Bill > SB1181

This bill, titled the "Certified Public Accounting Act of 2026," proposes several amendments to Arizona's laws governing certified public accountants (CPAs). Key provisions include updating definitions to include terms like "baccalaureate degree" and "postbaccalaureate degree," and clarifying requirements for obtaining a CPA certificate, such as adjusting the experience and education requirements to allow for a baccalaureate degree with two years of experience, or a baccalaureate degree with additional coursework and one year of experience, or a postbaccalaureate degree with one year of experience. The bill also modifies rules regarding continuing professional education, allowing for an eighty-hour requirement over a two-year period, and updates provisions related to firm registration, limited reciprocity privileges for out-of-state CPAs, and disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, it clarifies fee structures for various registrations and reinstatements, and adjusts language around the confidentiality of information acquired by accountants, particularly concerning investigations and disciplinary actions, while also specifying that continuing professional education audits are not confidential. The act is set to become effective on December 31, 2026.