Senate Republicans Approve Balanced State Budget with Strategic Investments in Public Safety, Education, Transportation, Water, Public Health
- Arizona Senate Republicans
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 20, 2025
Senate Republicans Approve Balanced State Budget with Strategic Investments
in Public Safety, Education, Transportation, Water, Public Health
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – A big win for Arizona after the Republican-led Arizona Senate passed a balanced 2025- 2026 state budget in the overnight hours that includes tax cuts and strategic investments in public safety, education, transportation, water, and public health. This fiscally responsible proposal benefiting all Arizonans will be considered by the House following tonight's bipartisan approval in the Senate.
"In the wake of last year's state budget, where Republican lawmakers reduced spending, shrank government, and eliminated a $1.4 billion deficit, Republicans are now focused on providing the men and women in public safety with raises, bonuses, and additional resources to better serve our communities, help secure our border, and protect our citizens from harm," said Senate President Warren Petersen. "We're also reducing tax burdens on our small business owners and veterans, finishing major transportation projects critical to our economy, and fully funding K-12 education while protecting school choice, all without raising or creating new taxes on our hardworking citizens."
"In an era of divided government, this budget has a little something for everyone," said President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope. "State Route 347 through Maricopa will receive the attention it needs, along with more than $100 million for other important roads and highways throughout the state. We're focusing on the safety of our rural communities by increasing funding for fire suppression. We're also providing resources to help address Arizona's fentanyl crisis, human trafficking, our doctor shortage, and water conservation efforts."
"This is a true bipartisan budget that the House can get behind and the Governor will sign," said Senate Appropriations Chairman John Kavanagh. "The projects we're funding are of statewide concern and essential to the continued success of Arizona. After 19 years of serving on the Appropriations Committee, often as chairman or vice chairman, I can honestly say this budget negotiations process was truly unconventional, but I'm pleased that we are able to come together in the final hours on a spending plan most lawmakers and the governor agree with."
New Funding Highlights of the $17.6 billion State of Arizona Budget for 2025- 2026:
A. Public Safety- $78 million in new investments
5% pay raises for all sworn state law enforcement officers
15% pay raises for state firefighters
$30 million for fire suppression
$27 million for new vehicles, equipment, and building repairs/ upgrades for Department of Public Safety
4% one-time bonus for correctional officers
$5 million for local border security support for county sheriffs
$4 million to help address human trafficking
$3 million in grants to law enforcement for fentanyl interdiction
B. Infrastructure- $113 million in new transportation initiatives
$54 million to finish major projects along State Route 347
$25 million to finish I-10 widening between Citrus Road and State Route 85
$27 million for local projects throughout the state
C. K-12 Education- $280 million in new funding
$183 million included for school building renewal grants used for school capital repairs
$66 million for additional district and charter additional assistance for district schools and charter schools to use on equipment and other soft capital
Fully funds K-12 supplemental for FY 2025 for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, district schools, and charter schools
D. Higher Education- $28 million in new funding
Includes $16 million for in-state scholarships through the Arizona Promise Program
E. Health & Welfare - $180 million in new funding
Fully funds the developmental disability program at Department of Economic Security for the next fiscal year
$5 million for secure behavioral health facilities capital costs
$4 million for graduate medical education
F. Water- $12 million in new investments
$5 million for a Gilbert wells project
$3 million for a Kingman wells project
$2 million for Agriculture and Water Innovation Fund Deposit
$2 million for on-farm irrigation projects
G. Tax Breaks
Exempts veterans who are 100% disabled from property taxes
Increases the business personal property tax exemption from $270,000 to $500,000, reducing administrative burdens on small business owners
Increases the deduction for adoption expenses from $5000 to $10,000
To see an entire breakdown of the 2025- 2026 State of Arizona Budget bills SB 1735 to SB 1750, visit www.azleg.gov.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
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