Assigned to GOV FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2824
legislative subpoena; refusal; contempt
Purpose
Allows a legislative committee to hold a witness in contempt for neglecting to obey a
legislative subpoena if an order of contempt is issued for failure to comply with the subpoena after
the witness is given an opportunity for a hearing to present evidence as to why the witness is not
in contempt.
Background
A legislative subpoena may be issued by the Senate President, Speaker of the House of
Representatives (House), or any chairperson of a committee. The Senate or House may by
resolution commit a witness for contempt if the witness neglects or refuses to obey a legislative
subpoena. A witness neglecting or refusing to attend in obedience to a subpoena may be arrested
by the Sergeant-at-arms and brought before the Senate or House by a resolution signed by the
Senate President or Speaker of the House and countersigned by the Secretary of the Senate or
Chief Clerk of the House (A.R.S. ยงยง 41-1151 and 41-1153).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Adds that a witness may be committed to contempt if:
a) after the witness is given notice and opportunity, at the discretion of the chairperson, for a
hearing to present evidence to show cause as to why the witness is not in contempt; and
b) the Senate President, Speaker of the House or any committee issues an order of contempt
that finds the witness had knowledge of the subpoena, the ability to comply with the
subpoena and failed to comply with the subpoena.
2. Stipulates that a witness may be committed to contempt only by the prescribed procedures,
unless another procedure is provided by the rules of either house of the legislature.
3. Specifies that an order of contempt is signed by the chairperson, Senate President or Speaker
of the House and countersigned by the Secretary of the Senate or Chief Clerk of the House.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
FACT SHEET
H.B. 2824
Page 2
House Action
GOV 2/20/25 DP 4-3-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/26/25 32-27-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 10, 2025
AN/DL/slp