A group of Arizona Republican lawmakers is seeking to end the Arizona Commerce Authority after the Auditor General took a critical look at the agency as part of a sunset review.
The agency has played a key role in incentivizing businesses to invest into state, including through "5 private CEO forums" in which $2.4 million was spent from 2018 to 2023, including a "Super Bowl sponsorship" package last year.
In September, the Auditor General said that the agency "is at increased risk of fraud and waste of public monies because it lacked documentation it verified businesses met some requirements for nearly $11 million in incentives." The report is serving as the basis for the bill, according to Sen. Jake Hoffman, R- Queen Creek, who's leading the effort.
Groups such as the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry are also hoping the agency remains intact, as they say it has played a crucial role in highlighting Arizona's business environment.
