Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs ends bill moratorium as budget talks with Republicans move forward

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is ready to sign new legislation again, ending a monthlong bill moratorium Thursday after making progress on budget negotiations with Republicans.

“After a week of good-faith negotiations and productive exchanges on the best path toward a bipartisan and balanced budget, yesterday the governor’s office informed Republican budget negotiators that the bill moratorium has been lifted,” a spokesperson for the Democratic governor told KTAR News 92.3 FM in an email Friday.

Hobbs imposed her moratorium on April 13, saying she wouldn’t sign any bills until Republicans, who control both chambers of the Legislature, publicly released their budget proposal.

What happened during Hobbs’ bill moratorium?

She noted that she would make an exception for two specific public safety bills. She later signed legislation for a new death benefit for first responders, but the Legislature hasn’t passed her other exception, a Department of Public Safety supplemental funding bill.

Republicans unveiled a budget plan April 27, and Hobbs quickly indicated it wasn’t something she would sign. At the time, she said she would monitor the situation “to determine whether the legislative majority is willing to engage in good-faith, bipartisan negotiations and have the bill moratorium lifted.”

Despite Hobbs’ stance, Republicans passed their $17.9 billion spending package on May 4. Hobbs, as expected, vetoed it the next day, calling it “unbalanced and reckless.”

The Arizona House went into a recess after the veto and was scheduled to reconvene June 1.

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