On February 16, the Arizona House Government committee passed HB 2404, which severely restricts paid initiative circulators. It would require sponsors of initiatives to post a $50,000 bond, if the sponsors are using paid circulators. It would require circulators to register and pay a fee. The bill does not set the fee, but says the Secretary of State would set it. Paid circulators would need to provide a copy of a criminal background check, and take a training class. It would be illegal for circulators to be paid on a per-signature basis.

Laws to outlaw paying on a per signature basis have been struck down in Ohio and Colorado. Also it is likely that requiring a circulator to pay a registration fee violates the First Amendment.

The vote in committee was 5-3. The sponsor is Representative Vincent Leach (R-SaddleBrooke).