Arizona Legislative Staff: Who Does What for a New Legislator
Arizona legislative staff work differently from a congressional office. Much of your support comes from shared staff who serve the whole chamber or your whole caucus, not from people you hire yourself.
This guide explains who does what, so a new Democratic legislator knows who to call on day one.
Three Kinds of Staff
- Legislative Council: nonpartisan attorneys and researchers who draft bills and amendments.
- Budget analysts: the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff, who analyze the budget and estimate what bills cost.
- Caucus staff: partisan policy advisors, communications staff and a caucus chief of staff hired by each party.
Legislative Council
Legislative Council handles legal research and drafting at legislators’ request. They’re nonpartisan, so they work for every member, and they’ll tell you if your idea has a legal problem.
Our guide on how to get your first bill drafted walks through working with them.
Budget Analysts and Bill Costs
If your bill costs money, expect questions about its price. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee’s staff estimate costs, and those numbers shape how committees and leadership see your bill.
Ask early what your bill might cost. A surprise cost estimate at the hearing can kill a good idea.
Your Caucus Staff
The Democratic caucus hires its own policy advisors, who staff committees, track bills and help members with amendments. A caucus chief of staff manages the team.
They serve the whole caucus, so be specific and be early. Tell them your two or three priorities in December, not March.
Where Your Campaign Team Fits
Your campaign team can’t do campaign work with state resources. Under A.R.S. § 16-192, public bodies can’t use public resources, including personnel, to influence elections.
Keep campaign work on campaign time and campaign equipment. Our guide on whether campaign staff can work in your official office covers the details.
Your First-Week Checklist
- Meet the Democratic caucus chief of staff and the policy advisors for your committees.
- Open Legislative Council files for your two or three priority bills.
- Ask what each priority might cost before you file it.
- Set up official email and social accounts, separate from your campaign’s.
- Tell your campaign team what they can and can’t do on state time.
Build Your Own Outside Team
Arizona legislative staff can’t do everything. Build a circle of outside advisors: local officials from your district, policy experts, advocates and constituents who live with the problems you want to fix.
Sutton & Smart works with Democratic legislators on re-election strategy, mail and field. Talk to us about your first term.
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Jon Sutton
An expert in management, strategy, and field organizing, Jon has been a frequent commentator in national publications.
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