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SR 1036

attorney general; public statements; disapproval

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by John Kavanagh

The resolution states the Arizona Senate disapproves of the Attorney General’s public statements on use of force against law enforcement when inaccurate or misleading.

Transmit to Secretary of State
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Bill Summary · SR 1036

Summary of SR 1036 (Arizona, 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session)

SR 1036 is a concurrent Senate resolution expressing disapproval of the Arizona Attorney General’s public statements on the use of force against law enforcement officers. It is framed as a formal, nonbinding expression by the Senate rather than a statute.

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes that the Senate formally disapproves of the Attorney General’s public statements regarding the use of force against law enforcement officers when those statements are deemed inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading under Arizona law.
  • Affirms that Arizona law prioritizes submission to lawful authority and dispute resolution through courts, and that the lawful use of force against law enforcement is limited to narrowly defined circumstances.
  • Calls for the Attorney General to retract what the Senate views as dangerous rhetoric and to issue statements of support for law enforcement officers, including those serving in federal agencies (e.g., ICE).

Key provisions and changes proposed

  • Expresses disapproval of the Attorney General’s public statements on use of force against law enforcement officers to the extent they are inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading.
  • Reaffirms Arizona’s legal framework: submission to lawful authority and resolution through judicial processes; lawful deadly force against officers is only in rare, defined circumstances.
  • Requires or urges the Attorney General to:
    • Retract dangerous rhetoric concerning deadly force against federal, state, and local law enforcement officers.
    • Issue a public statement in support of all law enforcement officers, including ICE.
    • Exercise greater care, precision, and restraint when discussing criminal law, self-defense, and interactions with law enforcement.
    • Issue clarifying corrective guidance reflecting Arizona law to minimize misunderstanding or harm.
  • Recommends the Attorney General resign from office if she has “lost the trust of Arizona law enforcement officers,” asserting continuing in office could be used as a defense for misconduct.

Who is affected

  • The primary actor addressed is the Arizona Attorney General.
  • Public, law enforcement officers, and broader Arizona public safety stakeholders are indirectly affected through the framing of guidance and rhetoric surrounding use-of-force issues.
  • The resolution signals the Legislature’s stance and influences public discourse, not regulatory or procedural changes to law enforcement operations.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The measure is a Senate resolution (nonbinding).
  • It was introduced and passed the Senate floor on January 29, 2026, and transmitted to the Secretary of State.
  • Floor amendment (Kavanagh) adds two statements clarifying:
    • That multiple statewide law enforcement organizations have criticized the AG’s statements as harmful.
    • An allegation that the AG uses state resources to selectively solicit complaints about ICE officers.
  • The amendments also reorganize language to reflect Senate (rather than Legislature or House) targeting and conforming the resolution’s language.

Potential impact

  • As a nonbinding expression, SR 1036 primarily communicates the Senate’s position and concerns regarding the Attorney General’s public guidance on criminal law and use of force.
  • Could influence public and law enforcement perception of the AG’s statements and potentially affect reputational dynamics.
  • May heighten scrutiny of the Attorney General’s public remarks on criminal law and self-defense, and could prompt the AG to issue clarifying guidance if interpreted as a call to action.
  • The resolution’s language about resignation is rhetorical and political rather than a mechanism to remove the Attorney General.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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