Fletcher McCusker: Surviving Arizona’s budget process
After the latest round of political scrutiny threatened to derail its mission, the leader of an important and unique part of Tucson’s economic development wants not just to keep the momentum going, but to expand its scope.
Arizona childcare assistance waitlist jumps to 13,500
Arizona's childcare assistance waitlist has swelled to more than 13,500 children, highlighting a growing affordability crisis.
Ben Henderson: Surveying the chessboard of Arizona’s budget
For Ben Henderson, the state budget process is like a game of chess — that is, if you replace the board with a pile of spreadsheets and the pieces with […]
Hobbs sees bipartisan budget, tax cuts as her election-year legacy
Key Points: Gov. Katie Hobbs is already campaigning on $1.4 billion tax cut from bipartisan budget She managed to secure a data center tax moratorium and avoid setting a new […]
Senate pulls the plug on Pinal rebate plan, leaves millions of illegal tax revenue in limbo
Key Points: Pinal County residents won’t receive $300 check for illegally collected taxes Plan to issue rebates stalled in the Senate before lawmakers adjourned Lawmakers may revisit the issue next […]
Arizona exoneration fund to go belly up under new state budget
Key Points: Arizona’s Erroneous Convictions Fund has lost funding in the new state budget The fund’s $3 million allocation has been depleted by its 11 initial applicants The fund was […]
Mayes weighs challenge against allegedly misspent opioid settlement
Key Points: Judge initially refused to block transfer of opioid settlement funds to state prison AG cites new auditor general report supporting her position Governor’s Office insists transfer of funds […]
House Republicans pass budget plan — Hobbs is ready to negotiate
Key Points: House GOP pass $17.9B budget using agency cuts to fund tax conformity Governor supports some provisions, opposes Medicaid and SNAP eligibility changes Both sides say they’re ready to […]
Development projects, tax credits and agency budgets face hard cuts in new GOP proposal
Key Points: Republican lawmakers unveil plan to balance state budget amid tight financial forecast Nearly $100 million in economic development funding is cut They also propose a 5% reduction in […]
GOP budget close: Kavanagh claims party is less than two weeks from proposal
Key Points: Republicans say they are close to a state budget proposal Negotiations occurring amid ongoing bill moratorium by Gov. Katie Hobbs A Prop.123 extension hangs in the balance Republican […]
Proposal would require Legislature to end sessions by April 30
Key points: A measure that would constitutionally require the Legislature to adjourn by April 30 passed a House committee Lawmakers haven’t adjourned by April in more than a decade Voters […]
Ringing in the new hot topics for the legislative session
Key Points: The 2026 legislative session will feature both new and returning topics Senate leaders in both parties say crafting the state budget will be a challenge Senate GOP leader […]


















