The Arizona legislature introduced HB 2762 for the 2022 legislative session, aiming to authorize medical aid in dying.
The Arizona legislature considered three bills aimed to authorize medical aid in dying in the state for the 2020 legislature. Unfortunately, none of the bills met legislative deadlines in order to advance.
On January 16, 2019, the Arizona Death with Dignity Act (HB 2408) was introduced by Representative Pamela Powers Hannley with co-sponsors Representatives Andrade, Blanc, Cano, Engel, Friese, Gabaldón, Peten, Rodriguez, Salman, Teller, Terán and Sen. Gonzales. The next day, another bill was introduced, also named the Death with Dignity Act (HB 2512) by Rep. Alma Hernandez, Rep. Daniel Hernandez and Representatives Teller and Tsosie, competing with (HB 2408).
A companion bill was also been introduced on January 29, 2019 in the state Senate. The Death with Dignity Act (SB113) by Senators Mendez, Dalessandro, Rios and Representatives Rodriguez, Salman.
In early 2018, four bills to authorize medical aid in dying were introduced in the Arizona Legislature. On January 8, Rep. Powers Hannley introduced House Bill 2102, Arizona Death with Dignity Act, and on February 7, Rep. Gonzales introduced House Bill 2611, also called Arizona Death with Dignity Act. Companion bills were put forward in the Senate. On January 18 Senator Bradley introduced Senate Bill 1222, and on January 26, Senator Mendez introduced Senate Bill 1414. The bills did not make it past committee, but Compassion & Choices continues to engage legislators and hopes to see additional action next year.
Two bills that would authorize medical aid in dying were introduced in January 2017 between the House (HB 2336) and Senate (SB1519). Compassion & Choices volunteers sent hundreds of letters urging their legislators to support the bills, visited their elected officials, held numerous organizing events and told their stories. Neither SB1519 nor HB2336 advanced out of committee during the 2017 legislative session.
Arizona SB 1136, a bill that would authorize medical aid in dying, was introduced in January 2016 by Arizona State Senator Barbara McGuire (D-Kearny), but it did not move out of committee.
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