies, boards, and commissions of Arizona state government.
The Arizona legislative bill drafting manual is the manual of form and style for the preparation of bills and other legislative proposals. In Arizona, all legislation and legislative proposals are drafted by attorneys on the Arizona Legislative Council staff.
The Arizona legislative manual is a detailed description of the Arizona Legislature and explanation of the legislative process, prepared by the Arizona Legislative Council staff.
The Legislative summary: Arizona State Senate is an overview of legislation passed during the session, prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff analysts, support staff, and interns.
The Summary of Legislation from the House of Representatives is an overview of legislation passed during the session, prepared by nonpartisan House staff analysts, suppor staff, and interns.
Legislative Council wrote this helpful Digest of Laws that cross-references enacted legislation by statutory section and provides other helpful information.
The Historic Arizona Statutes collection includes statutes from Territorial days and statutory codes enacted before the adoption of the Arizona Revised Statutes.
