by Matthew Holloway | Jan 19, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona House Majority Whip Julie Willoughby (R-LD13) has introduced legislation to temporarily suspend the state gasoline tax in Maricopa and Pinal counties during the summer months, citing higher fuel costs tied to air-quality regulations.
According to a release from the Arizona House Republican Caucus, Willoughby’s House Bill 2400 would suspend the state’s 18-cent-per-gallon gas tax on the special Cleaner Burning Gasoline blend required in Maricopa and Pinal counties from May through September.
“Because of federal requirements, families in Maricopa and Pinal counties are forced to pay more at the pump than the rest of Arizona,” Willoughby said in a statement. “During the summer, these counties can only sell Cleaner Burning Gasoline—a boutique fuel blend refined in limited quantities, primarily in California. That limited supply drives up costs, and Arizona drivers pay the price.”
“In 2023, Phoenix drivers paid higher gas prices than Los Angeles,” she continued. “As California refineries shut down, supply constraints will increase—pushing prices higher at a time when families are struggling with rising costs. Arizona now ranks as the sixth most expensive state in the nation for gas.”
Because of the added production and transportation costs, drivers in Maricopa and Pinal counties often pay more for gasoline than motorists elsewhere in Arizona, according to the House GOP. The release cited comparisons showing Phoenix-area gas prices exceeding those in Los Angeles during parts of 2023.
Willoughby said lawmakers have previously worked with federal officials to explore lower-cost fuel alternatives, but federal environmental requirements have limited available options. Her proposal includes a provision to backfill lost revenue to the Highway User Revenue Fund, which supports transportation infrastructure and is shared by state and local governments.
“Republicans are focused on affordability,” Willoughby said. “Our Majority Plan is about upholding the American Dream and making sure the cost of living doesn’t keep climbing out of reach for working families.”
In addition to the state tax suspension, Willoughby is advancing House Concurrent Memorial 2008, which urges Congress to suspend the federal gas tax on Cleaner Burning Gasoline during the same May-to-September period.
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 | Jan 18, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed Republican-backed tax conformity legislation approved Thursday by the Arizona Legislature.
The bill, SB 1106, would have provided $1.1 billion in tax relief over three years while maintaining a balanced state budget.
The legislation would have aligned Arizona’s tax code with recent federal changes and included provisions eliminating state income tax on tips and overtime pay, increasing the standard deduction, expanding the child tax credit, creating a deduction for childcare expenses, and providing additional tax relief for seniors.
Hobbs vetoed the bill without releasing a formal veto message as of the time of publication.
In response, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) issued a statement criticizing the governor’s decision and warning of potential impacts on taxpayers as the filing season approaches.
“Governor Hobbs’ veto of our tax relief act is a failure of leadership that will create unnecessary confusion and disruption for millions of Arizona taxpayers,” Montenegro said in a statement released Thursday.
Montenegro said House and Senate Republicans passed the legislation early to provide clarity and certainty for families, seniors, small businesses, employers, and tax preparers. He added that the bill conformed Arizona law to federal tax changes and removed provisions the governor had previously opposed.
“The Governor admitted swift action was needed. She asked for a bill to be sent quickly. We did exactly that,” Montenegro said. “What she did not do was offer a plan of her own. No bill. No alternative. No solution.”
Montenegro also listed several provisions included in the legislation that were rejected through the veto, including increases to the standard deduction, a childcare expense deduction, an expanded child tax credit, elimination of state taxes on tips and overtime, and additional tax relief for seniors.
Montenegro said the veto would lead to confusion for taxpayers, adding, “The chaos ahead is not accidental. It is the direct result of Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto a responsible tax conformity bill with no replacement plan.”
The veto also prompted reaction from other Republican lawmakers. State Rep. Nick Kupper (R-LD25) criticized the decision in a post on X. Kupper wrote, “Of course @GovernorHobbs vetoed the tax cuts we sent her because she doesn’t give a crap about working families. If she can’t give more handouts to non-working people then she won’t like whatever we send her.”
Arizona Congressman and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, said, “Katie Hobbs vetoed a $1.1 BILLION tax cut for Arizona seniors, families, and workers. She is a weak and ineffective governor keeping Arizona from its full potential. She has no vision for the state. She has no ability to lead.”
Republicans do not hold the votes necessary to override the governor’s veto, leaving tax conformity unresolved unless lawmakers and the governor reach an agreement later in the legislative session.
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 | Jan 17, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Sen. Kevin Payne (R-LD27) has introduced legislation he claims will ensure law enforcement’s use of modern crime-fighting technology doesn’t slide into unchecked government surveillance. But critics say otherwise.
The bill, SB 1111, would create statewide standards governing how automated license plate readers, popularly known as Flock cameras, are used by police and other agencies across Arizona. The measure comes as concerns grow among residents and local leaders about the privacy implications of expanding surveillance tech in everyday life.
Under the proposal, data collected by these systems could only be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes, such as solving serious crimes or locating missing and endangered persons. The bill would explicitly ban the use of license plate data for general surveillance, political purposes, or non-law-enforcement activities. In an effort to ensure accountability, it also requires strict access controls, mandatory user training, detailed audit logs, and regular compliance reviews.
“This bill draws a clear line. We’re protecting innocent Arizonans from government overreach while making sure our law enforcement officers have the modern tools they need to keep our communities safe,” Payne said in a statement.
“Arizonans shouldn’t have to choose between their privacy and their security. This bill proves we can do both—defend individual freedom and back the men and women who put their lives on the line every day.”
Critics of the bill believe it is vaguely worded and would open the door to broad government surveillance with few safeguards.
“This is among one of the weakest bills I’ve seen when it comes to regulating license plate readers,” Dave Maass, director of investigations at Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), told the Arizona Mirror. “This bill is not going to do what the author says it is going to do.”
Flock cameras have been under heavy critcism from groups like the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, who wrote in an op-ed in November that “Arizona is home to some of the most Flock-saturated cities in the country.” The group warned that “Flock monitors your movement constantly, often without your knowledge, and always without your consent. You can turn off your phone. You can’t turn off a camera mounted on a pole. Every car you drive and every route you take is automatically logged, creating a permanent record you never agreed to.”
Flock Safety, the company behind the mass surveillance cameras used throughout Arizona, was compromised in December.
Supporters of the legislation argue that the absence of clear statewide guidelines has left residents uncertain about how and when sensitive data is collected, shared, and stored. Some cities and counties have already wrestled with local policies as questions about oversight and civil-liberty protections have surfaced.
Law-enforcement advocates say the technology has helped solve serious crimes and locate missing persons, while acknowledging that clear guardrails are necessary to maintain public trust.
Joe Clure, Executive Director of the Arizona Police Association, stated, “SB 1111 provides the tools law enforcement needs to keep our communities safe while putting firm protections in place against government overreach and privacy assurance to that same community. Cameras used to detect and apprehend suspects are invaluable in maintaining public safety and preventing criminal and terrorist activity. They also aid in the investigation and solving of crimes long after they were committed.”
SB 1111 will now proceed through the legislative process, where it is expected to draw fierce debate over how to strike a balance between crime-fighting effectiveness and individual privacy rights.
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 | Jan 16, 2026 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
An Arizona State University faculty member, who also serves as an associate director, was captured on video acknowledging that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming continues at ASU despite Executive Orders and U.S. Department of Education (DOE) policies directing the elimination of the programs.
In footage from Accuracy in Media (AIM) circulating online, an ASU official identified as Rebecca Loftus, Associate Teaching Professor and Associate Director of the School of Criminology & Criminal Justice, is shown discussing how DEI efforts persist at the university, saying the programming is now “just not as broadcast as it was before,” according to posts and videos shared on social media platforms.
In January 2025, the DOE announced it was dismantling DEI-related offices, removing DEI references from public-facing materials, and directing staff to eliminate related programs as part of a department-wide policy shift under the Trump administration. The department said the move was intended to end what it described as discriminatory or non-merit-based practices tied to DEI frameworks. It warned that institutions continuing such efforts could face scrutiny over federal funding.
The video, originally posted to YouTube, was later shared on X by Corey A. DeAngelis and circulated more broadly as Instagram Reels and X posts. In the footage, Loftus can be heard making statements that ASU’s diversity initiatives are still in effect, albeit with less public emphasis than in earlier years.
According to AIM, Loftus, speaking with an undercover investigator, was recorded stating that, “Most of our faculty do tend to be a little more on the liberal side. You have to be careful with the language that you use. We’re doing pretty much what we were doing before.”
The outlet reported that she went on to describe a body known as “the idea office,” an internal group responsible for “designing” criminology classes for a “majority-minority student body,” with AIM characterizing such groups as “how DEI-related instruction is being concealed through new internal structures.”
Loftus is later seen telling the investigator: “You’re not going to find very many programs that are going to broadcast it as before because the federal funding for universities, especially state-run universities like ASU… If you have federal funds that are withheld, it really makes a big impact.” She reportedly added that entire classes are still being devoted to race, ethnicity, and gender, and said that ASU has been bringing in outside figures to present these classes.
In a later clip, when confronted about the undercover video, she can be seen telling Adam Guillette, President of Accuracy in Media, that she has “no idea” what he’s talking about and urged him to “talk to our Director” before requesting he leave her office.
ASU’s use of diversity training and DEI programming has been the subject of a legal challenge in recent years.
In March 2024, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit on behalf of an ASU faculty member challenging ASU’s “Inclusive Communities” training requirement as violating Arizona law prohibiting certain diversity trainings funded with public money. That lawsuit, Anderson v. Arizona Board of Regents, remains active in the state court system.
The Goldwater Institute’s online materials describe the training as covering systemic bias, privilege, and related concepts.
At the time of this report, ASU administrators had not issued a public response to the video clips widely circulated on social media, nor had the university clarified whether the recording was conducted with consent or in a sanctioned setting.
The footage has been reposted and commented on by multiple users, including calls for questions about the university’s DEI direction. One user suggested contacting the ASU Board of Trustees regarding the issue; however, no official response from the board has been posted publicly as of this report.
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 | Jan 15, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Republican legislators have sent a $1.1 billion tax relief package to Gov. Katie Hobbs, escalating a high-stakes policy dispute over tax conformity as the state enters filing season.
According to a statement released by House and Senate Republicans, lawmakers rapidly passed House Bill 2153 and Senate Bill 1106, legislation designed to align Arizona’s tax code with federal tax reforms enacted in 2025. Supporters estimate the measures will deliver approximately $1.1 billion in tax relief over the next three years.
The bills now await the governor’s signature.
In a statement posted to X, House Republicans wrote, “With costs still high and tax season underway, Arizona families shouldn’t be left waiting. The Legislature has done its job, now it’s time for the Governor to sign this relief into law.”
Republican leaders said the legislation is intended to provide clarity and certainty for families, small businesses, and tax preparers, particularly as tax season is underway. The package fully conforms Arizona law to recent federal tax changes and codifies provisions such as preventing the taxation of tips and overtime pay.
House and Senate Republicans said the plan is focused on helping working families retain more of their earnings, supporting small businesses and job creators, and ensuring taxpayers receive clear and lawful tax guidance during the filing process.
The legislation’s passage follows criticism from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) over Gov. Hobbs’ separate tax conformity proposal. In a press release earlier this week, NFIB Arizona State Director Chad Heinrich urged lawmakers to reject the governor’s approach and instead advance HB 2153 and SB 1106.
Heinrich argued that Hobbs’ proposal would delay tax certainty by requiring taxpayers to wait until budget negotiations conclude before knowing how Arizona will align with federal tax changes passed in 2025 — potentially leaving taxpayers without clarity until June 2026.
“It’s unclear if the left hand knows what the right hand is doing in the Hobbs administration,” Heinrich said. He criticized the proposal for abandoning 2025 tax forms already posted by the Arizona Department of Revenue and instructing taxpayers to wait until budget negotiations are finalized. “This should be a non-starter,” Heinrich said.
NFIB highlighted HB 2153 and SB 1106 as preferred alternatives, noting that the bills would fully adopt federal tax reforms enacted in 2025, including provisions tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which the organization said small business owners welcomed for the certainty it provided.
“Small business owners breathed a sigh of relief when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed and collectively looked forward to the certainty that it provided,” Heinrich said. “Now, the Governor wants to upend all of that to score partisan political points, breaking precedent with how Arizona has always addressed federal tax changes.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, legislative supporters say the GOP-backed bills offer broader tax relief than the governor’s more narrowly targeted proposal by fully conforming state law to a wide range of federal tax code changes, including those affecting businesses and itemized deductions.
NFIB noted that Arizona’s small businesses employ approximately 1.2 million people statewide and account for seven out of every ten new jobs created. The organization warned that uncertainty over tax conformity could delay business expansion and hiring.
With the legislation now on the governor’s desk, Republican lawmakers said Arizona families and businesses are waiting to see whether Hobbs will sign the tax relief package or veto another key Republican reform.
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.
