Why It Matters: The Arizona State Legislature concluded its 2026 legislative session on June 13, adjourning sine die after reaching a budget agreement with Governor Katie Hobbs. During the final weeks of session, Governor Hobbs signed 77 bills and vetoed 88. Several pieces of legislation impacting Arizona’s sportsmen and women advanced this year, while others failed to reach the finish line.
Highlights:
- The Arizona Legislature approved funding for critical fish hatchery infrastructure improvements and strengthened protections for state-owned shooting ranges.
- Several sportsmen-related bills, including legislation affecting complimentary fishing licenses and Arizona Game and Fish Commission (AZGFD) membership, failed to advance before adjournment.
As part of the budget package, House Bill 4156 approved the AZGFD request to utilize $11 million in sportsmen-generated dollars to modernize infrastructure at the Tonto Creek and Bubbling Ponds hatcheries. Although these funds are generated through sportsmen contributions, the Department must receive legislative approval before using the money for projects such as hatchery upgrades. The bill also appropriates an additional $550,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund for the maintenance of AZGFD dams and hatcheries. Governor Hobbs signed HB 4156 into law on June 13.
Governor Hobbs also signed House Bill 2763 into law on June 22. The new law strengthens protections for state-owned shooting ranges, including Ben Avery, by requiring legislative approval before the Governor can order the closure of a state-owned shooting range. Specifically, the Arizona Legislature must first adopt a joint resolution approving the closure before the Governor may issue an executive order. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) supports legislation that protects public shooting ranges, which provide important opportunities for recreational shooting, hunter education, firearms safety training, and the recruitment of future hunters and recreational shooters.
Not all sportsmen-related legislation was successful this session. Senate Bill 1050, as amended, would have required the Arizona State Parks Board to issue free lifetime State Parks passes to veterans while also incorporating language from Senate Bill 1155 to provide complimentary fishing licenses for qualifying veterans. The bill ultimately failed to receive a final vote before sine die. While CSF strongly supports increasing access to the outdoors for veterans, hunting and fishing license sales remain one of the primary funding sources for state fish and wildlife agencies. When states provide free or discounted licenses without reimbursing agencies, they reduce the funding available for conservation. To protect the integrity of sportsmen-generated funding through the American System of Conservation Funding, CSF encourages states to reimburse agencies from the general fund whenever complimentary licenses are authorized by the legislature.
Several other sportsmen-related bills also failed to advance before adjournment, including House Bill 2162, which would have required at least one member of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission to be a cattle producer or rancher, and House Bill 2158, which proposed changes to Arizona’s statutory definition of predatory animals.
CSF thanks the members of the Arizona Legislators for Wildlife Caucus for their continued support of Arizona’s sportsmen and women and looks forward to working with policymakers and partners ahead of the 2027 legislative session.