Arizona is on track for a $400 million deficit in June at the end of fiscal year 2024, according to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.Â
However, the shortfall is not expected to last long, as the committee estimates that things will turn “positive” by fiscal year 2027. They anticipate there will be a $450 million then will get smaller in fiscal year 2026.
Read the full story
State Representative Daniel Hernandez (D-Tucson) voted against a requirement for K-12 students to learn about the dangers of communism, saying that white nationalism poses the bigger threat.
Hernandez issued those remarks during the House floor vote on the K-12 budget last Friday. In just over a century of existence, communism has claimed over 100 million lives. However, Hernandez claimed that the existence of white nationalism, which he attributed to the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, was far worse.
Read the full story
PHOENIX, Arizona –Â Thursday, the Arizona House passed tax reforms to implement a flat tax rate and reduced income tax during the ongoing debate over the budget. With it, they ushered in a $1.9 billion tax cut and lowered taxes to about 2.5 percent.
House Republicans announced their victory early that afternoon.
Read the full story
PHOENIX, Arizona –Â In an effort to speed along passage of the budget, Arizona House Republicans pushed through a rule change to limit debate on bills to 30 minutes. After that, amendments on that bill would be moved, explained, and voted on without debate, explanation of vote, or questions. Additionally, all protests were directed to be made in writing and submitted to the chief clerk.
The rule change passed along party lines, 31 to 29.
Read the full story
The Arizona Senate worked late into the night on Tuesday in order to pass the state’s budget and other key initiatives, such as expanding the state’s school voucher program and blocking Critical Race Theory (CRT) education.
The proceedings began on the Senate side after Arizona House Democrats refused to show up at the Capitol, blocking the deliberative body from being able to conduct debate on a budget and tax cuts for the state’s residents.
Read the full story
PHOENIX, Arizona –Â In a move mirroring the Texas House Democrats last week, the Arizona House Democrats walked out of the budget hearing on Tuesday. House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding (D-Laveen) and House Minority Whip Domingo DeGrazia (D-Tucson) reportedly committed to Republican House leadership that they wouldn’t stage a walkout.
In an interview with The Arizona Sun Times, State Representative Jake Hoffman (R-Gilbert) asserted that the Republican side of the House showed up willing to listen to and discuss the Democrats’ amendments. He said that this latest stunt was an indicator of who had the people’s best interest at heart.
Read the full story
Two Arizona lawmakers are attempting to make changes to the state’s budget bills, which held up the signing of the law last week.Â
“The changes include smaller tax cuts until actual revenue comes in above projections and a much larger paydown of state debt,” as reported by Fox 10.Â
Read the full story