April 21 marked 100 days into the 2026 Arizona Legislative Session.
Governor Katie Hobbs has had her budget out since January.
Legislative Democrats have been putting forth proposals to make life financially palatable for Arizonans, with the great majority of them meeting the buzz saw of Republican obstructionism.
Where is the Republican budget proposal?
What are their ideas to make life affordable for Arizonans?
Frustrated with Republican slowwalking their fiscal responsibilities, Governor Hobbs has put a bill moratorium on all legislation coming to her desk until budget negotiations shift back into high gear, including addressing her priorities on affordability, water security, and funding public education.
Criticizing Republicans for moving more slowly than sloths on the budget, Christian Slater, Governor Katie Hobbs’s Communication Director issued a press release, chastising them, writing:
“Arizonans deserve more than political games; they deserve a budget that cuts taxes for the middle class, funds our public schools, and lowers costs for Arizona families. Ninety-five days ago, Governor Hobbs showed the people of Arizona a balanced budget that does just that. Unfortunately, the legislative majority has done nothing but say ‘no’ and hide their plan from the people of this state. It has been a month since Governor Hobbs called on legislators to show their budget to the public, and Republican leadership has given Arizonans nothing but evasive answers and empty promises about their budget proposal. It’s time for Republican leadership to show the people of Arizona their plans and come back to the negotiating table to pass a bipartisan and balanced budget.“
In a social media post, Arizona Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan reminded viewers that Democrats have an agenda to make Arizona affordable for everyone that Republicans have repeatedly stymied.
Please see Senator Sundareshan’s full remarks below:
“This week, we reached the 100th day of the 2026 legislative session in the Arizona Senate. For 100 days, Senate Democrats have been fighting non-stop for an Arizona Families Can Afford. For 100 days, we have watched bill after bill pass along party lines, ignoring many of the issues that matter most to working families.
The truth is, Democrats came to the Capitol this year with solutions. We introduced 257 measures to lower your costs, strengthen public education, expand health care, and support working families. But only 17 of those bills were even granted a hearing.
Across Arizona, families are feeling the strain. Costs continue to rise. Our health care system is under pressure.
Schools are struggling. Everyday necessities are becoming harder to afford. And yet, too many of our colleagues on the other side remain out of touch with the realities that Arizona families are facing.
When nearly half of SNAP beneficiaries are losing access to critical food assistance because Republicans are making it harder to qualify. When schools are closing because there’s not enough investment in education. And when eight hospitals around the state are at risk of closing because of Trump’s so-called big beautiful bill.
It is clear that the people of Arizona are not this Republican majority’s priority. But Senate Democrats will not stop fighting. We will continue pushing back against harmful legislation.
We will continue standing up for working families. And we will continue being transparent about how these decisions impact your wallet, your health, your children’s future, and your overall well-being. We will not lose hope.
While Republicans protect special interests, Senate Democrats will keep fighting for you. For Senate Democrats, the job is simple. Fighting for working families.
Not the powerful, not the billionaires, and not those special interests.”
According to reporting from the Arizona Capitol Times, Republicans are about a week or two away from publicly releasing their budget.
If it were something that was palatable to the people of Arizona, it probably would have been released weeks ago.
In reporting from the Capitol Times, Senate Appropriations Chairperson John Kavanagh said he would not be surprised if Governor Hobbs vetoed what Republicans proposed.
It is time for serious budget negotiations, with all stakeholders at the table, to begin.
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