by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 7, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Court of Appeals is set to hear oral arguments on August 19 in a closely watched lawsuit challenging the state’s early ballot signature verification process—one that could reshape how election officials authenticate mail-in ballots. The case, Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Fontes, will be heard by Division Two of the Court of Appeals, which lifted a prior stay in the case following a joint request by all parties to move forward on the merits.
At the heart of the dispute is whether the Secretary of State’s Elections Procedures Manual (EPM) has unlawfully expanded the scope of documents used to verify a voter’s signature on early ballot envelopes. The plaintiffs—Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections, and Yavapai County voter Dwight Kadar—argue that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and his predecessor, now-Governor Katie Hobbs, enforced EPM guidance that violates state law.
Under Arizona statute A.R.S. § 16-550(A), election officials are required to compare a voter’s early ballot envelope signature to the one in their “registration record.” However, the current EPM—originally authored by Hobbs in 2019 and maintained under Fontes—permits election officials to validate signatures by comparing them to any election-related document on file, such as early ballot requests, provisional ballot envelopes, or Active Early Voting List notices.
“The current election procedures manual adopted by the Secretary of State has rewritten state law regarding signature verification for mail-in ballots,” said Arizona Free Enterprise Club President Scot Mussi. “The result is a process that invites questionable methods and opportunities for abuse during the signature review process. It’s time for the courts to bring this illegal EPM practice to a halt.”
The case has had a turbulent procedural history. In 2023, Yavapai County Superior Court Judge John Napper initially ruled that the EPM violated state law, stating that the definition of “registration record” is neither vague nor ambiguous. Napper rejected the Secretary of State’s argument that the term could include any number of election-related documents. However, in a surprising reversal later in the proceedings, Napper ruled in favor of the state—prompting the plaintiffs to appeal.
The outcome of this case could have major consequences for how Arizona handles the verification of early ballots in future elections. Arizona is a state with widespread early and mail-in voting, and signature matching is often the sole method for confirming voter identity on ballots returned by mail. Early ballot voters are not required to provide other identifying information, such as a driver’s license number, date of birth, or the last four digits of a Social Security number.
After months of delays—including a stay prompted by a separate ruling that invalidated the 2023 EPM for procedural reasons—the Court of Appeals has agreed to resume the case. All parties have urged the court to issue a ruling on the merits, regardless of the Arizona Supreme Court’s handling of a related challenge filed by the Republican National Committee.
The court’s decision will help clarify the balance of power between Arizona’s elected officials and its election laws, especially in the increasingly scrutinized area of early voting.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 4, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona State Treasurer’s Office announced a major financial milestone last week: the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) has reached a record $7.6 billion in total assets. According to State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, the fund has grown by $4.3 billion — a 131% increase — since she took office in 2019.
The announcement came during the July State Board of Investment meeting, where Treasurer Yee presented the latest performance report. The LGIP, a fixed-income investment pool managed by the Treasurer’s Office, serves as a centralized option for local governments — including cities, counties, towns, and special districts — to invest public funds with an emphasis on safety and competitive yields.
The report shows that assets under management are up 7.08% year-over-year, with June earnings totaling more than $27.4 million, a 3.18% increase compared to the same month last year.
“We are proud to provide responsible stewardship of public funds while ensuring liquidity, safety, and strong returns,” Treasurer Yee said at the meeting.
Yee’s career in public service spans more than a decade, including eight years in the Arizona Legislature, where she served as Senate Majority Leader. Since assuming leadership of the Treasurer’s Office, Yee has emphasized transparency, performance, and accessibility. Under her watch, the state has expanded participation in the LGIP, which provides local government entities a low-risk, professionally managed option for investing taxpayer dollars.
The Office operates four separate LGIP pools, each tailored to meet the liquidity and investment needs of its contributors. By pooling resources, smaller jurisdictions gain access to economies of scale and greater portfolio diversification.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 3, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
As Arizona counties finalize their budgets for Fiscal Year 2026, the majority are preparing to raise property taxes, with 11 of the state’s 15 counties proposing increases totaling nearly $54.8 million, according to the Arizona Tax Research Association’s (ATRA) July 2025 newsletter. The moves come amid population growth, infrastructure demands, and rising costs, but they have also triggered requirements under Arizona’s Truth in Taxation (TNT) law aimed at ensuring transparency.
ATRA’s analysis reveals that under state law, primary property taxes — which fund the general operations of county governments — are subject to TNT provisions. These rules require counties to notify taxpayers if their proposed tax levy exceeds the previous year’s amount, excluding new construction. Notifications must be published in newspapers of general circulation, and a public hearing must be held before any vote to approve the increase.
TNT also applies to some countywide special taxing districts, including those for libraries, flood control, and public health. While counties are allowed to raise taxes up to a constitutional limit — 2% above the previous year’s levy, plus new construction — only Apache and Coconino counties currently tax at that maximum level.
According to ATRA, of the counties planning tax hikes, Pima County stands out with the largest proposed increase: $33 million. This includes a nearly 25-cent hike in the primary property tax rate above TNT limits. Pima is also planning to exceed TNT thresholds for both its flood control and library districts.
Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous, is proposing its first primary property tax increase in five years — not by changing the rate, but by holding it steady. Due to growth in the tax base, this would still result in a $12.5 million increase, exclusive of new construction.
In Coconino County, library district taxes are slated to rise 11.5% over TNT, generating approximately $780,000 in additional revenue. The county also plans to levy the maximum amounts for its primary property tax, as well as for its flood control and public health districts. Altogether, Coconino’s tax increase would total around $1.8 million.
Mohave County is eyeing a 7% increase in primary property taxes, which would raise about $3.2 million. Four counties — Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, and Pinal — have opted not to increase property taxes this fiscal year, bucking the statewide trend.
County officials say the proposed increases are necessary to sustain essential public services amid rising costs and growing populations. Still, the hikes are expected to generate scrutiny from taxpayers, especially in counties proposing large percentage increases or exceeding TNT thresholds.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 1, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new Arizona law banning the use of privately funded employees in state agencies is drawing national attention as lawmakers seek to curb outside influence in public institutions.
Signed into law last month under Senate Bill 1735, the new law prohibits any state agency from employing officers or staff whose salaries are paid with private funds. The legislation aims to increase transparency and reduce what supporters call “lawfare for hire” — the practice of embedding privately paid attorneys or staff within government offices to influence public policy.
“This is about drawing a clear line between public service and private influence,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “Arizona will not tolerate lawfare for hire, where outside billionaires fund shadow attorneys to quietly steer public policy behind closed doors.”
The law defines “private monies” as any funding not appropriated by a federal, state, or local government — including funds from nonprofit organizations, foundations, universities, individual donors, or advocacy groups. Limited exceptions are made for law enforcement, environmental quality staff, and public universities, where oversight frameworks are already in place.
The law comes amid broader national scrutiny of efforts such as the NYU Environmental Fellowship, which places attorneys funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in state attorneys general offices to work on climate-related litigation. Critics argue these “Special Assistant Attorneys General” blur the lines between public and private interests, especially when pursuing legal strategies aligned with specific political ideologies.
Supporters of the new Arizona law say the measure enhances legislative oversight and keeps public servants accountable to the taxpayers who fund their salaries — not to out-of-state advocacy groups or wealthy individuals.
“Taxpayers deserve to know who’s working on their behalf, and who’s really pulling the strings,” Petersen said.
States like New York, Washington, and Illinois have welcomed privately funded legal fellows into public agencies, particularly in areas related to environmental enforcement. But Arizona’s move places it among a smaller group of states seeking to restrict such arrangements in the name of governmental independence.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 31, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced a series of key leadership changes Monday, reshuffling committee chairmanships as the Legislature continues to press forward with its conservative agenda.
Senator John Kavanagh will step down as Chairman of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee to focus full-time on his new position as Senate Majority Leader. Replacing him is Senator David Farnsworth, who will now lead the newly combined Appropriations & Transportation Committee.
Farnsworth, a longtime advocate of limited government and responsible budgeting, is expected to bring a fiscally conservative approach to the role. His leadership will influence critical decisions on state spending, infrastructure investment, and resource allocation.
In turn, Senator Hildy Angius will take over Farnsworth’s previous post as Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Angius will helm legislative efforts concerning Arizona’s K-12 and higher education systems, with a particular focus on school choice and parental rights—issues that remain a top priority for Senate Republicans.
“These appointments strengthen our chairmanship bench and keep our conservative agenda focused where it belongs – on the needs of everyday hardworking Arizonans,” said President Petersen in a statement. “I’m confident these committees will continue to be led with integrity, discipline, and common sense.”
The realignment signals a tightening of Senate leadership around core priorities such as budget discipline, infrastructure modernization, and education reform, as lawmakers gear up for the next legislative session.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
