Board reviews draft state and federal 'authorized agenda' to guide county advocacy during the 2026 sessions
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Summary
County staff presented a draft "authorized agenda" of state and federal priorities — a board‑approved framework that would authorize government affairs staff to act on common policy positions during the upcoming legislative and congressional session windows.
Deputy County Manager Eric Peterson told the board that the county was preparing an "authorized agenda" — a framework of state and federal policy positions authorizing government affairs staff to send letters and take advocacy steps on the county’s stated priorities during the legislative session and between board meetings.
"An authorized agenda provides government affairs the authority to advocate on behalf of the county on these positions," Peterson said, adding that staff would still seek board guidance on controversial items and return the finalized document for formal adoption on Nov. 18.
Content and scope: The draft agenda groups items under broad principles (oppose unfunded mandates and cost shifts; protect local control) and programmatic priorities such as wildfire response funding (including continued support for Arizona Department of Forestry mitigation funds), transportation and broadband investments, public‑health program stability, education funding and the county’s ongoing priorities for forest restoration and federal land programs.
Board feedback: Supervisors asked staff to strengthen education language to emphasize full support for funding public schools and concerns about programs that divert state funds, and they requested additional departmental outreach so affected county departments could review and propose edits before the board’s formal adoption. Staff said departments and outside partners had already provided input and that the document will be recirculated and returned with a resolution on Nov. 18.
Why it matters: The authorized agenda creates an operational pathway for the county to pursue time‑sensitive advocacy (letters, briefings and meetings) during legislative or congressional windows that fall between scheduled board meetings. It is not a fixed lobbying package — staff said they will select targeted priorities to present to federal delegations and state officials based on timing and political feasibility.
Next steps: Staff will recirculate the draft, take departmental feedback and return on Nov. 18 with a resolution to adopt the authorized agenda and the parameters for how government affairs will select issues and communicate with the board on significant actions.