[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6661453,"mediaKeyId","2413908-c766f713774b8fd6b4ae263921d2dc48","parentId",2413908,"title","Arizona Senate rejects nomination of Joan Elizabeth Service to lead Department of Housing after extended floor debate","audioSeconds",2258,"startMs",8066000,"endMs",10324000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413908-c766f713774b8fd6b4ae263921d2dc48&start=8066&end=10324","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413908-c766f713774b8fd6b4ae263921d2dc48/thumbnail_8066000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661453/Arizona/Arizona-Senate-rejects-nomination-of-Joan-Elizabeth-Service-to-lead-Department-of-Housing-after-extended-floor-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661453-a5624f324835014dc097c6c9d6bb24d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920503&Signature=caaT5k7RE0jqJKyvC5rwjQlju7AJm9T5XIVA4Khc93b7yucwrIsKZWPbZlc6O0PYgHjYFWsWvD7diRwR7-XTG12Gm0dXPleq5TC701FF4wlqNzoBzjWzVATRRFfDhi1B~KHSq~HV9yjElGlbyk3odxxK4vZP5CEWRc4gVhs~9fnGSVn~qijVnq5EOmCWU7oCdPjgF-r7jkd9qfIOZTnPb3S2dsixfMvkxz6Oz05g-LSKpSI1D7pGGHP6m3JNVx5IN2oidWuzfmIryhjR0d1OWw5knz6~6xnHH-OEysPsDOwPMVDdPdeZ5sTY~qNwFMnM2urwxjG-UtKuB6wNlVt~WA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona State Legislature","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Arizona Senate voted on Feb. 25, 2025, to reject the nomination of Joan Elizabeth Service to serve as director of the Arizona Department of Housing after extended debate by senators on the floor.

Supporters highlighted Service’s recent work allocating state housing funds and advancing affordable housing projects; critics raised concerns about past paperwork and management issues. The chamber recorded the outcome and instructed the secretary to notify the governor and secretary of state.

Why it matters: The director leads the agency responsible for allocating state housing trust funds, administering federal housing programs and low-income housing tax credit awards. The vote moves leadership of that agency back to the executive branch to propose a new nominee and leaves program decisions subject to interim administration while the governor names a successor.

Senators who backed the nominee described rapid program rollouts and awards under Service’s direction. “Director Service is a highly qualified and accomplished public servant dedicated to improving housing for Arizonans,” said Senator Bravo. Supporters cited work on recent Housing Trust Fund allocations, allocation of emergency shelter and homelessness funds, and awards of federal low-income housing tax credits and other programs the department has administered in 2023–2024.

Opponents said the nominations committee uncovered problems that undermined confidence in Service’s ability to lead a multi‑million‑dollar agency. Senator Hoffman described the committee’s concerns about the nominee’s work product and internal controls, saying on the floor that investigations found substantial portions of some documents had been copied from other sources and noting prior problems tied to the agency’s financial controls.

Several senators described the confirmation fight as political. Senator Ortiz said the Senate is confronting competing priorities — housing, education and child care — while spending time on the nomination vote. Other senators detailed organizations and local leaders who supported Service, and several members described the department’s production of affordable units and rapid rollout of grant funds while she led the agency.

Formal action: The Senate recorded its roll-call outcome at the close of the session; the clerk reported the result in the chamber transcript and instructed the secretary to notify the governor and secretary of state. (As reported in the session transcript: roll-call reported in the chamber as 60 ayes, 12 nays and 2 not voting.) The motion on the nomination was recorded as failed (nomination rejected).

Next steps: The governor may nominate a different director; in the interim the Department of Housing will continue to operate under its existing administrative structure and staff. The Senate may revisit nominations or other housing-related legislation in subsequent days.

Sources and provenance: Floor debate and the roll-call report appear in the official Senate floor transcript for Feb. 25, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/25/2025 - Senate Floor Session","oneSentenceSummary","The Arizona Senate voted on Feb. 25, 2025, to reject the nomination of Joan Elizabeth Service to serve as director of the Arizona Department of Housing after extended debate by senators on the floor.","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},6661448,"Senate approves resolution to name State Route 260 the 'Donald J. Trump Highway' after tense floor debate",598,3005000,3603000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2413908-c766f713774b8fd6b4ae263921d2dc48&start=3005&end=3603","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2413908-c766f713774b8fd6b4ae263921d2dc48/thumbnail_3005000.jpg","/articles/6661448/Arizona/Senate-approves-resolution-to-name-State-Route-260-the-Donald-J-Trump-Highway-after-tense-floor-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661448-15b73583c57a2c3c8425a5d9444b76ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770920503&Signature=Ir9g3WTECVN3Qts~vr-ng3oyzbAGnB4KwCZtF9BvNrja1cMLa~Ff6HQQ3d0hoUzzubt02jwMEWPmA-vXZOW7U5sSnYLDR~aMCw-JuWzHP4PddJQqxW1qnxMFu2M4ddvP-VptmHpifH2DrSnDsSFUG~ome4qpJZraleJzWoh46EoZn07mIt3-iz5gP~sl6j2AtguXQkRPIvy8q9w2DcgwRRXjspdOjkaPZpgS~89Zlp2sjEQPI2dYLEj4hyfL7X0oR3Qyf5MoTrCvlKi4p0UdNafa3gZyaeHI3RGwlwh9cg5xpNsdEDKodbm~MVXkPhWWkejhGVQ09Dnba~jw1uEHkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arizona Senate voted on Feb. 25, 2025, to approve Senate Concurrent Memorial 1001, recommending that State Route 260 be designated the “Donald J. Trump Highway,” after a heated floor debate in which senators voiced strong support and sharp opposition.

Why it matters: The memorial is a nonbinding request urging the Arizona Department of Transportation to make a naming designation. Supporters framed the vote as honoring a former president; opponents said it was a misuse of scarce legislative time given pressing statewide needs.

Debate on the floor included questions of precedent and symbolism as well as broader political commentary. Senator Qube, responding to critics, said naming public assets after living figures with contested records could set a difficult precedent: “I wouldn't want to see us define ourselves in that way,” she said on the floor.

Other senators argued the item distracted from pressing issues. “We are in a housing crisis … and yet, we are spending our very precious limited legislative time on deciding whether to name a highway the Donald J. Trump Highway,” Senator Ortiz said during the remarks.

Some members expressed respect for the former president but opposed the memorial on principle. Senator Bravo said directly when asked on the floor, “No, it's not something I would support.” The debate included multiple exchanges about whether the memorial was an appropriate use of chamber time and how naming decisions reflect public values.

Action: The measure was adopted in the Committee of the Whole and the floor recorded the voice vote as passing (the clerk and chair stated “the ayes have it” in the transcript). The memorial, as passed by the Senate, is a formal request to the Arizona Department of Transportation and does not itself change highway signage.

Next steps: The concurrent memorial is a legislative expression that the Department of Transportation may consider; any actual naming action would be an administrative decision by ADOT and may require additional local approvals or procedures.

Provenance: Floor debate and the motion appear in the official Senate floor transcript for Feb. 25, 2025.","The Arizona Senate passed a concurrent memorial recommending the naming of State Route 260 as the 'Donald J. Trump Highway.' The measure drew extended floor remarks for and against the designation, with critics saying the chamber's time should be focused on housing and other urgent issues.","actionData","errors"]

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Arizona Senate rejects nomination of Joan Elizabeth Service to lead Department of Housing after extended floor debate

Senate approves resolution to name State Route 260 the 'Donald J. Trump Highway' after tense floor debate