[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6319184,"mediaKeyId","2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4","parentId",2363431,"title","Arizona committee advances bill to bar cities from reducing fire department operating budgets","audioSeconds",983,"startMs",236000,"endMs",1219000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4&start=236&end=1219","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4/thumbnail_236000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6319184/Arizona/Arizona-committee-advances-bill-to-bar-cities-from-reducing-fire-department-operating-budgets","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319184-51ea8d0ae8cabfc50ca0ce24018748b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1774934760&Signature=X~o67uYJed2-F6JyTorOIzsSdljATyD16kROI2-I4NhQT3EhEqlhEAjVIiUu8kD94~POApSwu9Vgto5YhzaEewf5JpqdEXHp9v2U-LUEVdoSqdLGY1Cc8ua17VNfpADkzmb8Jd5YnrzV7tHVdFm-4NcWliDtZvEI~MLBlETb0lyAUDNPPEwMr9qkpm02iA3WVY1WX5gvhVtOfhiHNwD6fKZEBdwYmA0CHbyhFIee2rH4Md0MxgSM~2Nq-TYoHRB8ptjzWWOcEgTgK2XVXvBMmNOWKbM5n86nEptf8-MIv1pOnA7Sy4a7daiNojAPvH-wBApYvK-mpeTUtTaOL-HPjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona State Legislature","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Arizona House Science and Technology Committee voted to give House Bill 2943 a due-pass recommendation after a hearing in which firefighters urged protections for municipal fire department funding and city officials warned the bill would remove local budget flexibility.

House Bill 2943, introduced to the committee by Representative Hernandez, would prohibit cities and towns from lowering municipal fire department operating budgets below the previous year. Under the bill, if a municipality reduced a fire department's budget, the state treasurer would withhold a matching amount of state-shared revenue until the city restored the fire department budget, except when shared revenues are necessary for the city to meet long-term obligations. Cities could also be exempted if they lack funds required to maintain the prior-year budget level.

The bill sponsor framed the measure as a public-safety protection. \"We want to ensure that they just have the resources that they need to be able to do their job,\" Representative Hernandez said, adding that Arizona's wildfire risk and rising demand for 911 responses make stable funding important. Firefighter Jesse Hollerich of the City of Mesa, representing Professional Firefighters of Arizona, testified in strong support. He told the committee that departments statewide face staffing shortages, rising call volumes and difficulties retaining personnel: \"We are behind in hiring and retaining an adequate amount of personnel that are available to promptly respond to these emergencies,\" Hollerich said.

Marshall Pimentel of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns testified in respectful opposition, saying the bill would remove local governments' flexibility to adjust budgets in response to changing local conditions. \"Local governments must have the ability to allocate resources responsibly and adapt to changing circumstances, and this bill removes that flexibility,\" Pimentel said, adding that one-time grants or equipment purchases can change year-to-year budgets without reducing service.

Committee members asked about recruitment and retention; Hollerich said personnel shortages were the most pressing concern and estimated hiring and training a firefighter costs more than $100,000, creating a financial burden when recruits leave within a few years. Sponsor Hernandez said the bill does not set pay rates for firefighters but is aimed at preventing reductions that could endanger public safety.

After discussion the committee voted. During roll call, several members explained their votes on the record. Representative Aguilar said recent local incidents informed his aye vote; Representative Caballero and Representative Connolly said concerns from small towns and constituents led to no votes; Representative Fink announced a nay vote over questions about local flexibility. The chair announced the committee vote as 5 ayes, 4 nays, 0 present, 0 absent, giving HB 2943 a due-pass recommendation.

The bill now moves forward with the committee recommendation and will be available for additional consideration in the House. The committee record includes testimony from municipal firefighters and from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns; the bill text includes exemptions for municipalities lacking funds and for long-term financial obligations.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 2943 — committee action: returned with due-pass recommendation; committee vote: 5 ayes, 4 nays.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/19/2025 - House Science & Technology","oneSentenceSummary","The Arizona House Science and Technology Committee voted to recommend House Bill 2943, a measure that would bar cities and towns from cutting a municipal fire department's operating budget below the prior year and permit the state treasurer to withhold matching state-shared revenues until funds are restored.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6319166,"Committee advances five-year pilot for state cybersecurity upgrades, focusing initially on Secretary of State systems",2316,4244000,6560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4&start=4244&end=6560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4/thumbnail_4244000.jpg","/articles/6319166/Arizona/Committee-advances-five-year-pilot-for-state-cybersecurity-upgrades-focusing-initially-on-Secretary-of-State-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319166-c0db8149a27c3a5566f91dfdfaf69055/orig.mp4?Expires=1774934760&Signature=J1cOj2NVsr~m9Iu-rkaLt8W6jfzSRIPc8svCFyxRKEUuERCGhIGjKwkd2O5bVuqqSIkmwk~-ql6OXxsazEQKO4vpv-BnShmxHryNAoK82czhitXip8DhQHibPfkxzmcpvlBu-r7xASLRjg6o1e9GRvYbpKqgATgZVpkG73BS2lOMQYCxy~57U0-y7OE~sqVRW61slZSvh7tTmJA96LziSdspF9VvrLBft2PqiqFCjZSwwt3DnKhlD1rTbIIuy-jgdSy-ghdRIMvXZuSZvQIUBZhJ7A44cuy5K8ZGSNYAirbZ4aISyir47A9I1UfEIlgmF7DjKln~doQbeWW9Y10I-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Science and Technology Committee recommended House Bill 2736, which would authorize a five-year pilot program to upgrade state information-security infrastructure, beginning with the Secretary of State and extending to major agencies including the Department of Revenue, the Department of Administration and the legislature.

Sponsor Representative Gillette told the committee the measure responds to long-standing technology obsolescence and vulnerabilities across state agencies. She described examples in which sensitive material was shared via unsecured cloud links and said some state systems still run on code written in the 1990s and 2000s. \"We have done a disservice to the people of the state of Arizona because we haven't funded what we've been asked to fund,\" Gillette said, calling for a coordinated upgrade rather than piecemeal fixes.

Under the bill, ADOA would implement a five-year program focused on data encryption and cybersecurity; the program must use U.S.-owned and -operated solutions with no foreign owners or investors, must be auditable by the auditor general and would include agency-by-agency implementation plans. The sponsor and witnesses said the Secretary of State should be the first agency addressed. Homeland Security and DEMA requested language clarifying testing authority; the sponsor indicated an amendment would be filed to allow DEMA to perform testing and use National Guard resources where appropriate.

Cybersecurity witnesses and industry representatives told the committee that post-quantum encryption, U.S.-owned fiber and perpetual penetration testing are crucial to guarding against evolving threats. Witnesses described the state's current systems as fragile and fragmented and urged a central coordinating effort. \"It isn't important. It's critical,\" witness Chuck Moses said of protecting Arizona's data, and another speaker noted that the Department of Defense and other actors are moving to new standards.

Committee members asked about costs and timelines. The sponsor said a pilot structure would allow each agency to identify needs so the Joint Legislative Budget Committee could later provide specific fiscal estimates; the committee record shows no final statewide cost estimate was available at the hearing. The committee returned HB 2736 with a due-pass recommendation (vote 9–0). The bill requires further appropriation or budget actions before work begins and includes auditor general oversight of deliverables and audits of vendor performance.","The Science and Technology Committee advanced House Bill 2736, a five-year pilot program to modernize encryption and cyber defenses for key Arizona state agencies, with the Secretary of State marked for initial implementation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6319171,"Committee approves updates to chiropractic regulation including new misconduct categories and fingerprinting requirement",331,3850000,4181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4&start=3850&end=4181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4/thumbnail_3850000.jpg","/articles/6319171/Arizona/Committee-approves-updates-to-chiropractic-regulation-including-new-misconduct-categories-and-fingerprinting-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319171-0d2c9f80460a81ab77ffa9ce92719ed5/orig.mp4?Expires=1774934760&Signature=CS8iRR8qCP0uVRkY2BvBmcV7D-BBnTVaKwOrfVL13wccbzxk~Nwt2dtha5WDdW54e9xt2b6ZLPyX2K3qVCe2Tgmn99euwVGDZeuRGLCCJ~yPwhTsQrSE3jv2GEiQJmvjZzgdzyy7Q7r~ghDZRz5pRyNvVPvfqwa-o3wjiymImvi-hVeRXALCgdowKsgzPs9V32JCfyYmMqM46X6tY7-OEZ-dKGhz7ldcziLj0BZV0OlVhzJBbAVChHRNpsqLQ5PWmLdflBFELJxvSb30Usq1LvdKX7Jzhci6noU0N9kAy0S-k8HFZGC8E7ZyRe32gY9tElYpduL1n2xUIAsHqEDJ4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Science and Technology Committee returned House Bill 2846 with a due-pass recommendation after hearing from the bill sponsor and the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ executive director on a set of regulatory updates intended to strengthen public protections.

House Bill 2846 revises the state’s chiropractic regulation by expanding the categories of misconduct that can lead to discipline to include negligent care, harassment, fraud, improper billing and interference with investigations. The bill extends these disciplinary standards to chiropractic assistants and business entities, updates licensure to align with National Board of Chiropractic Examiners requirements and mandates fingerprint clearance cards for applicants beginning in 2026. The proposal also shifts certain board procedures, allowing a quorum to issue licenses, authorizing fee-setting by rulemaking, and permitting the board to contract for services needed to enforce regulation.

Sponsor testimony emphasized that the bill resulted from a multi-year stakeholder process intended to improve public protection and accountability. \"This legislation addresses the need for the board to be appropriately empowered in their important work of protecting the public's health and safety,\" the sponsor said.

Alyssa Vanderveen, executive director of the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, testified in support and said the board had reviewed statutes and rules and identified weak points that the bill would correct. Vanderveen also highlighted chiropractic’s role in non-opioid pain care pathways.

Committee members thanked the sponsor and board staff for extensive stakeholder work. The roll-call vote returned HB 2846 with a due-pass recommendation, 9 ayes, 0 nays.

If enacted, the changes would give the board additional tools for oversight of practitioners and related business entities and impose fingerprinting requirements for new applicants; the bill record lists the board and sponsor as principal stakeholders in drafting the updates.","House Bill 2846 would broaden misconduct standards for Arizona chiropractic practitioners and assistants, align certain licensure requirements with national exam standards, allow fingerprint clearance cards for applicants beginning in 2026, and expand the board's authority on fees and contracting. Committee members praised stakeholder engagement",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6319176,"Committee advances bill to create Arizona Office of Defense Innovation inside Arizona Commerce Authority",1789,2116000,3905000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4&start=2116&end=3905","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4/thumbnail_2116000.jpg","/articles/6319176/Arizona/Committee-advances-bill-to-create-Arizona-Office-of-Defense-Innovation-inside-Arizona-Commerce-Authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319176-48aaac53bbda9760e2833466ddac4adb/orig.mp4?Expires=1774934760&Signature=cDY34mJYrwXnHpMnPAycXwuXH-KBh0aHv6O564oy-WF2rQA2hQllNzugb8BJnD9jl0TJAzwnf1zYaVdSi~PAg9RfbjTutD70ns-AEttrunS~Cqtm6ig25OV5oI171hlmDw6qBu5e~mWHz0KhWPF6I1fw5WYJKimVaFlks7blBVZhg-ayFhaOZpl1v6ODIxicvKJrOWwrIzVzsdXv0V8ct6A118dpRQBaaGQBDISmXePmnvXRzdmYa3s4BNWVk5-TIkCp5LRbD1Iq~Oz6a6eoqH1Cok1ql8EAggvZvFe2Vfa~HFIAY9a8bo3P-9ZkoHkwnvGqdalft3ys2XmpkSL8Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Science and Technology Committee voted to give House Bill 2872 a due-pass recommendation after testimony from defense-sector advocates who said Arizona risks losing federal research and procurement opportunities without a centralized state office to coordinate defense-innovation efforts.

House Bill 2872, sponsored by Representative Wilmeth, creates an Arizona Office of Defense Innovation to be housed at the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). The office would serve as a liaison between the state and the U.S. Department of Defense, help Arizona-based companies pursue federal defense contracts, identify and support emerging technology, and build university-industry collaborations to attract research-and-development funding. The introduced bill included a $350,000 one-time appropriation from the general fund for fiscal year 2025–26; the committee adopted an amendment removing that appropriation.

Sponsor Wilmeth argued Arizona has major military installations and an established aerospace and defense sector and said a centralized office would help the state compete for federal funding and retain defense-related jobs. \"You have to have a central repository of practice,\" Wilmeth said, arguing the office could coordinate work among universities, agencies and businesses.

Speakers supporting the bill included representatives of Southwest Mission Acceleration Center and several small defense-tech companies. Drew Trojnowski, who testified for industry groups, said Arizona currently lacks a single coordinating body and cited national trends of other states creating similar offices. \"You need to have a central office to do that,\" Trojnowski said, pointing to the state's $17 billion defense impact and approximately 300,000 jobs in the defense ecosystem.

Opponents were not recorded in committee testimony. Members questioned whether the ACA was the right home; proponents said ACA's economic-development role and public-private structure made it a logical place. The committee adopted the Wilmeth amendment removing the appropriation and returned the bill with a due-pass recommendation by roll call (7 ayes, 2 nays, 0 present, 0 absent).

The committee record contains industry testimony arguing a centralized public-private effort could help small and mid-size Arizona companies navigate federal procurement and build a stronger pipeline from university R&D to defense contracts.","House Bill 2872 would establish an Arizona Office of Defense Innovation within the Arizona Commerce Authority to help state companies pursue Department of Defense contracts and coordinate defense-related R&D work across universities and industry. The committee adopted an amendment removing an initial $350,000 appropriation and then returned the",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6319180,"Committee backs bill to create state study committee on assistive technology for people with disabilities",845,1258000,2103000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4&start=1258&end=2103","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363431-38d8dfe6080adc504a53afa06e71fcf4/thumbnail_1258000.jpg","/articles/6319180/Arizona/Committee-backs-bill-to-create-state-study-committee-on-assistive-technology-for-people-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6319180-06424ac3099a08214008927847e0f83b/orig.mp4?Expires=1774934760&Signature=o0U95g9ycrTj53BQFznRziiZFXskxosUsxwi4475xHlFIwO~Oh8xnll-AOjBoNRBndPJLfGqH0n09HB2CkJaukkWj-cYJjUmqo567TXKj0Uv0uCt0agnsPUMs6WU63-lGbR1Clxh5r9Qyp9~~Ti367nV0hqI-RYZQrxNJqq1QPTEttZ-DGpdHUBAGgTynDNv35JhcFCB3ZJM3oWXSoTirWtrb0VCAaNfkKC7xSPZX4iscPy2V07g9Gx~ZOmzIYsj3z-l5dMUuX50oF7-JNbq8V~HfD1iilG-~y~JtZgOo3HF8PoeUK1du6qiGZX06iBxmFsQRmHl2KBoFg4hFfU-7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Science and Technology Committee recommended House Bill 2801, a measure to form a legislative study committee on assistive technology aimed at expanding access to tools that help people with disabilities, including students with IEPs.

As amended, the bill creates a study committee composed of 15 members appointed by the president of the state senate and the speaker of the house, meeting twice a year. The committee must submit a report of activities and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house by Oct. 1, 2026.

Representative Connolly, the bill sponsor, described the measure as the result of a constituent’s vision to ensure people with developmental disabilities have access to technologies that support learning, employment and independence. \"I believe in pursuing technologies,\" Connolly said, and told the committee she brought the measure in part because personal experience led her to value technology solutions.

Sam Shepherd, founder of a nonprofit advocating for people with developmental disabilities, testified that assistive technology is broadly defined in federal law and includes items from classroom tools to mobility devices and software. Shepherd said Arizona lags some other states on initiatives such as \"technology first,\" and argued that a state committee would help bring stakeholders together and recommend concrete steps. \"Technology first is really a framework that describes how we can use technology before other solutions when helping individuals with disabilities gain independence,\" Shepherd said.

Committee members asked questions about the scope of assistive technology; Shepherd and the sponsor described examples ranging from specialized writing tools to AI-driven aides, wheelchairs and environmental design adjustments. Representative Fink said she supported the concept but preferred private-sector solutions and voted nay on final passage citing that concern. The committee adopted an amendment changing appointment authority to legislative leaders and reducing meeting frequency; the committee then returned the bill with a due-pass recommendation by roll call vote of 7 ayes, 1 nay, 0 present, 1 absent.

The bill record includes testimony from individuals with lived experience and a nonprofit representative and directs the committee to produce a research report and recommendations on statewide assistive-technology approaches by Oct. 1, 2026.","House Bill 2801, as amended, would establish a study committee to examine assistive technology needs and options for Arizonans with developmental and other disabilities. The committee would produce a report by Oct. 1, 2026. Sponsor Representative Connolly and advocates, including a constituent and nonprofit founder, testified in favor; one member","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Arizona committee advances bill to bar cities from reducing fire department operating budgets

Committee advances five-year pilot for state cybersecurity upgrades, focusing initially on Secretary of State systems

Committee approves updates to chiropractic regulation including new misconduct categories and fingerprinting requirement

Committee advances bill to create Arizona Office of Defense Innovation inside Arizona Commerce Authority

Committee backs bill to create state study committee on assistive technology for people with disabilities