City staff outline El Mirage’s 2025 state and federal legislative priorities

City staff presented El Mirage’s 2025 state and federal legislative update, outlining priorities the city will ask state and federal delegations to support during the 2025 legislative session.

Amber Wakeman, presenting the update, said the city’s legislative agenda will seek to protect local decisionmaking and state revenue sharing, oppose preemption and unfunded mandates, support affordable housing and water infrastructure improvements, and advocate for public safety and human services funding. She noted the governor’s State of the State address on Jan. 13 raised issues including border security, child care, housing affordability and groundwater protections; Wakeman also summarized the governor’s budget figures as presented in the packet.

Wakeman said the governor’s proposed budget preserves local government revenue sharing and that El Mirage received $19.6 million in state share revenues in FY 2023‑24 as listed in the packet. She identified the city’s state legislative district (District 29) and named state and federal representatives the city intends to work with during the session, including Senator Janae Shamp (Senate majority leader), Speaker Steve Montenegro, Representative James Taylor, U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and U.S. Representative Paul Gosar. She told council staff will monitor key deadlines (sine die listed as April 22 with potential extension to June 30) and will watch for items such as teacher pay, education funding, and ballot deadlines for propositions.

Wakeman closed by saying staff will pursue federal funding opportunities for infrastructure, water and public safety and will continue regular updates to the council during the session. Council asked no follow‑up questions during the meeting.