Skip to main content

A To-Do List for Arizona Legislators

In 2021, the AZCenter is focused on policy change to help Arizona households weather and come back stronger from this pandemic and economic recession: 

Indian Country

Invest funds in tribal health facilities and infrastructure including broadband connectivity and establish shared revenue sources for tribal governments and communities.  

Higher Education and Workforce Development

Increase access to skill building and job training through expansion of financial aid programsenactment of tuition equity for lawful permanent residents, and restoration of state funding for Arizona’s community colleges. 

K-12 education

Make sure that schools serving students in higher-poverty areas have adequate resources, and that educators and students in rural areas have access to the computers, internet, and facilities required to teach and learn. 

Food access

Lower barriers to participating in SNAP, make fresh food more accessibleensure that every child attending school is fed, and expand capacity of food banks.  

Criminal justice

Re-examine the policies, practices, and funding of the Department of Corrections to re-allocate funds to programs aimed at successful re-entry.  

Housing

Help prevent evictions, increase rental assistance, increase the capacity of homeless services organizations, and expand the supply of affordable housing by restoring funding to the State Housing Trust Fund.   

Safety net

Shore up the safety net and lower barriers to enrollment, including increasing payments and access to unemployment insurance and cash assistance programs. 

Child care

Restore state childcare subsidies so fewer Arizonans face barriers to affordable, quality childcare. 

Paid leave

Enact a social insurance program so Arizona workers can take time off from work to care for a sick family member, or a new child, or to deal with serious personal illness.  

Fiscal and tax policy

Address inequitable state tax codes, increase tax credit oversight, and avoid further tax cuts that prevent long-term state investments.

More News

Stop SCR1035/SB1577

A PROPOSAL FOR AUTOMATIC INCOME TAX CUTS SOUNDS BENIGN BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE GREAT HARM TO MANY ARIZONANS Understanding the Real Costs of Arizona SCR1035 and SB1577 The Arizona Legislature Senate Concurrent Resolution…

AZCenter Priority Bills: What We Support and Oppose to Build a Future for All Arizonans.

This legislative session, the AZCenter has identified 16 Priority Bills that will impact resources to create a better opportunity for all Arizonans. Bills like SCR 1035 and SB1577 would require the Arizona Department of Revenue…

The Clock is Ticking – AZ Students Need a Permanent Fix to The School Spending Limit

Even though the legislature recently lifted the school spending limit for this school year, the clock is now ticking toward the deadline for next school year when Arizona’s public schools will once again face more than…