by Staff Reporter | Aug 29, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona has not yet opted into a new tax credit to provide school choice funds for families, and the Trump administration is urging Gov. Katie Hobbs to join.
Linda McMahon, education secretary for the Department of Education (ED), chastised the governor during a touring event and press conference at the East Valley Institute of Technology on Tuesday.
Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05) — the Republican nominee for governor — and House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) were present with McMahon.
The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, signed into law through the One Big Beautiful Bill last year, enables individuals to receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 for contributing to approved K-12 scholarship-granting organizations.
ED defines qualifying scholarship granting organizations as those nonprofits that use contribution funds to provide scholarships for education-related services at both private and public schools. These nonprofits must use at least 90% of income on scholarships for educational choice options for K-12 students.
At the Tuesday event, McMahon accused Hobbs of denying Arizona students and their parents the access to “real” educational freedom.
“Governor Hobbs has vetoed three measures that would have allowed Arizona to participate in the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, holding Arizona families back from accessing these powerful opportunities expanding across the country,” said McMahon. “This is what real empowerment looks like, giving parents the freedom to choose the path that best serves their child, instead of forcing every student into a rigid, one-size-fits-all system.”
Hobbs must opt in and submit a certified list of scholarship granting organizations by Jan. 1, 2027, for Arizona to participate in the inaugural year of the program.
Even if Hobbs does not opt Arizona into the program, Arizona residents may still claim the tax credit. Instead of their credit going to Arizona students, however, those contributions will go to eligible students elsewhere in participating states.
Hobbs explained in her veto of SB 1142 that she wouldn’t opt Arizona into the program until the Trump administration issues regulatory guidance for it. She compared the tax credit program to the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, the state’s universal school choice program.
A bipartisan coalition of 30 states have opted into the federal education tax credit program so far: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
New York announced in May it would opt into the program but has not finalized that opt-in.
Four states have declined to join: Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Oregon. Similar to Hobbs, the governor of Wisconsin vetoed legislation to opt into the program.
13 states and Washington, D.C. have yet to announce a decision: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Rep. Biggs, who is looking to unseat Hobbs this November, published a press release criticizing Hobbs’ refusal to allow Arizona to join the program.
“Because of her failure, Arizona students will miss out on scholarship dollars that could help pay for tuition, tutoring, technology, special education services, and other educational needs,” said Biggs. “Arizonans should not have to watch their tax dollars create educational opportunities for students in other states simply because their governor refuses to participate.”
McMahon also addressed a Scottsdale audience in a “Great American Comeback Tour” event hosted by the America First Policy Institute. The Republican nominee for Congressional District 1, Jay Feely, also participated in the panel.
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by Ethan Faverino | Aug 28, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs is calling for a statewide ban on Flock automated license plate reader cameras, putting him at odds with Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, who said she trusts individual law enforcement agencies to decide whether they want to use the surveillance technology.
The disagreement came during a public safety forum hosted by the Arizona Police Association on Tuesday at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus.
Biggs and Hobbs answered questions separately and did not share the stage, with both candidates addressing issues including border security, police funding, and automated license plate readers (ALPRs).
According to Fox 10, the forum was intended to allow voters and Arizona law enforcement officials to hear each candidate’s position on public safety issues ahead of the November gubernatorial election.
Biggs said he would ban Flock cameras throughout Arizona if elected governor.
Hobbs took a different position. According to KTAR News, Hobbs claimed she trusts individual law enforcement agencies to determine whether they want to use surveillance technology such as Flock cameras.
The disagreement came as several Arizona cities and police departments have recently suspended, investigated, or terminated their use of Flock cameras following concerns over the potential misuse of the technology.
The debate over Flock cameras gained new significance on Wednesday when the City of Tempe announced it had shut down its entire network of Flock automated license plate readers and would terminate its contract with the company.
The city previously ended automatic data sharing from its Flock cameras earlier this month.
Although the city said its own audits did not uncover improper use of the system, officials said recent incidents involving other Arizona law enforcement agencies raised concerns about the potential for misuse.
A Chandler police officer recently resigned after admitting to improperly using the department’s Flock system to locate a family member. The city subsequently discontinued its 40-camera Flock system and said it would not renew its current agreement with the company.
In Apache Junction, former officer Joshua McDaniel also resigned after an investigation found that he had used the Flock system to search for his wife’s vehicle. Two dispatchers who assisted with the search were also disciplined.
Goodyear has also launched a criminal investigation after an internal-affairs audit identified potential misuse of its Flock system by an officer. That officer was placed on administrative leave and had access to department computer systems restricted.
Surprise initially suspended its Flock system after an audit identified an anomaly and placed an officer on administrative leave. The city then canceled its Flock contract and requested that the company’s equipment be removed.
However, the officer was cleared of wrongdoing on after investigators determined the apparent anomaly was caused by a technical issue rather than improper use.
Sedona, Flagstaff, South Tucson, Pinal County, and Cave Creek have also ended or announced plans to end their Flock contracts within the last year.
With Flock cameras becoming an increasingly controversial issue across Arizona, the technology is expected to draw further debate at the state Capitol during the upcoming legislative session.
Lawmakers have already attempted to establish statewide regulations governing automated license plate readers, with several proposals introduced and debated earlier this year.
Senator Kevin Payne (R-LD27) introduced SB 1111, which sought to establish statewide requirements for ALPR use, including restrictions on data access, mandatory training, and regular audits.
The bill advanced through the Senate but ultimately did not become law.
Senator Mark Finchem (R-LD11) introduced SB 1138, which also sought to establish restrictions on ALPR use, including requirements governing access, training, and data retention. The bill was later amended into an unrelated measure.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 28, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R-LD16) is accusing Attorney General Kris Mayes of providing political cover for Governor Katie Hobbs after Mayes declined to prosecute the governor following a two-year investigation into alleged pay-to-play activity involving Sunshine Residential Homes.
Shope is also challenging Mayes to publicly support legislation aimed at increasing transparency around political contributions and state contracts, measures he said her office has previously declined to support.
Last week, Mayes announced that her office found insufficient evidence to establish that political contributions made by Sunshine Residential Homes and individuals connected to the company were exchanged for rate increases approved by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS).
The attorney general’s decision does not close the matter entirely. A separate investigation being led by the Arizona Auditor General, with assistance from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, remains ongoing.
The Arizona House of Representatives has also commissioned an independent investigation into the allegations.
Shope originally requested the investigation in 2024 after Sunshine Residential Homes and individuals associated with the company made combined political contributions of $580,840 benefitting Hobbs, her inaugural fund, her legal defense fund, and the Arizona Democratic Party, according to the senator’s office.
Sunshine founder Simon Kottoor and his wife Elizabeth also contributed to Hobbs’ campaigns. Kottoor even served on Hobbs’ inaugural committee and became a gold-level sponsor of her inauguration.
Sunshine initially sought a DCS rate increase in December 2022 but was denied in February 2023. The company reapplied several months later and received a mid-contract increase in May 2023. Its rate was subsequently increased again during its April 2024 contract renewal, making it the state’s highest paid group-home provider per child.
Internal DCS communications that surfaced during the controversy also acknowledged Sunshine’s political connections and discussed keeping the company’s special rate increase from competitors.
Despite the scrutiny, Hobbs did not agree to an interview with investigators. Instead she provided two written statements through her attorneys.
Shope said Mayes’ decision is particularly concerning because he previously introduced legislation intended to address the types of conflicts raised by the Sunshine investigation.
“For two years, Kris Mayes had every opportunity to support meaningful pay-to-play reforms, and she chose silence,” Shope said. “She allowed Hobbs to avoid questioning, ignored the growing trail of political contributions, and then cleared her fellow Democrat after a two-year investigation. Only after the Legislature adjourned did Mayes suddenly discover that reform was necessary. That’s not leadership. It’s political damage control.”
Shope sponsored SB 1612 in 2025, legislation that would have required companies seeking state contracts or certain grants to disclose political contributions and other items of value connected to the governor, political committees, and affiliated organizations.
The bill also included requirements for state agencies to retain records used in evaluating contract proposals.
Hobbs vetoed the bill.
Shope introduced similar legislation again this year through SB 1186. The bill retained requirements for companies seeking state contracts or grants to disclose political contributions and for state agencies to preserve records used to evaluate contract proposals.
Hobbs again vetoed the measure in June, amid the continuing investigation into Sunshine Residential Homes.
“Katie Hobbs took the political money, her administration approved the rate increases, she refused to answer investigators’ questions, and then she vetoed the reforms designed to prevent this from happening again,” added Shope. “Now her political ally wants Arizonans to believe the matter is closed. It isn’t.”
Mayes has called for legislative action following her decision not to prosecute Hobbs, saying changes to state law are needed to address potential conflicts involving political contributions and government contracting.
Shope said he plans to bring his legislation back during the next legislative session and intends to challenge Mayes to publicly testify in support of the reforms she is now calling for.
“If Mayes is sincere, she can endorse the legislation, appear before lawmakers, and demand that Hobbs sign it,” continued Shope. “If she refuses, Arizonans will know her call for reform was nothing more than election-year cover for the governor. The other investigations must continue without interference, and their complete findings must be made public,” Shope concluded.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Aug 27, 2026 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
“I’m Katie Hobbs, and the rules don’t apply to me.” That might as well run at the end of the next campaign ad featuring Arizona’s governor. Since taking office in 2023, Hobbs has been building a rap sheet of scandals that would make Minnesota Governor Tim Walz blush.
From one of the largest Medicaid fraud scandals in Arizona history to a pay-to-play scheme that has put her administration under active criminal investigation, Hobbs has taken corruption to new heights in our state. But now, her latest campaign-finance reports are raising even more troubling questions: How did more than $1 million in small-dollar contributions disappear? And why are over 46,000 of her contributors listed as unemployed?
A Million-Dollar Campaign-Finance Mystery
How many times can a campaign-finance report be amended before it starts to raise red flags? For the 2026 Quarter 2 report, the Hobbs campaign has managed to amend it 10 times so far. But why? Were there some typos or decimals in the wrong spot? Nope. Many of these amendments repeatedly changed the amount of money the Hobbs campaign reported receiving.
The biggest mystery involves more than $1.4 million in small-dollar contributions. In its original filing, Elect Katie Hobbs reported $1.426 million in exempt small contributions—donations under $100 that can be reported in aggregate. The campaign reported the same amount in its first amended filing.
But something happened in its second and third amended filings. All of a sudden, that $1.426 million dropped to $0. And then, in the fourth amended filing, nearly $400,000 suddenly reappeared.
The campaign’s total receipts also followed a similarly bizarre path, jumping from $2.64 million to $3.1 million, falling below $1.7 million, and then climbing back above $2.6 million through various amendments.
So, where did the money go?
That’s a great question. And Hobbs has yet to answer. But it’s not the only anomaly in her campaign-finance reports…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Staff Reporter | Aug 24, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Trump administration has finally come to an agreement with Arizona and the other Lower Basin states on Colorado River water usage.
The news was met with a mixed reaction.
Gov. Katie Hobbs described the agreed-upon deal in an announcement on Friday as adequately protecting the state from the “disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts” that were floated by the federal government earlier this month.
Under the federal government’s proposal, Arizona would have seen cuts up to 77%.
Under this deal, Arizona will lose about 61%: the most out of the Lower Basin states.
While Arizona will give up 760,000 acre-feet between 2027 and 2028, California and Nevada will collectively lose 490,000 acre-feet. Overall, the cuts represent a reduction of approximately 25%.
The Upper Basin states will not see cuts under this plan.
Brenda Burman, Central Arizona Project (CAP) general manager, said the Upper Basin states needed to pull their weight.
“Lake Mead should not be sacrificed to protect Lake Powell or other Upper Basin reservoirs, and every state that relies on the river should be part of the solution,” CAP General Manager Brenda Burman said in a statement. “The Colorado River needs to be treated as the system it is.”
Some of Arizona’s elected leaders issued stand-in statements in which they disclosed that they were still reviewing the plan.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), co-chair of the congressional Colorado River Caucus, said that upon initial review the current plan avoids the “most drastic options” previously announced by the Trump administration. However, Ciscomani intimated that long-term solutions were still lacking in this latest plan.
“The goal is clear: long-term water certainty and security for Arizona,” said Ciscomani. “I will continue working with the Administration and bipartisan leaders at every level of government to protect this critical resource for our farmers, ranchers, businesses, tribes, and every Arizona family that relies on the Colorado River.”
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) said that the deal provided two years of “welcome” stability, but that it was only “another short-term fix” and not a lasting solution.
“[A] two-year reprieve is not a solution. The agreements holding this decision together must be durable, and a record-breaking drought won’t suddenly resolve itself,” said Stanton. “Every two years, this same threat of ‘CAP to zero’ will hang over Arizona’s head. That’s no way to run a system millions of people depend on for water, power and food.”
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) didn’t issue a statement on the plan, but did post on social media calling water “the lifeblood of Arizona,” promising “bold action to confront the climate crisis,” and including a link to the city of Phoenix’s water quality page.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) issued a statement blending elements from colleagues Stanton and Ansari, calling for a more permanent solution among both the Upper and Lower Basin states while also urging action on climate change as the purported root causes of the prolonged drought.
Democrat Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego issued a joint statement simply expressing gratitude for the two years the plan afforded Arizona, and presented a lighter look forward at the road ahead for a more “lasting” plan of action. The senators also indirectly called on the Upper Basin states to take on some of the water-cuts burden as well.
“This decision provides much-needed certainty for Arizona and the Colorado River over the next two years,” Kelly and Gallego said. “The 2027 and 2028 guidelines protect Arizona from even deeper near-term cuts while giving the seven Basin states more time to reach a long-term agreement.”
Danny Seiden, Arizona Chamber President and CEO, said that the deal was “workable,” not perfect. Seiden credited state leaders for working in a bipartisan manner to accomplish the deal, specifically Hobbs, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), and House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29).
“We are still working through the details, but today’s decision appears to provide a workable path forward over the next two years and avoids some of the most damaging scenarios our state was facing,” said Seiden. “Arizona has already put real conservation and real cuts on the table, and the work now continues toward a long-term agreement that requires every Basin state to share in the responsibility. Arizona’s business community will continue to support our leaders as they fight for a fair, durable solution that protects our water and our economic future.”
Others weren’t so optimistic.
Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, called the deal “a total failure of leadership.” Mussi criticized the deal, saying it imposes water cuts on single family homes but not data centers and apartments.
Despite a massive population increase over the past 70 years, the state’s water usage has remained about the same or less since 1957.
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