IN FOCUS - June 27, 2025

That was … a lot.

The Arizona Legislature adjourned Sine Die on Friday, thus concluding a marathon, 166-day session that nearly spilled into the next fiscal year. Only 48 hours ago, a State government shutdown appeared imminent as budget talks were deadlocked and two consecutive spending plans lay vetoed on Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk.

Ultimately, legislators rallied around a bipartisan, compromise plan nearly identical to one the Arizona Senate brought forward a week ago. The 9th Floor typically takes days to pore over budget bills once they arrive, but Governor Hobbs wasted no time and signed the package Friday evening. 

While a shutdown was averted, hurt feelings were not. Whether it was the House Appropriations Chairman tweeting that the “RINO Senate President” was “pushing a Democrat budget,” or the Senate President castigating GOP lawmakers for getting “hoodwinked by charlatans” … this bruising process will not soon be forgotten. 

The first domino fell Friday afternoon with Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) announcing she had been replaced as Senate Majority Leader. In her place will step Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills). 

Now, legislators return to their districts, Governor Hobbs and her team hunker down with the stack of remaining bills awaiting her action, and everyone will savor a bit of time … apart. It’s time.