This afternoon, Arizona lawmakers passed a $17.6 billion budget before adjourning for the session. The deal comes after weeks of infighting among House and Senate Republicans over how to approach negotiations with Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Once transmitted, the spending package was immediately signed by the Governor, with just four days to spare before an unprecedented government shutdown would have occurred if no deal had been struck.
Lauded by both caucuses as a bipartisan budget that includes priorities for both parties, most of the budget bills passed the House by 41-15 and the Senate by 21-8.
Here are the key highlights:
- $27 million for new vehicles, equipment and building repairs for the Department of Public Safety
- 5% pay raise for all state law enforcement officers
- One-time bonuses for correctional officers equal to 4% of annual salary
- 15% raises for state firefighters
- $119 million for transportation projects, including widening I-10, improving State Route 347, and other projects
- $281 million in new funding for K-12 education, the majority of which is a $183 million appropriation for school building renewal grants
- $16 million for the Arizona Promise Program, which helps low-income college students obtain scholarships
- $3 million deposit to the Erroneous Convictions Fund
- $3.2 million for a pilot program to assist law enforcement agencies with public records
- $2.3 million for fire incident management grants
- $500,000 to the Arizona Department of Education to seek automated external defibrillator grants
- Increases the business personal property tax exemption from $200,000 to $500,000
Now that session has officially adjourned, we know the effective date for legislation passed this session will be September 26, 2025, unless otherwise specified.
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