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AZ Legislative Update – May 30, 2025

Posted by [email protected] on May. 30, 2025  /  Subscribe 0

Today marks the 138^th day of the Arizona 57^th Legislature, 1^st Regular Session. Of the 1,679 bills introduced this year, the Legislature has now passed 356 with Governor Hobbs signing 217 and vetoing 137. 

With the June 30^th budget deadline looming, the Governor’s Office and legislative leadership are continuing to meet on a regular basis; however, no significant progress has been made which continues to be a troubling sign.

Only the Senate was in session this week; however, they only worked on Wednesday afternoon on just a handful of bills.  Moving forward, both legislative chambers will continue to be on extended recess until a budget deal is imminent.

2026 Arizona Election Update: Yee to Challenge Horne in GOP Primary for State Superintendent 

Earlier this week, Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee (R) announced her candidacy for Superintendent of Public Instruction, challenging incumbent Tom Horn in the Republican primary. 

Term-limited in her current role, Yee is positioning herself as a staunch advocate for school choice, aiming to appeal to conservative voters dissatisfied with Horne’s recent proposals to modify the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. 

While serving in the Legislature, Yee chaired the Senate Education Committee from 2010 to 2018.  Her background also includes roles under California Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and Pete Wilson (R), as well as working with former Arizona State Treasurer Dean Martin (R).

The primary race underscores internal divisions within the Arizona GOP over the direction of school choice initiatives. State Senator Jake Hoffman (R), a leader of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, has criticized Horne’s proposed changes to the ESA program and expressed support for finding a challenger, highlighting the party’s ongoing debate over education policy. 

Yee rounds out a “slate” of candidates that have been recruited by Hoffman and the Freedom Caucus which includes U.S. Congressman Andy Biggs (R) for Governor, Arizona State Representative Alexander Kolodin (R) for Secretary of State, Senate President Warren Petersen (R) for Attorney General, and Elijah Norton (R) for State Treasurer. 

The 2026 Arizona Primary Election will take place on August 4, 2026. 

Governor Hobbs Cautions Against Proposed Medicaid Cuts 

On Thursday Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs (D), alongside health care leaders from across the state, publicly opposed proposed federal Medicaid cuts included in a Republican-backed budget plan. Governor Hobbs warned that the cuts could result in up to 25% of Arizona’s Medicaid recipients—approximately 200,000 individuals—losing coverage, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income communities. 

The proposed legislation includes new work requirements for able-bodied adults and mandates more frequent eligibility re-enrollment, changes that health care executives argue would strain hospitals and clinics, particularly in underserved areas. Leaders from various health systems expressed concerns about potential service reductions, hospital closures, and increased burdens on patients, especially in rural regions. 

While Governor Hobbs acknowledged the concept of work requirements, she criticized the federal plan’s rigidity and administrative burdens, contrasting it with Arizona’s more flexible proposal that includes broader exemptions. She emphasized that stringent requirements could lead to higher administrative costs without significant savings, ultimately causing more individuals to lose essential health care coverage. 

The governor’s remarks were part of a broader effort to urge Arizona’s congressional delegation to reject the proposed Medicaid cuts, highlighting the potential adverse effects on the state’s health care infrastructure and vulnerable populations.  

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