Legislation requiring municipalities to have a two-thirds council or board vote of approval before raising taxes made it through the Arizona Senate Government Committee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 1013 would require all cities, towns and counties in the state to require the vote by its “common council” on any “assessment, tax or fee.” The committee vote was 4-3 along party lines, with the Republican majority moving the bill forward.
“The legislature currently requires a two-thirds vote, so this really is a matter of policy for us to decide,” Senate President Warren Petersen, the bill’s sponsor, said during the meeting, stressing that “government should be more efficient.”
Republican Sens. Jake Hoffman and John Kavanagh suggested that the legislation could be referred to the 2026 ballot if Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes it.