Bills propose new guidelines to protect Arizona workers from extreme heat

As the legislative session begins, Arizona Democrats are again proposing bills focused on heat safety in workplaces.

Seven other states, including neighboring California and Nevada, have adopted standards in recent years to require certain protections for workers exposed to hot temperatures on the job. But Arizona has never had those rules for workplaces.

Democratic Rep. Mariana Sandoval introduced HB 2928, which would require the Industrial Commission of Arizona to establish a statewide heat standard for workplaces.

Sandoval said the regulations would include, “water breaks, shade and rest from the heat. It would also require training for supervisors to identify heat-related illnesses.”

The bill would also require the Industrial Commission to outline more specific rules for industries including agriculture, landscaping, and mail and delivery services.

Another Democrat, Rep. Alma Hernandez, has also introduced a similar bill — HB 2684 — to write workplace heat safety requirements into state employment laws.

This is the third time Sandoval has introduced her bill — it has never gotten a hearing.

Sandoval said it can be difficult for Democrat-backed bills to gain traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature, especially in an election year like this.

“[Republicans] are like, ‘I support the idea, but I can’t have my name on it,’ or, ‘if it comes to the floor I’ll vote for it, but I can’t put my name on it.’ That’s always the answer I get,” Sandoval said.

The Industrial Commission of Arizona may consider new heat safety requirements in the months ahead, regardless of what happens with Sandoval’s bill. Gov. Katie Hobbs last year convened a task force to recommend heat safety guidelines to the Industrial Commission. That process is ongoing.

“I’m glad the governor is moving on this,” Sandoval said, but, she added, “a new governor will come in and they could always rescind those rules. If we put it in statute, it’s a lot harder to just get rid of it.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to correct the House bill that Democratic Rep. Mariana Sandoval introduced.

This article was produced as a project for USC Annenberg’s Center for Climate Journalism and Communication and Center for Health Journalism 2025 Health and Climate Change Reporting Fellowship.