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Request a DemoState agencies have submitted their budget requests to the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting, and most are jockeying for more money in FY 2026 despite cuts made to settle the state’s budget deficit in FY 2024 and 2025. Not all agency budget requests are available online yet, and OSPB did not respond to our reporter’s question about when they would be available. But some of the major agencies, like the Dept. of Public Safety and the Dept. of Environmental Quality have posted requests online, outlining the funding they’ll need to keep their agencies successful in the coming years. ADEQ submitted a detailed list of funding asks that included 15 items needing budgetary attention. Many of the agency’s budgetary limitations stem from fee-based programs that are not generating enough revenue to stay afloat and affecting ADEQ’s ability to comply with federal laws like the Clean Water Act. The agency is asking for over $28 million more in appropriated funds in FY 2026 to address issues like water contamination, air emissions, abandoned mines and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, DPS is asking for over $53 million more in appropriated funds to help finance state Highway Patrol projects and salaries and uniforms for officers. The agency is eliminating $770 million in funding for public safety equipment after lawmakers passed the most recent state budget. Other agencies are also likely to request more funding for FY 2026, but whether or not the state will have the money to grant those requests remains to be seen.
Hobbs is warming up her veto arm
The “Arizona ICE Act” is on its way to Gov. Katie Hobbs. House members passed Senate Bill 1164 (immigration laws; local enforcement) Thursday with Democrats unanimously opposed. The bill would require cities and local government subdivisions to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The vote on the measure took nearly an hour as many members of …
House says Axon. Some Republicans say Axoff
A supermajority of House members voted Thursday to pass a bill intended to keep Axon in Scottsdale with heavy resistance from Scottsdale Republicans and Freedom Caucus members. The House passed Senate Bill 1543 (ancillary use; international headquarters campus) 40-19, which would require cities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000 to allow multifamily residential housing and …
Groundwater bills are for passing, whiskey later
The Senate passed two bills outlining provisions for removing a subsequent Active Management Area (AMA) designation from an area that previously faced groundwater management issues. House Bill 2089 (Subsequent AMA; voters; removal) would allow 10% of the registered voters who live within the boundaries of the subsequent AMA to file a petition to remove the …
Miranda adds assistant minority leader to her résumé
The Senate Democratic caucus elected Sen. Catherine Miranda as assistant minority leader for the rest of the session. Miranda will fill the role after Sen. Flavio Bravo resigned to focus on his son, who was born on the first day of session, and his responsibilities within his district. “This is a great honor, and I …