Spring 2026 Legislative Update

Last Spring, Governor Hobbs signed Executive Order 2025-09 directing the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA) and Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH) to form a Workplace Heat Safety Task Force to draft and recommend Heat Guidelines for Employers. These guidelines would provide additional recommendations for employers to be included in the Arizona Heat Stress State Emphasis Program.

The Task Force, composed of business, labor, and industry leaders met during the remainder of the year to develop the guidelines in accordance with the executive order. During the meetings, some members expressed their desire to develop and implement a heat standard in addition to or in place of the guidelines. The Task Force ultimately completed their duties and presented ADOSH with the Guidelines for further review.

The next step in the process was a review of the guidelines by the ADOSH Advisory Committee. The Committee held a stakeholder meeting in February and supporters for the guidelines expressed their approval. Additionally, supporters of a heat standard voiced their desire for the Committee to develop and recommend a heat standard.

On March 3, 2026, the ADOSH advisory committee voted to advance the task force guidelines as written.  Not surprisingly, members of the heat standard coalition were disappointed because the advisory committee DID NOT recommend the development of a heat standard. One member of the committee opined that the committee should look into a heat standard because while his employer provides ample resources to prevent heat illness, he believes that other employers may not be as diligent.

The full Industrial Commission will consider the recommendations from the Task Force for heat safety sometime in April. They can follow the task force recommendation to build upon the existing Heat State Emphasis Program or go in a different direction. Regardless, my firm will continue our conversations with Commission staff on this important matter, and we will attend the Industrial Commission hearing when they take up this issue in April.

Brian Tassinari