Legislative immunity is a privilege in most states. A speeding ticket could change that in Arizona

The majority of state constitutions shield lawmakers from arrests, lawsuits and low-level infractions like traffic tickets during legislative sessions. It’s a privilege known as legislative immunity. Arizona Republican state Sen. Mark Finchem recently asserted it after he got a speeding ticket. It has since been dismissed. Voters could get a say on maintaining legislative immunity for traffic violations in the 2026 election if a bill making its way through the Legislature passes. Past efforts to curtail legislative immunity have failed. The privilege has its roots in the 16th and 17th centuries when some monarchs tried to intimidate legislators. Experts say it is a form of separation of powers.