AZ Capitol Times (State Affairs Arizona)

While Gov. Katie Hobbs continues to pad her campaign coffers ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial race, the Republican candidates hoping to challenge her aren’t keeping up despite presidential support. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne committed to backing pay for armed officers on school campuses amid a freeze on federal dollars from the U.S. Department of Education. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Former Sen. Justine Wadsack has lost her lawyer just a week before she’s supposed to go to court in her claim against the city of Tucson because she was stopped for speeding. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

The president of the Arizona Senate is trying to undo tax incentives designed to lure Hollywood producers to Arizona — incentives backed by half of the senators of his own party. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Senate President Warren Petersen is relying on money left over from prior legislative campaigns to give his bid for attorney general a financial bump. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Karrin Taylor Robson has edged out Andy Biggs in campaign fundraising for their upcoming bid for the Republican nominee for governor in 2026. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Arizona parents who are eligible for subsidized child care can once again get in line. However, be warned — the $125.9 million allocated won’t be nearly enough. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Attorneys for doctors trying to void some existing abortion restrictions are working to keep a judge from hearing the lone arguments against their efforts. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

State water officials approved the first-ever legal transfer of water from rural Arizona into one of the state’s “active management areas” on July 18. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

House Republicans expanded their majority in the chamber after the 2024 election, but faced ire from the governor’s office, legislative Democrats and some Senate Republicans over critical issues at the Legislature this session. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

In his first year as House minority leader, Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, D-Laveen, helped lead his caucus to gather the most votes for a budget negotiated under Gov. Katie Hobbs among House Democrats. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

For Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan, the legislative session contained its share of accomplishments and challenges for the Democratic caucus. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

Gov. Katie Hobbs managed to score legislative wins and sign a bipartisan budget during her third legislative session on the Ninth Floor, but not without lengthy battles with Republicans and a new veto record. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

For Senate President Warren Petersen, the next legislative session will likely be his last opportunity to help advance the Republican caucus’ legislative policy priorities. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/2…

The House speaker described the 2025 legislative session as one filled with significant challenges, often facing crucial issues that needed immediate attention from legislators. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…

Arizona’s public universities have faced increased pressure in recent months to comply with mandates from President Donald Trump’s administration and state Republican lawmakers to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives at each university. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…

With Arizona in its third year of divided government, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs was forced once again to work alongside the Republican-controlled Legislature to advance her policy and budget goals. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…

K-12 education funding reaped some slight wins in the Arizona budget this fiscal year, but a growing threat of federal funding cuts could still leave state schools in dire straits. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…

Another legislative session wrought no extension or novel proposal to fill the void left by the lapse of Proposition 123, an education funding model drawing dollars from the state land trust fund. It instead brought a new, although familiar, divide. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…

The Director Nominations Committee battle between Gov. Katie Hobbs and Sen. Jake Hoffman continued in earnest in 2025, but with arguably better results than the first round in 2023. azcapitoltimes.com/news/2025/07/1…