HB2581

THE CONTEXT: Current statute establishes various residency requirements in order to qualify for different programs or licenses. In order to be a qualified elector in the state of Arizona an individual must be a resident of this state for 29 days prior to the election ( A.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would establish that a resident is an individual who has actual physical presence in Arizona for at least 181 days with the intent to remain, state that residency applies only to: a) property tax purposes; b) vehicle registration pursuant to statute; and c) voter registration pursuant to statute, and authorize the county assessor, Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation and the county recorder to establish a physical presence requirement of less than 181 days if the individual demonstrates an intent to remain by providing evidence of any of the following: a) employment; b) purchase of residential property; c) rental of residential property; d) purchase of real property for residential purposes; e) the enrollment of the individual or individual's children in a school district or charter school; or f) active duty military service member identification.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to create an operative state process for physical presence instead of leaving implementation undefined. It would establish that a resident is an individual who has actual physical presence in Arizona for at least 181 days with the intent to remain, and would also state that residency applies only to: a) property tax purposes; b) vehicle registration pursuant to statute; and c) voter registration pursuant to statute, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.