Attempts to curtail universal ESA program fail
In the first legislative session following the universal expansion of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, attempts to curtail or enact further oversight for the program fell flat.
Getting a bill passed takes ‘compromise’ and persistence
After a record number of vetoes from a governor during the 2023 legislative session, Republicans saw a fewer volume of the amount of bills signed than in recent years.
Lawmakers pool resources to craft budget projects
Legislative Republicans and Democrats pooled their resources this session to craft major expenses in the state budget, including a $300 million boost to K-12 education and a $260 million tax rebate to Arizona families, plus many smaller projects also were negotiated into the budget.
Q&A with House Speaker Ben Toma
In a recent interview with the Arizona Capitol Times, House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, discussed the highlights and disappointments of the 2023 session.
House panel to examine Hobbs’ social media conduct as Secretary of State
A legislative panel is meeting next month to investigate the social media conduct of executive officials including Gov. Katie Hobbs before she was elected as governor.
Hobbs, mayors celebrate Prop 400 compromise
Gov. Katie Hobbs joined Democratic legislators and local officials from both parties in downtown Phoenix to hold a ceremonial signing of the bill that will put a transportation sales tax extension proposal before Maricopa County voters in 2024.
Petersen and Toma in court filing aim to quash Prop 211
With efforts by one set of foes already rebuffed, the state's top Republican lawmakers are making their own bid to quash a new state law designed to shine a light on "dark money.''
Legislative leaders increase intervening in court
On Aug. 1, legislative leaders filed an emergency motion in federal court to defend a law Republicans passed last year – one of many moves they’ve made in ongoing court cases this year.
Prop. 400 compromise alters use of tax monies
Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signing of a proposal to extend a Maricopa County transportation tax ensures voters will get the chance to weigh in on the issue before the tax expires in 2025. Most legislative Republicans, Democrats and Hobbs are praising the deal as one of the major legislative accomplishments this session.
Lawmakers move successful tax extension over far-right opposition
Established Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass a controversial tax extension on Monday, raising questions about whether the far-right Freedom Caucus will be as effective next session after the caucus failed to kill the deal.
Hobbs signs legislation to eliminate right of cities, towns to set local rental tax
Arizona renters are going to get some small relief in their bills. But not just yet.
Republicans want to reach deal with Hobbs and others over extension of transportation tax
Republicans who hold the majority in the Arizona Legislature are working to strike a final deal with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and leaders of cities, counties and tribes in metro Phoenix over an extension of a transportation tax that has funded massive expansions of the region's freeway and roads system, bus routes and the light rail over nearly four decades.