by Matthew Holloway | May 9, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Rep. Cody Reim (R-LD3) is leading a legislative effort to strengthen protections for the Salt River wild horses. The move comes amid controversy over a state management agreement that could reduce the herd by more than half within five years.
Reim announced support for an amended form of Senate Bill 1199, legislation intended to clarify and reinforce provisions of Arizona’s 2016 Salt River Horse Act, which originally protected the horses from removal after widespread public opposition to federal proposals targeting the herd.
According to a statement released by the Arizona House Republicans, Reim said the legislation seeks to ensure the law reflects the original intent of preserving the horses and limiting removals. The bill would halt all removals of the horses for a period of three years. An amendment from Rep. Pamela Carter (R-LD4) added an emergency clause allowing the measure to take immediate effect once signed into law.
“The current management group is being forced to reduce the Salt River herd by as many as 150 horses, starting this year,” Reim said. “These horses are a cherished part of Arizona’s heritage, and Arizonans have made it clear they do not want them rounded up and removed to satisfy arbitrary population targets. This bill protects the herd and keeps these horses where they belong.”
The renewed debate follows a February agreement between the Arizona Department of Agriculture and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group that calls for reducing the herd from approximately 274 horses to about 120 over a five-year period through fertility control measures and relocations to approved sanctuaries.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, which has overseen the herd since 2018, said the agreement would require relocating roughly 25 horses annually while continuing birth control efforts intended to gradually reduce the population.
Supporters of the horses have opposed the reduction plan, arguing the removals are unnecessary and inconsistent with the intent of the original law. More than 30 advocates gathered at the Arizona Capitol in April to protest the proposal and urge state officials to preserve the herd.
In social media posts this week, Reim and House Republicans promoted the legislative push as an effort to preserve what supporters describe as a culturally significant and popular attraction along the Lower Salt River. Reim thanked fellow legislators for allowing him “to pause horse removals from the herd and protect them as a valuable asset to the state.”
The Arizona Department of Agriculture said in a February statement that the management plan is intended to balance ecological sustainability, available range resources, and long-term herd health. Department officials have also stated the reduction proposal originated from the contractor managing the horses rather than from a direct state mandate.
The Salt River Horse Act was signed into law in 2016 after the U.S. Forest Service considered removing the horses from the Tonto National Forest area. The legislation established state oversight of the herd and authorized humane population management practices.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | May 6, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the Republican-backed state budget proposal Tuesday, calling the plan “unbalanced and reckless,” while Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs sharply criticized the decision and accused Hobbs of blocking tax relief efforts.
In a statement issued by the Governor’s Office, Hobbs said the GOP proposal would “default on our debt obligations, endanger vulnerable children, slash critical public safety funding, and pay for tax breaks to billionaires, data centers, and special interests by kicking Arizonans off their healthcare and taking food off their tables.”
The Republican proposal, passed by the Legislature largely along party lines, included tax cuts tied to federal tax conformity measures, reductions to agency spending, and changes to several state programs. The proposal would have implemented major portions of federal tax cuts adopted in last year’s federal legislation and reduced spending across most state agencies.
Legislative Republicans said the proposal spent roughly $800 million less than Hobbs’ January budget proposal.
The veto follows weeks of tension between Hobbs and Republican legislative leadership over budget negotiations and education funding. On April 13, Hobbs announced she would veto nearly all legislation sent to her desk until Republican lawmakers produced a budget proposal and returned to negotiations.
Following Hobbs’ veto on Tuesday, Congressman Andy Biggs’ (R-AZ05) gubernatorial campaign circulated a statement accusing the governor of repeatedly rejecting tax relief measures.
“The Veto Queen is at it again,” a graphic released by the campaign stated. “Katie Hobbs has now vetoed over $1 billion in tax relief for Arizona workers, families, and small businesses for the 3rd time in 5 months as our state’s affordability crisis deepens.”
Biggs also said he had previously worked on multiple state budgets during his tenure as president of the Arizona Senate.
“As a former State Senate President, I’ve written multiple state budgets and worked with different governors to put forward structurally sound and responsible budgets that protect public safety and allow Arizonans to keep more of their money,” Biggs stated.
“It takes patience, leadership, and a commitment to good-faith work between the governor and the Legislature. Katie Hobbs has shown she has none of those attributes, which is why she keeps falling back on simply vetoing bills and budgets. Arizonans deserve a leader with a vision, not vetoes. In November, we’ll make that change.”
Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) also criticized Hobbs following the veto, accusing the governor of pursuing higher spending priorities.
“Once again Gov. Hobbs creates fiscal chaos for Arizona as she fights for her California-style budget,” Montenegro wrote in a post on X. “This budget focuses on what matters most to Arizona families, higher take-home pay, lower costs.”
“What we will not do is allow this governor to raise taxes and spend more for her programs on the backs of every family in Arizona,” Montenegro added.
Despite the veto, Hobbs’ office indicated negotiations could resume. According to KJZZ, the governor’s office said Hobbs had reached out to legislative leadership seeking additional budget meetings this week.
The Legislature adjourned after passing the proposal, with lawmakers expected to return in June unless leadership calls them back sooner. However, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) pushed back on claims that Republican lawmakers were taking an extended break following passage of the budget proposal.
Responding to a social media post by journalist Craig Harris stating that “The GOP-controlled Arizona Legislature is taking a one-month paid vacation,” Petersen wrote on X, “This is false, the Senate will be back on Monday and many members, myself included will be there every day this week.”
“The governor placed a moratorium on bills and we delivered a budget. There is no floor work to do,” Petersen added.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | May 6, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Republican Party of Arizona announced Tuesday that Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a prominent figure in the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, will headline the party’s annual Legislative Salute event on May 9 in Mesa.
According to a press release from the Arizona Republican Party, the event, marking the revival of a longstanding party tradition, will be held at the Mesa Sheraton Hotel and will recognize Republican lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature.
“Dr. Oz, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and a leader of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, actively serves on the front lines in the battle against fraudsters who exploit the Medicaid system in primarily blue states and in Arizona under Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs,” the release stated. As reported by Fox News, Dr. Oz is actively investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in five states, with more to come, telling the outlet his concerns reach all fifty states. “We’ve written letters to Minnesota, California, a letter to Florida because we’re worried about the durable medical equipment fraud … New York, Maine, and there are more coming,” Dr. Oz told the outlet. He went on to cite evidence that foreign nationals from Cuba, Russia, and China are involved in fraud schemes all over the country.
“For years, the Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) has hosted the annual Legislative Salute to honor the hard-working Republicans in the Arizona Legislature who serve the public and fight waste, fraud, and abuse on the local level,” AZGOP Chair Sergio Arellano said in a statement. “After this year’s successful legislative session, we decided this was the right time to revive this great tradition.”
Arellano also referenced the Republican-backed $17.9 billion state budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The budget features $1.45 billion in tax relief over four years and would spend approximately $800 million less than Governor Katie Hobbs’ opposing proposal.
“Republican legislators have delivered a budget that includes tax relief for Arizona residents,” Arellano stated. “They deserve recognition for their tremendous service to this state, and this event will provide an excellent opportunity for Republicans to come together and celebrate our conservative majority in the Legislature and make plans to keep it.”
Tickets for the event are available through the Arizona Republican Party.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | May 5, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate Republicans announced on Monday that they passed a $17.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes $1.45 billion in tax relief over four years and spends approximately $800 million less than Governor Katie Hobbs’ proposal.
The budget, approved by the Legislature and sent to Hobbs, is based on updated April revenue projections that showed a $200 million decrease in available resources.
According to Senate Republicans, the plan includes a series of tax changes intended to provide cost-of-living relief, including eliminating state taxes on tips and overtime pay, increasing the standard deduction, allowing full deductions for child-care expenses, increasing the dependent tax credit by $25, and creating a $6,000 deduction for seniors age 60 and older with retirement or pension income.
The proposal also includes conformity with federal tax policy changes associated with Donald Trump’s tax cuts, which the Senate said would ensure Arizona taxpayers do not need to refile their 2025 state tax returns.
“This is a serious, disciplined budget that puts Arizona families first,” Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) said in a statement. “We cut taxes, protect essential services, and base every decision on real April revenue projections — not wishful thinking.”
He added, “In divided government, we faced the math, eliminated waste through targeted reforms, and delivered real results without raising taxes or growing government.”
The budget maintains current funding levels for K-12 education and public safety, preserves the voter-protected K-12 State Land Trust, and limits overall spending growth to 1.9 percent.
To address the projected shortfall, Senate Republicans said the plan includes policy changes aimed at reducing spending, including enhanced eligibility verification in public assistance programs such as the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a 5% reduction in agency operating budgets excluding public safety and child welfare agencies, and the repeal of certain tax credits and subsidies, including solar incentives.
The budget does not reduce base pay for Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers or firefighters and does not modify existing data center incentives previously signed into law.
The plan also includes $4.75 million in emergency funding for the Department of Public Safety, which Senate Republicans said the agency had requested and that the governor had previously vetoed as a standalone bill.
The Arizona Senate Republican Caucus said the budget reflects the constraints of divided government and relies on no new taxes or fees.
“This budget reflects the reality of divided government,” Petersen said. “While Democrats were on the floor today saying we need to raise taxes, we are instead delivering historic tax relief without burdening taxpayers. Your business and your wallet are on the ballot this fall. Vote wisely.”
The proposal now awaits Hobbs’ action.
House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), Petersen, and other legislative Republican leaders are scheduled to hold a press conference on Tuesday at 1 p.m., according to a media advisory, to highlight the budget and urge Hobbs to sign the legislation.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | May 4, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s affordable housing shortage is primarily the result of years of underbuilding after the Great Recession, not the rise of short-term rental (STR) platforms like Airbnb, according to a new report from the Common Sense Institute.
The report, titled “Home Prices, the Great Recession, and the Sharing Economy: Evidence from Arizona and Airbnb,” found that Arizona homebuilders sharply reduced construction following the 2008 housing crash and never returned to pre-recession levels, even as population growth resumed. Permit activity in Arizona fell from nearly 90,000 annual authorizations in 2005 to just 12,600 in 2010. By 2019, the state was still authorizing only about 45,000 new housing units per year, roughly half its pre-recession pace.
According to CSI, Arizona built roughly 38,000 fewer housing units per year between 2008 and 2023 than would have been needed to keep pace with long-term historical trends. Researchers concluded that this persistent gap in construction created a housing deficit that continues to drive up prices across the state.
While Airbnb and similar platforms have drawn criticism for reducing housing supply, the report found that short-term rentals account for only a small share of Arizona’s housing stock and are concentrated in tourism-heavy markets rather than spread evenly across the state. According to the Arizona Association of Realtors, CSI found “no observable statistical relationship” between the growth of short-term rentals and rising home prices across most Arizona communities.
The institute stated that under a new analysis examining “the underlying causes of Arizona’s housing shortage and the role of the short-term rental market,” it found “no consistent statistical relationship between short-term rental growth and home price appreciation across Arizona communities.”
CSI further observed that short-term rentals represent less than 2% of Arizona’s 3.3 million housing units and that, statewide over ten years, “there is no — and sometimes even a negative — relationship between home price increases and the concentration of STRs.”
The report notes that Arizona’s housing market never fully recovered from the collapse of the mid-2000s housing boom. Phoenix-area home values fell by more than 50 percent during the recession, foreclosures surged, and builders dramatically slowed new construction. Although Arizona’s economy and population later rebounded, homebuilding lagged far behind demand.
CSI estimated that as of the second quarter of 2025, Arizona faced an immediate housing shortage of roughly 52,800 units statewide. Using a broader, long-term measure, the organization estimated that the state’s housing supply was short by more than 121,000 units at the time. Maricopa County alone is projected to have a deficit of more than 34,700 homes.
Housing affordability remains a major issue for Arizona families. CSI estimates the average home in Arizona now costs more than $426,000, approximately $53,000 more than it would have if home prices had continued along their pre-pandemic trend. The organization estimates Arizona households now need an annual income of about $95,800 to afford the average home under conventional mortgage guidelines, or roughly 92% of the state’s average household income.
“Arizona’s housing challenge is fundamentally a supply issue,” Glenn Farley, Director of Policy and Research at Common Sense Institute, said in a statement. “Homebuilding slowed dramatically after the Great Recession and has struggled to catch back up, even as Arizona continued adding people and jobs. The data consistently show that when housing production falls behind demand, whether because of permitting constraints, construction slowdowns, or long-term underbuilding, prices rise. Expanding housing supply will be essential to improving affordability across the state.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
