Assigned to NREW FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1279
geographic; historic board; name change
Purpose
Prohibits the Arizona Board on Geographic and Historic Names (Board) from designating
names for geographic features, places of historical significance or specified roads that include the
term "squaw."
Background
Statute allows the Board to initiate proposals for changes in or additions to geographic or
historic names in Arizona. A person, group or agency may propose a change or addition to any
geographic feature or place of historical significance within Arizona by submitting a proposal and
supporting information to the Board for evaluation and recommendation. If the Board takes action
on a proposal, the Board must: 1) notify the person, group or agency that submitted the proposal;
and 2) transmit the official recommendation of geographic names to the U.S. Board of Geographic
Names (A.R.S. §§ 41-835.03 – 41.835.04).
In November 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3404 declared
"squaw" a derogatory term, treating the term in accordance with the U.S. BGN Policy V:
Derogatory and Offensive Names. The Order requires: 1) the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to
develop a list of locations and select candidate replacement names drawn from a list of nearby
associative topographic features; and 2) a Derogatory Geographic Names Task Force to consider
replacement names from the list of candidate names identified by the USGS.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits the Board from designating a name for a geographic feature, place of historical
significance, highway, parkway, historic road or scenic road that includes the term "squaw."
2. Requires the Board to:
a. identify the geographic features, places of historical significance, highways, parkways,
historic roads or scenic roads that include the term "squaw;" and
b. cooperate with any persons, groups or agencies to propose a name change that is culturally
appropriate.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 14, 2022
RC/MAH/slp