Legislative Overview

Today marks the 124th day of the First Regular Session of the 51st Legislature. This week saw a marked increase in legislative activity as Senate leadership introduced a budget without addressing Medicaid. However, that changed when Sen. John McComish (R-Phoenix) introduced an amendment to SB 1492 (2013-2014; health; welfare; budget reconciliation) to include the governor's proposal on Medicaid expansion. The proposed $8.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 does not present any significant new impacts to cities and towns, however, the League is concerned that the proposed budget continues to divert roughly $120 million in funding from the Highway User Revenue Fund into the state General Fund. That diversion translates into nearly $37 million that will not go to cities and towns for road maintenance and construction.

While the budget and Medicaid took center stage this week, it appears that tax simplification may be the next major topic to see movement at the Capitol. Although the League has spent the lion's share of the legislative session working towards a mutually beneficial solution on tax simplification, it appears that key interested parties are intent on pushing forward legislation, regardless of whether or not the proposal brings true simplification to all affected taxpayers or that the legislation will have harmful impacts on cities and towns especially those in rural Arizona.

The League has prepared its own amendment to address the complex issue of tax simplification that achieves the goals of the TPT Simplification Task Force without causing undue strain on city and town budgets. The language for that amendment can be found here.

Other Bills of Note

(All bills being actively monitored by the League can be found here.)

Bill Number - Short Title - Subject(s)

No bills of note.

Legislative Bulletin is published by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
Forward your comments or suggestions to league@azleague.org.