On Monday, House Republicans put forth what they called a balanced budget of $17.9 billion.
By Tuesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs said the proposal was all but dead.
The leaders of both chambers characterized their budget as uniquely reflective of total conformity with federal tax law — no other states adopted the entire slate of tax cuts — which Hobbs doubted could be accomplished. They estimated tax relief would amount to $1.5 billion over the next three years, and Republicans claim working families would feel the most benefit from the cuts.
“Politics are easy; governing is harder. We chose governing,” said Sen. President Warren Petersen (R-LD14). “We’re moving a budget that cuts taxes, funds core services, shrinks government, includes priorities both sides have raised, and gives Arizona a full path to finish the session.”
As budget talks have failed to progress in a meaningful way, the legislature stagnates under the weight of a bill moratorium.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hobbs did acknowledge Republicans for working with her to adopt certain components of her preferred budget like middle class tax cuts and reductions to childcare cost. However, she disputed Republican leaders on their claims of fiscal responsibility.
She accused Republicans of siding with “billionaires, data centers, and special interests” as well as “kicking Arizonans off their healthcare and taking food off their tables.” The governor said she won’t engage in negotiations further unless they adopt her preferred budget.
Contentious aspects of the Republican-proposed budget included cuts to state agency budgets, and SNAP and Medicaid program funding.
“Until they also engage in good-faith negotiations rather than attempting to force through a partisan budget, I will be closely monitoring the situation in the coming days to determine whether the legislative majority is willing to negotiate in good-faith bipartisan negotiations and have the bill moratorium lifted,” said Hobbs.
NEW: @GovernorHobbs reacts to the newly released Republican budget: “Just like in Washington, they’re paying for tax breaks for billionaires, data centers and special interests by kicking Arizonans off their healthcare and taking food off their tables.” pic.twitter.com/8UlFIqa5S1
Hobbs also discussed the budget talks during a press conference for a separate topic on Tuesday, Reentry 2030. Hobbs tentatively praised Republicans for some concessions on their part, but generally was critical of them for balking at her $18.7 billion spending plan. A key part of that plan Hobbs hopes to win through in budget talks concerns draining the public land trust to boost K-12 education funding.
“I’m glad to see the Republicans have shown their budget proposal, there’s some things I’m encouraged about in their proposal, but across-the-board agency cuts is not one of them,” said Hobbs. “I’m hopeful that we can get back to the table and start having real conversations about a budget that works for Arizona.”
Legislative leaders have said Hobbs’ proposal is a nonstarter because the Public Land Trust was intended for long-term funding. Hobbs’ plan intends to renew funding through the yet-approved Proposition 123. Senate President Petersen said Hobbs’ plan wasn’t feasible and would push the state $1.5 million further into debt.
“We’re spending about $800 million less than what the governor has proposed, and the governor has proposed to raise taxes,” said House Speaker Montenegro (R-LD29) in an interview with Fox News.
“[H]er math doesn’t work,” said Petersen.
Hobbs has vetoed tax conformity efforts and walked away from budget negotiations multiple times since the start of the year.
The legislature began hearing budget bills on Tuesday during a joint hearing of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized dozens of weapons and military-style components from a suspected weapons smuggler with three children in her vehicle at the Nogales, Arizona, Port of Entry, according to federal officials.
The seizure occurred when CBP officers conducting outbound enforcement operations referred a vehicle for secondary inspection before it exited the United States. During that inspection, officers discovered a large cache of weapons and firearm parts concealed inside the vehicle in a hidden compartment.
According to a CBP press release, the seizure included “a rocket-propelled grenade launcher tube, four rifles, an Avtomat Kalashnikova–or AK–pistol, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips.”
KEEPING OUR HOMELAND SAFE.
On Sunday, @CBP officers at the Area Port of Nogales seized dozens of weapons from a car attempting to cross the border — including a ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE.
The other weapons included four rifles, an AK-style pistol, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle…
“Under the powerful leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, our frontline CBP officers utilized an effective combination of inspection experience and technology to find these weapons and prevent them from falling into the hands of the cartels,” CBP’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Ron Vitiello said in a statement. “CBP prevented these dangerous weapons from wreaking havoc on the good people of Mexico.”
CBP officials said a 41-year-old U.S. citizen woman driving the vehicle was arrested and charged with weapons smuggling under 18 U.S.C. 554 – Smuggling goods from the United States. Three children who were also inside the vehicle at the time of the stop were released to a family member.
Our CBP Officers discovered all of these weapons (including an RPG!) that were being smuggled into Mexico.
A combination of inspection experience and technology prevented these weapons from falling into the hands of the cartels.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine described the case in connection with Mexican drug cartels, stating, “President Trump designated criminal drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations for good reason, and this case is one of many that shows their violent intent to hang on to power. The United States Attorney’s Office is proud to work alongside the Department of Homeland Security to make sure we choke off the flow of weapons to violent actors in Mexico and bring their accomplices in the United States to justice.”
CBP conducts routine outbound inspections to identify and interdict the illegal export of firearms, ammunition, currency, and other contraband. According to the agency, such enforcement actions are aimed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations that rely on the illicit movement of weapons from the United States into Mexico.
Precinct committeemen in Arizona’s Legislative District 7 have selected three nominees to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former State Representative David Marshall, according to the Republican Party of Arizona.
The nominees are Lynn Dewitt, a Taylor Town Councilmember, former Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle, a Snowflake Realtor and founding president of the Northeast Arizona Republican Women. They were chosen by acclamation during a meeting of district precinct committeemen and will be submitted to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors for final consideration, the Arizona Republican Party said in a press release on Friday.
Well done! Congrats to Lynn Dewitt, Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle for being nominated by our great PCs. Thank you LD7 Chairwoman Lisa Green!https://t.co/K9xRCR4mHx
The vacancy was formally announced on April 15 in a letter from Marshall to Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), and the Arizona Secretary of State notified the state party on April 20, triggering the statutory process for filling legislative vacancies.
Under ARS §41-1202, the political party of the departing legislator is responsible for nominating three qualified candidates from the same party and legislative district. Those nominees are then forwarded to the relevant county board of supervisors, which must appoint one of the three to serve the remainder of the term.
The nomination process must be completed within five business days of notification of the vacancy. The party coordinates with local legislative district leadership to organize the meeting of precinct committeemen and conduct the selection.
Following the vote, Sergio Arellano said the process was conducted in a “smooth and professional” manner and thanked local party officials and committeemen for their participation.
“Today, Navajo County Republicans showed what strong local leadership and grassroots engagement look like. I want to thank Chairwoman Lisa Green, the precinct committeemen, and everyone involved for conducting a smooth and professional process,” Arellano said. “Congratulations to Lynn Dewitt, Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle on being advanced to the Board of Supervisors. Navajo County continues to lead by example, and I’m proud of the work done here today.”
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will now review the three nominees and appoint one to represent Legislative District 7 in the Arizona House of Representatives.
The appointee will serve for the remainder of the current legislative term.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) introduced legislation this week to create stronger rules on court-ordered federal oversight of police.
The proposed bill is a direct response to the ongoing monitorship of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), which began well over a decade ago following racial profiling allegations under the administration of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Biggs’ Monitor Accountability Act would further limit federal district courts’ discretion on monitor selection and duration.
The bill as written would limit monitors to five years of service, prohibit courts from reappointing the same monitors under the same court order, prohibit monitors from coming from the same law firm or employer, cap monitor compensation and encourage courts to require pro bono or reduced-cost work, require public comment on proposed monitors prior to court appointment, limit extensions of monitorship to those without substantial and sustained compliance, and require case reassignment to a different judge after six years.
Additionally, the Monitor Accountability Act would apply retroactively to monitorships older than six years. This would ensure Maricopa County — Biggs’ impetus for the bill — secures a new monitor and judge.
The costs associated with the monitorship have neared $350 million according to Biggs and the county, about a tenth of which has gone to the court-appointed monitor and his firm. Proponents of continued monitorship counter that the actual cost of the monitorship amounts closer to $60 million.
Biggs, who is running to unseat Gov. Katie Hobbs this November, released a statement claiming that the MCSO monitorship, among others, has become exploitative.
“The federal monitor’s continued existence in our county and propensity for moving the goalposts from his original charge only serves to exploit taxpayers and undermine the brave work of the men and women who serve our communities — and this is only one of dozens of similar arrangements across the country,” said Biggs. “It’s time for Congress to take back the reins from rogue judges and monitors who have exceeded appropriate bounds.”
Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels joined Biggs’ statement with support for the bill as a corrective measure to prevent further exploitation of the monitor system.
“We’ve seen this problem first-hand in Arizona: Maricopa County has been the victim of a rogue monitor for more than 13 years, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and shifting resources away from keeping the community safe,” said Dannels.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors filed a motion to end the monitorship last December, and in February testified to a House Judiciary Committee hearing on their effort in court. Biggs led that subcommittee hearing.
The board has pleaded for relief from what it claims to be indefinite taxpayer spending to keep up with ever-moving goalposts.
The Goldwater Institute has also requested the court to publicize the invoices associated with MCSO’s monitorship.
“[T]he government should not be allowed to keep such information secret unless there’s good reason, and even then, they’re required to specify what those reasons are,” stated the organization’s vice president of legal affairs, Timothy Sandefur.
The Department of Justice, who initially filed the lawsuit under former President Barack Obama along with the ACLU, signaled support for an end to MCSO’s monitorship.
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Attorney General Kris Mayes is suing to stop the construction of a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Surprise.
Mayes announced the lawsuit on Friday. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to renovate a vacant warehouse it purchased in January for about $70 million into an immigration detention facility.
Mayes also hosted a press conference to announce the lawsuit. Present with her were Senate Assistant Minority Leader Catherine Miranda (D-LD11) and State Sen. Analise Ortiz (D-LD24).
Mayes claimed the federal government failed to hold public forums and conduct the proper environmental reviews.
The attorney general also argued the federal government needed permission prior to acting on this immigration enforcement initiative.
“The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this,” said Mayes. “They did not ask the parents of the students that attend any of the schools near this site if they were okay with this. They did not ask the firefighters and paramedics, who would be the first to respond if something went wrong, if this was a good idea.”
Mayes accused the Trump administration of violating federal laws, to include the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA).
“The Trump administration has run roughshod over federal law in its rush to expand detention capacity across the country,” said Mayes. “The federal government did not ask the people of Surprise whether they wanted this facility in their backyards. They simply bought a warehouse, handed a $300 million contract to a private company and told the City to deal with it.”
The city of Surprise issued a public statement saying the DHS purchase of the facility was news to them. The city also emphasized that it didn’t have the power to assist or interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
“The City was not aware that there were efforts underway to purchase the building, was not notified of the transaction by any of the parties involved and has not been contacted by DHS or any federal agency about the intended use of the building. It’s important to note, Federal projects are not subject to local regulations, such as zoning,” said the city. “When it comes to immigration enforcement, local law enforcement does not enforce federal immigration laws; Surprise Police Department enforces local and state laws. While we do not participate in ICE operations, we also cannot interrupt or prevent their operations.”
The lawsuit filed in the Arizona District Court alleges the facility is unsuitable for mass detainment based on claims that the location lacks the appropriate water and wastewater infrastructure, and the location exists across the street from a chemical storage facility as well as two public schools.
Several hundred followed up the attorney general’s lawsuit with a protest over the weekend. An ICE spokesperson said in a statement that they had evaluated the use of existing facilities to minimize potential impacts on the environment, including protected species, natural resources, and cultural resources.
“Let’s be honest about what is happening. This isn’t about the environment,” said the spokesperson. “It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe.”
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U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District following an awards ceremony held in Prescott.
The event took place at the Phippen Museum, where students, families, and educators gathered to recognize outstanding artwork submitted by high school students from across the district.
“The Congressional Art Competition offers our talented high school artists the opportunity to showcase their skills, and it’s an honor to play a role in the process,” Crane said in a statement. “On behalf of my team, I am deeply grateful to the Phippen Museum, our partners in higher education, and our professional judges for collaborating on this great tradition. We also appreciate the teachers who encouraged their students to participate, as well as everyone who came out to celebrate this occasion.”
The annual Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide program sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives to encourage and recognize artistic talent among high school students.
Crane presented scholarship awards to selected student artists during the ceremony, from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Grand Canyon University, Northern Arizona University, Northern Pioneer College, and Yavapai College, honoring their work and participation in the competition.
Winslow High School student Lindsey Cox earned first place and was awarded a scholarship to Northern Arizona University for her piece “Albert Camus and His Cat.” Her painting will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, and she will be honored at an awards banquet in Washington, D.C.
Jazmin Hunt, a Mingus Union High School student, won second-place honors with her piece, “Cat Eye,” and was awarded a scholarship to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Sarah Meyer, a Prescott High School student, was awarded third place for her piece “Desert Nightlife,” along with a scholarship to Yavapai College.
Honorable mention went to Prescott High School student McKenzee Stapleton, who earned a scholarship to Grand Canyon University, and the People’s Choice Award, voted on by the public, went to Mingus Union High School student Isabel McKean.
The event was supported by staff and volunteers at the Phippen Museum, as well as local artists who assisted in reviewing submissions and selecting winning pieces.
The Congressional Art Competition is held each spring in congressional districts nationwide, with winning artwork typically displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year as part of a national exhibition.
