AZ Legislative Update 07-28-2023

There’s lots of talk about transportation at the Capitol, but there are no details coming from closed-door negotiations on the Proposition 400 sales tax. The topic isn’t new – the Governor vetoed Republicans’ version of the proposal last month – but the efforts are renewed as the end of the legislative session looms. There is bipartisan agreement that it is important to ask voters to extend the transportation funding, but Republicans and Democrats in the legislature disagree about whether that funding should include resources for light rail.

House and Senate Republican leaders consider the transportation funding to be a final priority before the session adjourns for the year. They have connected it to the fate of another bill that would ban city rental taxes – a proposal that already passed the legislature but has been withheld from the Governor’s desk as part of the Proposition 400 negotiations.

With very little work to do, the legislature will likely adjourn the session sine die by the end of the day Monday. Both chambers are scheduled to begin their floor sessions at 1:15 p.m.

Villegas, Bolick Join the Legislature

Arizona has two new legislators, though only one is new to the Capitol. Betty Villegas, a longtime leader in southern Arizona affordable housing efforts, will fill the seat previously held by Andrés Cano; Shawnna Bolick, a former member of the House, will complete the term of former Senator Steve Kaiser. Bolick now represents one of the state’s most politically competitive districts and is already immersed in the passionate divisions within the Senate Republican caucus.

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Still Spark Disagreement

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) continue to be a source of bitter divides among lawmakers. This week, Governor Hobbs’ office published a new estimate that predicts the ESA program enrollment will cost $940 million this year. Democrats reiterated their calls for a repeal of the state’s expansion of ESAs to all students, while Republicans said the high enrollment is proof that Arizona families want options in their children’s education.

House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Glendale), a champion of the ESA expansion, hired an economist to evaluate more data on enrollment in the program.

The debate extended outside the legislature, as well, when Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) issued a warning to parents about scams targeting ESAs. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (R) said the use of ESA funding is audited under his administration. Horne will need to hire new people to lead the ESA program, though: Two of the top administrators of the ESA program resigned this week.

In the Courts

A federal judge put Arizona’s law on transgender student athletes on hold, but Republican lawmakers have another argument to defend the law.

In the News

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (R) sharply disagree about penalizing schools that use dual-language instruction.

On the Bright Side…

Manny lived an interesting life, and the Wood for Life program solves more than one challenge.