Advocacy News
Recapping Governor Katie Hobb's State Budget Proposal
Education, immigration, effective water management, & the state’s housing crisis
3 minute read • January 30, 2025
Advocacy News
Recapping Governor Katie Hobb's State Budget Proposal
Education, immigration, effective water management, & the state’s housing crisis
3 minute read • January 30, 2025
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs addresses a sold-out room at the East Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance's annual Governor's Breakfast. Photograph by Chandler Chamber.
At the 23rd-Annual East Valley Breakfast with the Governor, Governor Katie Hobbs delivered her State of the State address, providing insight into several themes regarding her role and experience as Arizona’s 24th governor. Gov. Hobbs emphasized her ambition for the future of the state and how she believes these objectives can be achieved.
In line with her recently announced state budget proposal, the Governor then remarked on several issues that continue to persist across Arizona.
These issues included education, immigration, effective water management, as well as the state’s housing crisis, and she delineated upon ways in which the state legislature and the Governor’s office can work together to ensure these matters are adequately addressed and resolved.
The first of these proposals would see an emphasis placed on lowering the cost of living and housing for residents across the state, with a “$15M one-time deposit into the Housing Trust Fund,” as well as $5M towards the Homes for Heroes initiative that would provide additional resources towards curbing veteran homelessness.
She also proposed a $3.8M allocation to the School Meals Grants that would “reduce or eliminate the school meal copay for families eligible for reduced price school meals.”
East Valley Advocacy News
If you do business in Chandler, AZ, this curated newsletter shares the political developments that impact your bottom line.
East Valley Advocacy News
If you do business in Chandler, AZ, this curated newsletter shares the political
developments that impact your bottom line.
Gov. Hobbs also expressed a renewed interest in halting the flow of deadly narcotics into Arizona, proposing a “$14M one-time [allocation] and $5M ongoing for the Stopping Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic (SAFE) initiative,” which she believes to be a critical function of the state’s border security initiative.
She also relayed her support for law enforcement officials and stated that public safety remains a top priority, with a proposed 5% increase towards law enforcement and correctional officer salaries to promote retention within these fields.
Education became a focal point of the governor’s address, and she spoke out against the utilization of ESA, while also seeking to further support Arizona’s public schools.
In line with her educational objectives for the state, Gov. Hobbs communicated her goal of reducing childcare costs for Arizona families, and proposed $7.5M that would provide several direct benefits to parents in need of childcare, stating that these funds would go towards “[developing] a Public-Private Partnership that reduces the cost of childcare,” as well as “[creating] a childcare tax credit for businesses.”
(From left: Terri Kimble [Chandler Chamber President & CEO], Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, and Hilen Cruz [Chandler Chamber 2025 Board Chair])
The Governor’s address did not forego the inclusion of water management and sustainability within the state, with Gov. Hobbs emphasizing the dangers of excessive groundwater pumping. Her budget proposal further demonstrates this, as she allocates $3M to the new Colorado River Litigation Fund.
With the threat of wildfires on the rise throughout the state and across the nation, the Governor also proposed a 15% pay for state firefighters as they combat this threat across Arizona, given the high risk that wildfires can ravage homes and devastate communities if not properly managed. She also offered “$30M for fire suppression funding,” in addition to these pay increases.
The Governor concluded her address with a plea for unity among all Arizonans, expressing an ambition to combat pertinent issues together rather than as a state divided.
With this, she reaffirmed her love, as well as all of Arizona’s love, for the state’s natural beauty, freedom, and opportunity, and called the legislature, as well as the Arizonan community to action; “Let’s get to work.” •••
East Valley Advocacy News
If you do business in Chandler, AZ, this curated newsletter shares the political developments that impact your bottom line.
East Valley Advocacy News
If you do business in Chandler, AZ, this curated newsletter
shares the political developments that impact your bottom line.
