AZ Legislative Update: 57th Arizona Legislature Convenes with State of the State Address
Posted by [email protected] on Jan. 14, 2025 / Subscribe 0
The 57th Arizona State Legislature convened this afternoon with Governor Katie Hobbs (D) delivering her third state of the state address to a joint House and Senate legislative floor session. The Governor spoke for a little less than an hour. The theme of her speech was the “Arizona Promise” which she called a promise for everyday Arizonans to “find opportunity, security and freedom.”
Below are the key areas the Governor addressed in her state of the state:
Housing/Homelessness – Governor Hobbs called upon the Legislature to do more to help promote homeownership by increasing the housing supply and drive down costs. She touted the Arizona Department of Housing’s downpayment assistance program, Arizona is Home, and asked the Legislature to extend the state’s low incoming housing tax credit program. Additionally, the Governor is asking members to address the proliferation of vacation rentals and eliminate party houses which she argues has contributed to driving up housing prices throughout the state. She praised lawmakers for their efforts to cut red tape when it comes to increasing the housing supply but stated that more commonsense solutions need to be brought forward. The Governor also called for an end to veteran homelessness within the next decade. Her executive budget will include an appropriation and create a program called, Homes for Heroes, to tackle this issue.
Reduce Childcare Costs – The Governor is hoping to reduce the cost of childcare by two-thirds through her proposed Working Families Child Care Act. She is calling for a public-private partnership to make progress to reduce costs for families and reduce workplace disruptions.
Manufacturing/Business Growth – Governor Hobbs called Arizona the epicenter of the semiconductor industry and a model for the nation when it comes to attracting manufacturing jobs. She highlighted her BuidItAZ Apprenticeship initiative which creates apprenticeship programs in state’s construction and trade industry and her microbusiness loan program to encourage more entrepreneurs.
K-12 Education /Prop. 123 Extension/ESA Vouchers – The Governor would like to see Proposition 123 expanded which is a dedicated source of funding to public schools (without increasing taxes), set to expire in 2025. Republican lawmakers have stated that they would like to see the money solely used for teacher pay increases; however, the Governor indicated that there are additional areas the funds should be allocated toward. Additionally, once again, the Governor called out the state’s ESA program (school vouchers) and asked for more reforms including income caps and other various transparency measures.
Border Security: Governor Hobbs stated that more needs to be done to support law enforcement on the border and to address the fentanyl crisis. She highlighted the Arizona’s National Guard’s work to seize over 8 million fentanyl pills over the last year.
State Police and Firefighters Pay Raise – The executive budget will create a 5 percent pay increase for law state law enforcement and state firefighters.
Health Care – Hobbs expressed concerns about the maternal death rate going up in the state while voicing her continued support for reproductive rights for women. She is asking the Legislature to send her legislation that will guarantee the right to contraception for women and allow families greater access to fertility treatments. She is also looking to make the state’s 12 month postpartum program permanent.
Water Policy: The Governor expressed her continued to support to protect Arizona’s water rights and ensure the state’s water security by finding alternatives to using groundwater. She highlighted Arizona Water Company and EPCOR Utilities recent efforts. The Governor is calling on the Legislature to continue to find bipartisan reforms to addressing the state’s water policy.
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