Arizona SB 1194: state veterinarian; certified rabies vaccinator

Bill Text

SB1194 - 572R - S Ver 

 Senate Engrossed

 vaccination status; 
 denial; prohibition

 State of Arizona

 Senate

 Fifty-seventh Legislature

 Second Regular Session

 2026

 SENATE BILL 1194

AN 
ACT

Amending title 32, chapter 32, article 1, 
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-3230.03; Amending title 36, 
chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-420.06; 
relating to health care services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it 
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 32, chapter 32, article 1, 
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-3230.03, to read:

START_STATUTE32-3230.03. Health professionals; denial of care; vaccination status; 
prohibition; civil penalty

A. A health professional may not deny 
care or services to any person based on the person's vaccination status or 
adversely affect a person's options for, priority level of or quality of health 
care based on the person's vaccination status.

B. Any person who believes that the 
person's health care has been adversely affected in violation of subsection A 
of this section has a cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction.

C. A health professional who is found 
to be in violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 per 
violation or three times the amount of actual damages suffered by the person as 
a result of the violation, whichever is more. The court may award a 
plaintiff who prevails in an action under this section punitive damages, court 
costs and reasonable attorney fees.

D. Notwithstanding any other law, a 
declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic does 
not:

1. exempt health professionals from 
the requirements of subsection A of this section.

2. override or exempt health 
professionals from the protections and requirements of this 
section. Any health care-related mandate issued in response to 
a declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic 
shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner that upholds this section, 
ensuring that the health care-related mandate does not conflict with the 
fundamental rights that this section protects.END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona 
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-420.06, to read:

START_STATUTE36-420.06. Health care institutions; denial of care; vaccination status; 
prohibition; civil penalty

A. A health care institution may not 
deny care or services to any person based on the person's vaccination status or 
adversely affect a person's options for, priority level of or quality of health 
care based on the person's vaccination status.

B. Any person who believes that the 
person's health care has been adversely affected in violation of subsection A 
of this section has a cause of action in a court of competent jurisdiction.

C. A health care institution that is 
found to be in violation of this section is subject to a civil penalty of $500 
per violation or three times the amount of actual damages suffered by the 
person as a result of the violation, whichever is more. The court 
may award a plaintiff who prevails in an action under this section punitive 
damages, court costs and reasonable attorney fees.

D. Notwithstanding any other law, a 
declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic does 
not:

1. exempt health care institutions 
from the requirements of subsection A of this section.

2. override or exempt health care 
institutions from the protections and requirements of this 
section. Any health care-related mandate issued in response to 
a declaration of a public health emergency, health care crisis or pandemic 
shall be interpreted and enforced in a manner that upholds this section, 
ensuring that the health care-related mandate does not conflict with the 
fundamental rights that this section protects.END_STATUTE