This bill seeks to update current statutes in Arizona by expanding the categories of protected characteristics against discrimination to include "sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression," alongside existing categories such as race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, and national origin. It modifies provisions related to discrimination in public accommodations, employment practices, and housing, ensuring that these new categories are explicitly recognized and protected. The bill also clarifies definitions, such as that of "gender identity and gender expression," and reduces the employee threshold for certain protections from fifteen to five, thereby broadening the scope of civil rights protections.

Additionally, the bill mandates that all single-occupancy restrooms in public buildings be designated as gender-neutral and requires accessible restrooms for individuals regardless of gender. It removes outdated language and ensures that discrimination in shared facilities is recognized as unlawful. In the context of housing and real estate transactions, the bill updates the definition of "Respondent" and expands the definition of "To rent" to encompass various occupancy rights, while explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on the newly added categories in all relevant contexts. Overall, the bill aims to enhance civil rights protections and reflect contemporary understandings of gender and equality.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1402, 41-1441, 41-1442, 41-1444, 41-1461, 41-1463, 41-1464, 41-1481, 41-1491, 41-1491.05, 41-1491.14, 41-1491.15, 41-1491.16, 41-1491.17, 41-1491.20, 41-1491.21, 38-611, 41-1465, 12-120.21, 12-120.22, 12-120.24, 41-1491.22, 101-336, 110-325, 41-1491.25