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HB 2060 & SB1677 – Expanding eligibility for nutrition assistance
HB 2156 – Expanding ineffective tax incentives for motion pictures
HB 2853 – Expanding unaccountable, ill-targeted private school vouchers
HCR 2015 – Diminish power of voters to approve taxes at the ballot
HCR 2031 – Preemption of local initiatives to set wages and regulate jobs
HCR 2039 & SCR 1050 – Override K-12 spending limit for Arizona school districts
HB2871 and SB1738 – More tax giveaways worsening a regressive tax code
SB 1093 – Tax cuts for commercial property, likely hiking taxes for other property
SB 1269 – Changing Arizona’s school funding formula to favor charters and hurt rural districts
SB 1643 – More tax credits for corporations that (likely) don’t pay taxes
HB 2060 & SB 1677– Expanding eligibility for nutrition assistance
Sponsored by: Representative Walt Blackman and Senator Sally Gonzales
AZCenter position: Support
Bill Status: Not passed – held in Senate Rules Committee. SB1677 was not heard in committee.
Bill description and/or background:
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), is one of the most effective anti-hunger programs available to lower-income households in Arizona. This bill builds on earlier legislation by dropping the requirement for individuals with drug-related felony convictions to enroll in a substance use treatment program to participate in SNAP. This is a key proposal in reducing barriers for justice-involved individuals to access this critical safety-net program to meet their basic needs.
HB 2156 – Expanding ineffective tax incentives for motion pictures
Sponsored by: Senator David Gowan (strike everything amendment)
AZC position: Oppose
Bill Status: Passed
Bill description and/or background:
This bill revives a tax incentive for the film industry. A 2008 report by the Arizona Department of Commerce (renamed as Arizona Commerce Authority) found that prior state film tax incentive programs were not generating the promised indirect or direct revenue, but instead costing taxpayers $8.6 million while the film industry only generated $2.3 million for the local economy. At a time when a growing number of states are eliminating or are allowing their motion tax credits programs to expire, Arizona’s state legislature tried to replay a failed tax credit program that will cost the state $125 million annually.
HB 2853 – Expanding unaccountable, ill-targeted private school vouchers
Sponsored by: Representative Ben Toma
AZCenter position: Oppose
Bill Status: Passed
Bill description and/or background:
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) use dollars from the K-12 Basic State Aid appropriation to allow students to attend private schools or be homeschooled. Originally limited to students with disabilities or students who were currently or previously in foster care, enrollment this year is projected to exceed 10,000 students at an annual cost of $155 million. This bill significantly expands eligibility for ESAs to almost any student in Arizona diverting state resources to provide private school vouchers and pay for homeschooling activities with no accountability for the educational outcomes of the student.
HCR 2015 – Diminish power of voters to approve taxes at the ballot
Sponsored by: Representative Tim Dunn
AZCenter position: Oppose
Bill Status: Passed – will appear on 2022 general election ballot
Bill description and/or background:
This resolution would refer to the voters on the 2022 general election ballot an amendment to the Arizona State Constitution that would raise the vote threshold for raising taxes by initiative from 50 to 60 percent. The initiative and referendum process are a key element of direct democracy in Arizona; and raising the threshold would undermine the power of voters. This bill would also end the ability for a simple majority of voters to raise revenue needed to pay for key state programs and services.
HCR 2031 – Preemption of local initiatives to set wages and regulate jobs
Sponsored by: Representative Regina Cobb
AZCenter position: Oppose
Bill Status: Not passed – no third reading in Senate
Bill description and/or background:
Arizona’s cities and towns have enacted policies to support working people for decades, yet Arizona’s state legislature is undermining current and future local initiatives through new preemption laws. This resolution would refer to the voters on the 2022 general election ballot a state preemption bill that would override local labor ordinances. The bill would prohibit local governments from establishing city labor standards, instituting programs like paid family medical leave, and setting minimum wages higher than the state minimum wage, even in cases where local costs of living are significantly higher than the state average.
HCR 2039 & SCR 1050 – Override K-12 spending limit for Arizona school districts
Sponsored by: Representative Rusty Bowers & Senator Karen Fann
AZCenter position: Support
Bill Status: Passed
Bill description and/or background:
Despite the huge importance of public education funding in the state budget, Arizona’s constitution requires that an Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) be set for all district schools in Arizona, regardless of how much the state is collecting in revenue. For years Arizona’s Governor and Legislature have been aware that school districts would soon exceed the limit, forcing school districts to reduce their budget with only weeks left in the school year (despite having record-high general fund tax revenue). This bill allowed a one-time exception to the limit, preventing schools from cutting their budgets by $1.1 billion (the AEL will require a long-term solution in future legislative sessions).
HB 2871 and SB 1738 – More tax giveaways worsening a regressive tax code
Sponsored by: Representative Regina Cobb and Senator Karen Fann
AZC position: Oppose
Bill Status: Passed
Bill description and/or background:
While last year’s legislative session contained massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, unfortunately, tax giveaways continued into 2022. This bill, a component of this year’s budget passed by the Legislature, contains many changes related to state taxation. It expands tax exemptions for special interests, including breaks for used agricultural machinery and equipment, and limits increases in the valuation of aircraft for taxation purposes which will result in less tax collected.
SB 1093 – Tax cuts for commercial property, likely hiking taxes for other property
Sponsored by: Senator J.D. Mesnard
AZCenter position: Oppose
Bill Status: Passed
Bill description and/or background:
This bill cuts property taxes for corporations and denies Arizona the revenue needed to invest in key priorities like public education, housing, broadband, and more. Owners of other properties would see their property taxes increase in other areas of government such as counties, cities, and community colleges.
SB 1269 – Changing Arizona’s school funding formula to favor charters and hurt rural districts
Sponsored by: Representative Regina Cobb (strike everything amendment)
AZCenter position: Oppose
Bill Status: Not passed – held in House Rules Committee
Bill description and/or background:
Arizona’s public schools receive state funding based on a formula that adjusts for student characteristics such as student grade levels, students living with a disability, and the number of miles it takes to transport a student to and from school. This bill would adjust the current funding formula and create a new, second funding formula. Neither the new formula nor the adjustments to the existing formula address two major issues facing Arizona’s public schools – teacher pay and the need for increased funding for students experiencing poverty. Instead, these formulas shift state dollars towards charter schools, and away from small and rural districts.
SB 1643 – More tax credits for corporations that (likely) don’t pay taxes
Sponsored by: Senator Karen Fann
AZC position: Oppose
Bill Status: Not passed – held in House Rules Committee
Bill description and/or background:
Nearly three-quarters of Arizona corporations pay the minimum $50 corporate income tax. This bill would give an additional tax break to corporations by expanding the research and development (R&D) tax credit, the largest tax credit in Arizona with 97 percent of the total credits going to corporations, many of whom have already zeroed out their tax liability to the state.