IN FOCUS - May 15, 2026

Release the bills!

Governor Katie Hobbs lifted her bill moratorium Thursday, clearing lawmakers to once again begin sending her bills to sign or veto. The announcement ends a legislative blockade that she began a month earlier, and is fueling optimism among Capitol-watchers that a budget deal is moving closer.

It was only a week ago that Republican lawmakers saw their 2026-27 budget proposal get fed into a proverbial Ninth Floor shredder as Governor Hobbs excoriated them for the “unbalanced and reckless” spending plan. Now, fiscal talks seem to be in a better place, as the Governor’s spox lauded lawmakers for engaging in “... good-faith negotiations and productive exchanges on the best path toward a bipartisan and balanced budget …”.

Once a budget agreement is reached, expect lawmakers to move quickly to secure its approval and adjourn the session within a matter of days. The Senate will reconvene on Monday; the House is adjourned until June 1, but could be called back sooner at the discretion of Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear).

"We'll resume moving bills on Monday and finishing up the remaining work of the session in the coming weeks," Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) told The Arizona Republic. 

Perhaps you can keep those summer vacation plans, after all.