Bill > HB2451

This bill modifies Arizona's administrative hearing procedures by providing parties in contested cases or appealable agency actions with additional rights and protections. Specifically, the bill now guarantees each party one automatic (peremptory) change of administrative law judge, and expands the grounds for requesting a non-peremptory disqualification of a judge to include conflicts of interest and situations where the judge is a material witness in the action. The bill maintains existing provisions about parties' rights to legal representation, evidence submission, and cross-examination, and preserves the administrative law judge's authority to manage hearings, issue subpoenas, and make evidentiary rulings. The bill also makes some minor technical language changes, such as replacing "may" with "shall" in certain sections and substituting "permit" or "permitted" with "allow" or "allowed". These modifications aim to provide more clarity and flexibility in administrative hearing procedures while maintaining the fundamental principles of fair and thorough administrative adjudication.

Justice

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/82251