Weekly Legislative Reports

The budget battles have already begun at the Arizona legislature, though the actual negotiations are still around the corner. Republican leaders have announced their intention to enact a simple continuation of last year’s budget, with new spending to be decided later; Governor Katie Hobbs has outlined her plan for a $17.1 billion budget that repeals some top Republican priorities. Both sides say the other’s idea is unpalatable.

The first week of the legislative session was an exciting one, as lawmakers convened for Governor Katie Hobbs’ State of the State and the 28th annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day. This afternoon, the Governor released a budget proposal, outlining more details about what she hopes to achieve during her term.

The 2022 legislative session was shaped by a mix of cooperation and conflict, high-profile feuds, and unexpected alliances. It included a record-breaking budget surplus and big policy wins on both sides of the aisle. It ended in the early-morning hours of June 25 – 166 days after it began – tied for the fifth-longest session in Arizona history.

The 2022 legislative session ended in the early hours of Saturday morning, 166 days after it began. The last week of the session was marked by dramatic swings between cooperation and division, long hours of waiting mixed with flurries of voting and debate. It ended in a cloud of tear gas that drove protesters from Capitol grounds after legislative buildings were locked down and legislative staff moved to the basement.

The end of the state fiscal year is less than two weeks away, but the legislature did not make any obvious progress toward a state budget this week. Instead, legislators turned their attention to new legislation that would significantly alter the state’s education funding system. Republicans in the House Ways & Means Committee approved bills that would invest an additional $400 million in education programs, but only if the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program expands to include all Arizona students. Currently, ESA enrollment is limited to students with disabilities or those who meet other specific criteria.

After weeks of closed-door negotiations, Governor Ducey and Republican legislative leaders have a budget deal – they just don’t have the votes to pass it. While most Republican lawmakers say they could support the proposal, several Republicans staunchly oppose it because they believe it spends too much or too little. Democrats say they can’t support it because it does not include their priorities, including more education funding and a new earned income tax credit.