PHOENIX — In a first-in-the-nation move, Arizona House Democrats fought for and won a three-year suspension on new data center tax giveaways, the strongest such freeze in the country as part of a negotiated bipartisan budget plan announced today and that could be approved by Thursday.  “While Arizona families are struggling with the affordability crisis, billionaire-owned data centers should not be getting special tax treatment,” said House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los S

Rep. Simacek speaking on the House Floor on April 8, 2026. PHOENIX — Arizona State Representative Stephanie Simacek spoke out today condemning a member of the Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board who used a Nazi salute, punctuated by the word "heil" during a public meeting Tuesday. Board member Kimberly Fisher threw up the offensive salute at the end of the meeting in an apparent show of frustration with the board president. Fisher acknowledged and defended her

Please see the attached letters to the Arizona Corporation Commission from Senate Democratic Leader Priya Sundareshan and House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos weighing in on efforts by Tucson Electric Power and Arizona Public Service raise their rates by double digits. These increases would both come on top of other large rate increases for both utilities since 2021 and would increase costs for ratepayers by hundreds of dollars per year in the middle of an affordabilit

SAN LUIS, Ariz. – Rep. Mariana Sandoval congratulated her constituent Arilene Gaxiola who was named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year by Teachers of Tomorrow earlier this week. Gaxiola is an 8th-grade math teacher at San Luis Middle School in San Luis, Arizona. She had earlier been recognized by the organization as Arizona's Teacher of the Year. The award celebrates educators who "demonstrate excellence in instruction, leadership, and dedication to students." "Arilene

PHOENIX— Even before Governor Hobbs vetoed their Republican-only budget that benefits corporations over Arizona, House Republicans voted today to take a monthlong paid vacation. House Democrats opposed the motion, saying real negotiations on a bipartisan budget, and other important legislative work, must continue immediately. "After passing a budget stuffed with $100 million in corporate tax cuts to data centers. and $100 million in cuts healthcare – a budget they knew wo

PHOENIX – Senate and House Democratic Leaders Priya Sundareshan and Oscar De Los Santos released the following statement today after Governor Hobbs revealed that Republicans Legislative Leaders have abandoned bipartisan efforts to renew Proposition 123. For the past decade, the bipartisan, voter-approved Prop. 123 has used interest from State Land Trust revenues to provide stable, secure funding – approximately $300 million a year – to public schools for teacher salaries,

PHOENIX- Senate and House Democratic Leaders Priya Sundareshan and Oscar De Los Santos released the following statement regarding recently published allegations of sexual assault and misconduct involving Cesar Chavez. "The Arizona Senate and House Democratic Caucuses are deeply troubled by recent reports detailing allegations of sexual abuse involving Cesar Chavez, including those brought forward by Dolores Huerta and others. We honor their courage to tell their stories aft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2026 TUCSON — Arizona State Representative Betty Villegas has been honored with the Richard Elias Housing Champion Award by the Pima County Community Land Trust (PCCLT) during the organization’s 15-year anniversary celebration recognizing leaders who have advanced affordable housing in Southern Arizona. Villegas, a third-generation Tucsonan and longtime affordable housing champion, was recognized at PCLLT's 15th anniversary celebration ("Q

PHOENIX – Arizona State Representatives Cesar Aguilar and Quantá Crews released the following statement on the long overdue firing of Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. "The fact that the President took this long to get rid of a person who spent her time terrorizing our immigrant communities like Legislative District 26 and wasting our hard-earned taxpayer money flying on private jets and filming glamour videos and photo-ops is a disgrace to our country. Kris

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2026 PHOENIX – In the wake of a second unjustified and unwarranted killing by ICE agents in Minnesota, Arizona State Representative Mariana Sandoval is calling for hearings on her bill to require law enforcement officers to show their badges and identification at all times, and which bans wearing masks to conceal their identities from the public they are sworn to serve and protect. On Saturday, masked ICE agents in Minneapolis swarmed, maced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2026 PHOENIX – House Democratic Leader Oscar De Los Santos released the following statement regarding the unwarranted killing of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, earlier today. Pretti, 37, was an intensive care nurse at the VA hospital in Minneapolis. Renee Good, also 37, was a writer, poet and mother of three. "What happened on the streets of Minneapolis today with Alex Pretti, and earlier this month with Ren