HB 2453 revises Arizona statutes governing filing fees and fee deposits for corporations and nonprofit corporations, with the main policy change being a redirection of a portion of annual report fees to the Arizona arts trust fund. Under the bill, one-third of annual report fees collected from domestic and foreign corporations under Title 10 would be deposited into the Arizona arts trust fund, while the remaining two-thirds would continue to support the public access fund. The bill also updates related language in the public access fund statute and the arts trust fund statute to reflect that revenue flow.
The measure also makes conforming and technical changes to fee schedules, expedited filing provisions, same-day and next-day service authority, remote access/data processing fees, and the “money on deposit” account used for advance fee payments. It preserves the commission’s authority to collect filing, service, copying, and penalty fees, and continues to direct most of those revenues to the public access fund or the state general fund, depending on the type of fee. The Arizona Corporation Commission remains the administering agency for the public access fund, while the Arizona Commission on the Arts administers the arts trust fund.
Impact
HB 2453 would amend sections 10-122, 10-122.01, 10-3122, and 41-983.01 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Its principal legal effect is to create a statutory revenue split for annual report fees under Title 10, diverting one-third of those fees into the Arizona arts trust fund and leaving two-thirds in the public access fund. The bill also updates cross-references and administrative language governing how the Corporation Commission collects, deposits, and uses fees for filing services, data processing, and advance deposits, while leaving the underlying fee structure largely intact.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee discussion or votes, the available record suggests a neutral, administrative measure rather than a highly contentious policy bill. The proposal appears aimed at reallocating existing revenue streams and making technical updates to fee statutes, which often receive limited debate unless they affect agency funding or outside beneficiaries. No formal vote history or transcript indicates strong support or opposition in the materials provided.
Contention
The most likely point of contention is the diversion of a portion of corporate annual report fees to the Arizona arts trust fund, which shifts money away from the public access fund that supports Corporation Commission administrative and data-processing functions. Supporters would likely emphasize arts funding and the use of existing fee revenue, while opponents could argue that the change reduces resources for commission operations or public-record access infrastructure. A secondary issue is the bill’s continued authorization of various fees and supermajority-controlled expedited service charges, though the text does not show any specific objections from legislators or stakeholders.