by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has set a new record for vetoes in a single legislative session, rejecting 178 bills passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, surpassing her previous record of 143 in 2023. While Hobbs wielded her veto pen often, she also signed 264 bills into law.
The legislative session, which ended in June, underscored the deep ideological divide between the Democratic governor and Republican lawmakers, with repeated clashes over immigration, election integrity, and social policy. Still, some bipartisan efforts did make it to the governor’s desk and gained her approval.
National Security and Border Policy
Hobbs approved Senate Bill 1082, a measure barring foreign adversaries—including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—from purchasing land in Arizona. The governor said the law would help protect military bases and infrastructure amid rising global tensions.
Yet, she vetoed a similar proposal, SB 1109, that targeted only China, along with a string of more aggressive border enforcement bills. Notably, SB 1164, known as the Arizona ICE Act, and HB 2099, both aimed to expand cooperation between state and federal authorities on immigration. Hobbs argued that decisions about immigration policy should remain in the hands of Arizonans, not Washington politicians.
Election Integrity Measures
Election security was another flashpoint. Hobbs rejected several Republican-sponsored bills she claimed would restrict voting access. Among them were:
- HB 2017, which would have capped voting precincts and eliminated on-site voting centers.
- HB 2046, a proposed change to audit procedures that Hobbs called inefficient.
- HB 2050, requiring daily updates on signature mismatches and enabling political party access to provisional ballots.
She also vetoed HB 2703, which sought to speed up election result reporting by cutting off ballot drop-offs on Election Day, calling it a form of voter suppression.
Education Policy
On education, Hobbs opposed efforts she viewed as punitive or politically motivated. She rejected:
- SB 1694, which would have barred state funding for higher ed institutions offering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses.
- HB 2610, which would have allowed for the removal of school boards in financially mismanaged districts.
Conversely, she signed HB 2880, prohibiting unauthorized encampments on college campuses, and HB 2164, banning public schools from offering foods with synthetic chemicals like red dye 3 and potassium bromate.
Economic Legislation
Hobbs approved a slate of bills aimed at bolstering the state’s economy:
- HB 2704 greenlights renovations to Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, without raising taxes.
- SB 1182 ensures that construction crews can work early morning hours during Arizona’s scorching summers.
- HB 2119 increases transparency by requiring municipalities to give the public at least 60 days’ notice before voting on tax hikes.
This year’s record-setting number of vetoes highlights the persistent friction between Hobbs and the Legislature. While Republicans argue their legislation reflects the will of Arizona voters, Hobbs maintains that many of the bills would have restricted personal freedoms, hurt vulnerable communities, or created unnecessary bureaucracy.
With more sessions ahead and no signs of a political truce, Arizona’s divided government is likely to remain locked in debate.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, July 7th, that they will be launching a state-of-the-art drone pilot program. They will be partnering with Draganfly Inc. to bring a cutting-edge initiative designed to enhance surveillance and operational capabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
This aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The order prioritizes the use of advanced unmanned aerial systems to strengthen national security.
Known for their innovative approach to border security, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the way in technology integration.
They have previously deployed tools such as high-resolution camera networks, sensor-integrated mobile units, and ground surveillance radar systems, which they use for border enforcement.
The department has received national recognition from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their commitment to technology-driven border solutions.
“The Southern Border is one of America’s most critical national security frontiers. Our organization has always been committed to leveraging the best tools available,” said Captain Tim Williams. “With Draganfly as our drone partner, we’re entering the next phase of smart border enforcement. Their North American and U.S.-built systems will enhance our ability to protect communities, manage humanitarian concerns, and respond rapidly to evolving threats.”
Draganfly Inc., a leader in drone innovation, has been developing unmanned aerial solutions for over 20 years. They specialize in advanced aerial technology, software, and AI systems for emergency response, public safety, agriculture, and defense.
CEO of Draganfly, Cameron Chell, said, “We are honored to be working with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for this historic program. Their team represents some of the best of American law enforcement: innovation-focused, community-minded, and mission-ready. This project embodies the spirit of President Trump’s executive order and sets a gold standard for how drone technology should be used to secure national borders.”
The new pilot program at the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office will use Draganfly’s “Family of Drones.”
It will feature long-endurance fixed-wing UAVs for extended surveillance, AI-powered quadcopters for rapid-response missions, and thermal imaging drones for search and rescue missions, as well as nighttime operations.
The “Family of Drones” is designed for rugged reliability and secure data handling, which will withstand the harsh and remote terrain of the Cochise County Border.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Months after its reintroduction to Congress, H.R. 1362 the Downwinders Parity Act, sponsored by Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ09) and cosponsored by Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08), passed by inclusion within the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill.’ The act, which reauthorizes the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), passed through the Budget Reconciliation process and was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4th.
“Atomic weapons testing conducted during the Cold War at the Nevada Test Site came with a heavy cost to Americans living in Arizona, Nevada and within tribal communities. Every person, known as ‘downwinders,’ who developed cancer or other related illnesses after being exposed to radiation from atomic weapons testing deserves to be compensated by the federal government,” explained Gosar.
“Downwinders,” their survivors, and uranium industry workers affected by the testing are now eligible for up to $100,000 in federal compensation.
The RECA bill originally authorized compensation for “downwinders” for 20 years in 1990 and was subsequently extended for 22 years and expanded in scope to include Apache, Coconino, Gila, Navajo, and Yavapai Counties, in Arizona, but only included parts of Mohave County and only included townships 13 through 16 at ranges 63 through 71 of Clark County, Nevada. As Gosar notes, despite the revisions and even another two year extension in 2022, the entirety of Mohave County or Clark County were not included.
“Not only were downwinders residing in Mohave and Clark counties closer to the Nevada Test Site than residents in other eligible counties, but they also have the second-highest overall incidence rate of cancer in their respective states,” Gosar said.
He added, “Since first being elected to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to fix the error that excluded Downwinders from Mohave and Clark Counties from filing claims with the federal government. Congress has a moral responsibility to reauthorize RECA and update it by including both Mohave and Clark counties as affected areas.”
Cullin D. Pattillo, a surviving son of Eddie Pattillo of Kingman, told ABC15 that his father suffered for thirty years against three different forms of cancer after being exposed to radiation in the 1950s from nuclear testing 120 miles north of his Mohave County home.
“It killed my father and killed thousands of other people around the state of Arizona,” Pattillo said.
He told the outlet that his father never benefited from RECA compensation and screenings.
“I know of at least 100 claims that’ll be submitted here in Kingman, and there’s probably going to be a lot more,” he added.
Pattillo who has advocated for the expansion of RECA told the outlet, “It was always something that he fought for. We got close several times while he was still alive, and it was something I wanted to at least push through to the bitter end.”
In a statement marking the passage of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Rep. Gosar said, “Following the four disastrous years of the failed and corrupt Biden administration that created historic inflation, destroyed our economy and welcomed nearly 20 million illegal aliens into our country, I am very pleased to have voted in favor of legislation advancing President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.”
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 | Jul 8, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Although the causes are attributed to various factors by different sources, largely dependent on political leanings, one irrefutable fact emerged on Monday. During Governor Katie Hobbs’ tenure, Arizona has plunged from a ranking of 4th place in the nation in job growth, to 47th.
On Monday, Russ Wiles, writing for the Arizona Republic noted, “AZ no longer ranks near the top for job creation,” and asked rhetorically, “What went wrong?”
Citing figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Republic reported that Arizona now ranks in 47th place among the fifty states, just ahead of Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Iowa. The report cited a net loss of 1,900 jobs year-to-date in 2025.
In 2020, at the height of the first Trump Administration and under former Gov. Doug Ducey’s tenure, Arizona ranked third in the nation for economic momentum.
In 2019, the Phoenix Metro area even beat out the largest cities in California, Texas, and Florida to take the #1 slot for job growth.
More recently, in a March 2024 statement, Hobbs touted that Arizona ranked 4th in job growth, and tripled the national average in workforce growth. In the pronouncement, which has aged quite poorly, the governor even dubbed herself “Governor Katie Jobbs,” and credited the “81,800 jobs created,” to “investments in housing, healthcare, infrastructure, childcare, and education.”
Meanwhile, a Goldwater Institute op-ed in January, predicting an acrimonious budget battle that materialized over the next five months, pointed out Hobbs’ askew priorities. While the beleaguered Democrat focused on defeating Arizona’s popular Empowerment Scholarship Account program (ESA) and presided over a surge in crime, her failure to account for $800 million in statutorily required Medicaid spending and an affordable housing crisis represented “fiscal mismanagement at its worst.”
AZCentral’s Russ Wiles, in working to answer “What went wrong?” addressed one factor in the decline as “slowing migration, with fewer people moving here from other states,” which dovetails with the affordable housing issue and the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) rule cracking down on new developments.
Lee McPheters, director of the Economic Outlook Center for Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, noted to the outlet, “With domestic migration trending down and international migration dropping off a cliff in 2025, the impetus for population growth has diminished and undoubtedly plays a role here.”
In May, Goldwater launched a legal battle against the Hobbs administration over the ADWR’s controversial new rule imposing the requirement of a 100-year “unmet demand” groundwater supply rule across wide swaths of the state, essentially choking out new housing development.
In addition, as Wiles notes, construction employment has been further weakened by rising material costs, with overall job growth stunted by tariff uncertainty and high interest rates.
Large scale layoffs, such as Nikola Corp.’s 855 jobs lost to its February bankruptcy and Joann Fabrics’ layoffs of 374 employees in January, also factored in heavily. While not directly attributable to Hobbs’ actions, the losses drew a spotlight to a lack of decisive action from Hobbs to attract new employers to Arizona in the short term.
Another factor, unmarked by AZCentral however, has been the $1.6 billion deficit under Hobbs which forced budget cuts, including Department of Economic Security layoffs that directly contributed to the 1,900 net job loss. As Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSIAZ) explained in June, rather than being caused by Arizona’s flat tax, the shortfall was caused by a massive increase in spending under Hobbs.
“If spending had followed historical trends, Arizona would have had a $4.3 billion surplus rather than a $1.6 billion cash shortfall last year,” CSIAZ wrote.
Hobbs’ vetoes could present the most egregious contribution she’s made. By vetoing 178 total bills in 2025, 73 in 2024, and 143 in 2023, totaling 424 to date, or approximately a third of all bills sent to her desk, Hobbs has prevented the implementation of a comprehensive policy for economic growth from either her administration or Republican leaders in the state legislature from materializing.
Ultimately, Hobbs’ unwillingness to work productively with Republican lawmakers and her active obstruction of legislation to reduce tax burdens, ease regulation, and stimulate job growth may have proven to be as prominent in Arizona economics as it has been in politics. And as prominent Democratic President Harry Truman famously said, “The buck stops here.”
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 Ethan Faverino | Jul 8, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, supported by all Arizona’s Republican representatives, was signed on Friday, July 4th. The bill provides the largest tax relief in American history.
Among the bill’s most impactful provisions are no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security benefits.
These policies are designed to put more money back into the pockets of the hard-working American people.
The “No Tax on Tips” provision offers a new deduction of up to $25,000 for workers in tipped industries. Whether tips are received in cash, by charge, or through tip-sharing arrangements, employees will keep more of their hard-earned income.
This measure is expected to save tipped workers nearly $2,000 annually, providing direct financial relief to millions of Americans in these critical industries.
The bill also eliminates taxes on overtime pay. This guarantees that workers who put in extra hours are rewarded greatly with bigger paychecks. This, as well, could also save Americans on average $2,000 a year.
According to a new study from the Council of Economic Advisers, 88% (48 million) of American seniors receiving Social Security will pay no taxes on their Social Security income.
For a single senior receiving the average retirement of $24,000 annually, deductions will exceed their taxable Social Security income. Similarly, married seniors with a combined Social Security income of $48,000 will also see their deductions surpass taxable income.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also delivers an average 15% tax cut for Americans earning between $15,000 and $80,000, significantly boosting take-home pay.
For a typical family with two children, this translates to an increase of up to $10,900 per year in after-tax income. The bill also boosts the standard tax deduction, raising it to $23,625 for married couples and $15,750 for singles, a benefit utilized by 91% of taxpayers.
According to the Council of Economic Advisers, the One Big Beautiful Bill will drive significant growth and fiscal stability. This includes:
- Real wages increasing by up to $7,200 per year
- Real Investment growing by as much as 10%
- Creation of protection of 7 million jobs
- Deficit reduction of up to $11.1 trillion, driven by $5.2 trillion from economic growth, $2.8 trillion from tariff revenue, $1.6 trillion from discretionary spending cuts, and $1.5 trillion from interest savings.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 8, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Attending a Phoenix Suns game will cost fans more than nearly any other NBA team, according to a new study analyzing average ticket prices across the league. The Suns rank eighth on the list, with an average ticket price of $172.
The analysis, conducted by betting tips provider Spelcash using data from SeatGeek, evaluated the average cost of attending a game for each team. While Phoenix fans may be feeling the pinch, they’re not alone — several teams are charging significantly more, with the Los Angeles Lakers topping the chart at an average of $365.75 per ticket.
That figure is 31% higher than the second-place Golden State Warriors ($279.47), and a staggering 146% higher than the league-wide average of $148.42.
The top five most expensive teams include:
1. Los Angeles Lakers – $365.75
2. Golden State Warriors – $279.47
3. Boston Celtics – $247.96
4. New York Knicks – $238.49
5. Dallas Mavericks – $215.00
Despite not cracking the top five, the Phoenix Suns’ $172 average ticket price still represents a 16% increase over the league average. They trail just behind the Los Angeles Clippers and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The study points to star power, market size, and recent team performance as contributing factors to ticket demand. “It is no surprise to see the Los Angeles Lakers at the top of the ranking,” said Johan Sunnanangs, CEO of Spelcash. “Their huge popularity, coupled with a roster featuring names like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, keeps demand sky-high.”
The Suns have drawn strong crowds in recent seasons, bolstered by playoff runs and marquee players like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. But for fans hoping to see them live, the cost is rising.
By contrast, the most affordable team to watch live is the Charlotte Hornets, with an average ticket price of just $82 — 45% below the league average. The Atlanta Hawks ($82.16) and Detroit Pistons ($85.15) also rank among the most wallet friendly.
The study also notes that three of California’s four NBA teams — the Lakers, Warriors, and Clippers — all rank in the top 10, underscoring both the market strength and popularity of basketball in the Golden State.
As the offseason ramps up with the NBA Draft and summer league action, demand for tickets is expected to continue climbing.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
