A broad coalition of U.S. business organizations, including the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry and the Arizona Manufacturers Council, is urging Congress to approve a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM), arguing the agency plays a critical role in helping American manufacturers compete globally.

In a July 21 letter to lawmakers, 319 companies, trade associations, state chambers of commerce, manufacturers’ groups and local business organizations from all 50 states called on Congress to pass a robust 10-year reauthorization of EXIM before its authorization expires later this year.

The coalition argues that export financing has become an increasingly important competitive tool as foreign governments expand support for their domestic industries. The letter notes that more than 115 foreign export credit agencies are actively supporting exporters in their respective countries and points to China’s estimated $24 billion in medium- and long-term export credit support in 2024, more than four times the volume officially supported by the United States.

“EXIM is an essential tool that helps American exporters compete globally and level the playing field,” the organizations wrote, adding that the bank’s financing programs can determine whether U.S. companies win international contracts, expand operations and create jobs.

According to the coalition, EXIM authorized $8.7 billion in transactions during fiscal year 2025, supporting approximately 40,000 American jobs. More than 87% of those transactions directly benefited small businesses. Since 1992, the bank has generated a net $9.8 billion for the U.S. Treasury while maintaining a low default rate.

“Arizona manufacturers compete in a global marketplace every day. The Export-Import Bank helps ensure that American companies aren’t forced to compete with one hand tied behind their backs while foreign governments aggressively finance their own industries,” Arizona Manufacturers Council Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “A long-term reauthorization of EXIM will provide the certainty businesses need to invest, grow, and support high-quality manufacturing jobs here in Arizona and across the country, which is why we’re urging Congress to act.”

Beyond extending the agency’s authorization for a decade, the letter calls on Congress to strengthen EXIM’s ability to operate during board vacancies, expand its China and Transformational Exports Program, and revise lending restrictions that the coalition says unnecessarily limit the bank’s competitiveness against foreign export credit agencies.

Arizona organizations signing the letter include the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry, Arizona Manufacturers Council, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation, Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce, Chandler Chamber of Commerce, Coolidge Chamber of Commerce, Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Chamber, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Nogales Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce, PHX East Valley Partnership, Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, and The Chamber of Southern Arizona. The National Association of Manufacturers coordinated the nationwide sign-on effort, which drew support from major corporations including Boeing, Ford Motor Co., Lockheed Martin, Siemens Energy, Toyota Motor North America and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with hundreds of state and local business organizations.

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The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to review a legal challenge involving a planned hotel development in Marana, leaving in place an appellate ruling that the project’s development agreement is not subject to referendum.

The �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry participated through the �鶹���� Legal Center, filing an amicus curiae brief urging the Supreme Court to let the lower court ruling stand.

“This is a significant result for Marana and for communities across Arizona that rely on a predictable development process,” said Vanessa Pomeroy, chief counsel of the �鶹���� Legal Center. “The courts have now consistently recognized that the referendum power cannot be used to reopen every administrative action taken to implement a land-use plan that has already been publicly considered and adopted. Businesses need to know that when they follow the rules and a project receives the required approvals, those decisions will carry some measure of finality.”

The case began after Marana rejected referendum petitions challenging a development agreement for a planned hotel project. A Pima County Superior Court judge sided with the town, and the Arizona Court of Appeals later upheld that ruling, finding the agreement carried out an existing development plan and was therefore not subject to referendum.

The agreement covers approximately 19 acres of town-owned property near Marana Main Street and Civic Center Drive and is tied to the Rancho Marana West Town Center Specific Plan, adopted in 2008. The plan calls for a mixed-use town center that could include commercial, retail, office, entertainment, residential and hospitality uses.

Arizonans for Responsible Development sought to place the Town Council’s approval of the agreement before voters. Marana declined to process the petitions, arguing that the resolution implemented an existing development plan rather than creating new policy.

That distinction is central under Arizona law. Legislative actions can generally be challenged through referendum, while administrative actions ordinarily cannot.

In its June ruling, the Court of Appeals said the development agreement “furthers an already-declared policy” and concluded that the resolution was “not legislative but administrative and is therefore not referable.”

The court also rejected the challengers’ broader argument that all municipal development agreements are automatically subject to referendum, finding that state law does not eliminate the traditional distinction between legislative and administrative actions.

Pomeroy said the outcome matters beyond the Marana project because businesses, developers and local governments rely on clear rules and dependable timelines when making investment decisions.

“The referendum is an important constitutional safeguard, but it’s not a tool for creating perpetual uncertainty around approved development,” Pomeroy said. “There has to be a clear line between creating new policy and implementing policy that has already been adopted. That distinction matters for communities, employers and developers trying to move projects forward.”

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the appellate ruling intact, ending the challengers’ effort to place the development agreement before voters.

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Arizona voters head to the polls Tuesday, July 21, to help determine which candidates will advance to November’s General Election.

If you still plan to vote, here’s what you need to know before Election Day.

It’s too late to mail your ballot

If you still have an early ballot at home, do not place it in the mail. The deadline for returning ballots by mail has passed.

Instead, voters should return their completed ballot to an authorized ballot drop box or voting location, or vote in person on Election Day.

Find your voting location

Voters can locate their polling place, vote center, or ballot drop-off location through their county election office.

County election contact information is available through the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office:

Voters in Arizona’s two largest counties can also use these direct resources:

Most polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any voter who is in line by 7 p.m. is entitled to cast a ballot.

Bring identification

Arizona law requires voters casting a ballot in person to present identification before receiving a ballot. One acceptable photo ID with your name and address—or a qualifying combination of non-photo identification documents—is sufficient.

Here’s a of the acceptable forms of ID.

Independent voters can participate

Arizona has an open primary system. Voters registered as independents or with no recognized party affiliation may choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot when voting in the primary. They may vote only one party’s ballot.

Check the business community’s endorsements

For voters interested in learning which candidates have earned the support of Arizona’s business community, the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry has published its 2026 Primary Election endorsements.

View the complete list here:

Track your ballot

If you’ve already voted early or dropped off your ballot, you can verify that it has been received and counted through .

Voters can also use the portal to confirm their registration status and view other election information.

Tuesday’s election will determine the nominees for numerous federal, statewide, legislative, county, and local offices. Those winners will advance to the General Election on Nov. 3.

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This column by �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden was in the Colorado Sun on July 16. The column comes in response to a recent����by Colorado River Commissioner Becky Mitchell regarding the ongoing water negotiations between and the responsibilities of the Upper and Lower Basin states.

Colorado’s water commissioner wants Arizona to make “hard decisions” on the Colorado River. That’s a curious thing to hear from a state that still hasn’t agreed to a single binding cut.

Becky Mitchell’s recent column in The Colorado Sun ( July 7) tells a story where the Upper Basin has quietly sacrificed for decades while Arizona, California and Nevada are only now waking up to reality. It’s a compelling narrative. It’s just missing most of the numbers — and facts — that matter.

Start with snowpack. Yes, Colorado had a brutal year. So did the rest of the West. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado all set readings this year. Every state at this table is living through the same basin-wide crisis in real time. Colorado isn’t further along than the rest of us on this one.

Next, the claim that the Upper Basin has already been quietly cut by 1.3 million acre-feet a year for two decades. Call it what it is: automatic curtailment, not a negotiated commitment. When the water isn’t physically there, junior water rights get shut off under state priority systems that predate the 1922 Colorado River Compact by decades. Nobody negotiated that. Nobody signed anything. It happens whether Colorado agrees to it or not.

Compare that with what Arizona put on the table this year. In May, Arizona, California and Nevada through 2028. That includes 1.25 million acre-feet in binding reductions for both 2027 and 2028.

Arizona’s share alone would be 760,000 acre-feet, 61% of the total and the largest of any state. The Lower Basin proposal also includes at least 700,000 acre-feet in additional conservation on top of those reductions.

And that’s before you count the  outright back when the February talks were still alive. Every one of those numbers was real, specific and put in writing. Most of them either sit unanswered or were rejected outright by the Upper Basin states, Colorado included.

There’s a reason the numbers look so different, and it comes down to math, not sacrifice.

The Upper Basin has never built the storage and delivery infrastructure to use its full 7.5 million-acre-foot apportionment, even in good years. Mitchell notes that Upper Basin users took about 4 million acre-feet in 2021 while Lower Basin users took 11 million, and offers that up as proof of Upper Basin restraint and prudence. 

But promising to stay below half your allocation is easy when you were never on pace to use it in the first place. 

Arizona doesn’t have that option. Cities, tribes and farms across the Lower Basin depend on water we actually use, every year, close to our full apportionment. That’s why  to the Bureau of Reclamation already accounts for roughly 1.25 million acre-feet in evaporation and transit losses we used to get to write off. Colorado hasn’t put forward a comparable number for anything.

This kind of discipline isn’t new for Arizona. Our population has grown nearly 500% since 1957. Our economy has grown dramatically. Total water use hasn’t. According to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, . Groundwater management, conservation requirements, water banking and decades of hard policy choices did that. Colorado hasn’t made those same choices on its side of the river.

 said it plainly after the February talks collapsed: The Lower Basin’s position is firm and fair. Arizona’s own negotiator, Tom Buschatzke,: The Lower Basin has offered numerous good-faith compromises, and virtually all of them have been rejected. That pattern is a track record, not a difference of opinion.

Mitchell closes her piece by inviting Arizona to join Colorado in adapting to a changing river. We’d take that invitation more seriously from a state that had actually agreed to something. Until then, we’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing: showing up with real numbers, real cuts and a plan Colorado still hasn’t matched.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the �鶹���� of Commerce and Industry.

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The U.S. Forest Service earlier this month issued the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for the Hermosa Critical Minerals Project in Southern Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains, completing the federal environmental review required for portions of the project planned on National Forest land. The decision follows several years of environmental study, public input, tribal and interagency consultation. 

Project developer South32 says Hermosa could produce up to five federally designated critical minerals, including zinc, silver, and manganese. The project includes a broader land package with potential for additional polymetallic and copper mineralization, positioning it as a significant domestic source of minerals tied to energy, manufacturing and supply-chain needs. 

The decision paves the way for South32 to fully develop the project beyond its privately held land, including building ancillary infrastructure such as a primary access road, a secondary dry-stack tailings facility, and allowing utility UniSource Energy Services to build a portion of a 138-kV power line on Coronado National Forest land.  

Construction is already halfway complete on private land. It was the first mining project accepted into the federal FAST-41 permitting program, which is reserved for nationally significant infrastructure projects meeting rigorous criteria.  

“From the beginning, we designed Hermosa to be a different kind of mine, and the federal review process helped make it even better,” South32 Hermosa President Pat Risner said. “Years of agency review, Tribal consultation and community engagement strengthened environmental protections, informed project refinements and shaped a project that can transform the local economy. We are grateful to everyone who participated throughout the process and look forward to continuing that engagement as we move from construction and development into operations.” 

The Final ROD also represents an important milestone in the broader national conversation around domestic critical mineral development and permitting reform. Hermosa’s advancement under FAST-41 did not reduce the thoroughness of environmental review or limit public input. Rather, the process helped improve interagency coordination, transparency, and accountability across federal agencies while ensuring the project moved through permitting in a timely and disciplined manner.  

Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry, said the Hermosa project also demonstrates the value of a predictable and transparent permitting process. 

“South32’s Hermosa project represents the kind of investment Arizona needs to strengthen domestic supply chains, support critical minerals production, and create long-term jobs in Santa Cruz County and across the state,” he said. “It’s also a model for how permitting should work. Hermosa has gone through years of environmental review, public input, and interagency consultation, and the project remains on track under the federal permitting schedule. That’s the kind of predictable, transparent process Arizona needs more of if we want to lead in industries critical to our economy and national security.” 

Over the course of the review process, Hermosa underwent extensive federal environmental analysis and consultation including more than 120 days of formal public comment periods, coordination across six federal and state agencies and consultation with 12 Tribes with historic affiliation to the region. 

“If we’re serious about bringing supply chains back to America and reducing our dependence on foreign countries, we need to responsibly produce more critical minerals here at home. This is exactly what the Hermosa project is doing,” said U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). “This milestone shows we can move projects through an efficient permitting process to create good-paying jobs while strengthening our national security.” 

South32 conducted extensive baseline environmental studies and community engagement before permit applications were formally submitted, allowing project alternatives, water management approaches, access roads and mitigation measures to be shaped by stakeholder input early in the process. 

The Final ROD confirms that environmental protections, mitigation commitments, and adaptive management measures are integrated into the approved project. Throughout the review process, South32 refined Hermosa’s design in response to agency feedback, Tribal consultation and community input, including: 

• Redesign of the dry-stack tailings facility to avoid sensitive plant species;��
• Design of a Primary Access Road, necessary for expansion, to also reduce traffic impacts to Patagonia and outdoor recreation areas;��
• Surface and ground water quality and quantity monitoring beyond state level requirements;��
• Wildlife crossings and habitat protections;��
• Cultural resource avoidance measures; and��
• Operational refinements��are designed��to reduce emissions,��noise,��and surface disturbance.��

In total, South32 committed to more than 135 conservation, mitigation and monitoring measures developed in coordination with federal agencies, Tribes and local stakeholders. Many of those commitments will become federally enforceable components of the final Mine Plan of Operations, and associated management plans outlined in the Final ROD. 

“The Final Record of Decision for Hermosa is another important milestone for Nogales. It reflects years of collaboration to ensure the Hermosa project is developed in a way that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship,” said Nogales Mayor Jorge Maldonado. “South32 is making a long-term investment in the people and future of Nogales through investments like its remote operating center “Centro”. Hermosa has the potential to create new opportunities to support good-paying jobs and help ensure that more of our young people can build successful careers right here at home, and we appreciate South32’s commitment to developing Hermosa responsibly while creating opportunities for local families, students and businesses.” 

With a surface footprint of 750 acres and projected to use approximately 90% less water than other mines in the region, South32 designed Hermosa to minimize its environmental impact. Once in operation, Hermosa would help transform and grow the local economy and create up to 900 good-paying jobs during peak operations, and support investment across surrounding communities for decades to come. 

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Arizona small businesses struggling with rising health insurance costs will soon have more coverage options after Gov. Katie Hobbs signed HB 2693, legislation spearheaded by the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry that expands access to multiple employer welfare arrangements, or MEWAs.

Nationally, the pressure is especially acute for the smallest employers. A 2024 JPMorganChase Institute analysis found that health insurance premiums consumed a larger share of compensation costs for lower-revenue businesses, with firms under $600,000 in annual revenue seeing a median health insurance payroll burden of nearly 12%, compared with 7% for firms above $2.4 million.

Sponsored by Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria), the legislation allows small employers to join qualifying organizations, like the �鶹����, that can negotiate health benefits on behalf of a broader pool of participants. For Arizona’s smaller employers, the MEWA model offers a framework to build greater purchasing power in a market that often gives larger businesses more leverage.

“This bill is about giving small businesses more choices,” Rep. Livingston said. “When employers can come together through an association, they have a better opportunity to access coverage the way larger employers do, with more people in the risk pool and more leverage to manage costs.”

The law also expands eligibility to include sole proprietors, working owners, and employers with as few as two eligible employees. When coverage is available, eligible employers may be able to seek plans through a qualifying statewide chamber of commerce or a statewide business league.

Arizona is not starting from scratch. Similar MEWA models are already in use in other states, including Missouri, where the Missouri Chamber Federation’s Chamber Benefit Plan has used a MEWA structure since 2017 to help small employers join a larger self-funded pool. The Missouri Chamber says the plan has grown to nearly 4,000 covered groups and more than 45,000 covered individuals.

As HB 2693 moves into implementation, Missouri’s experience provides Arizona policymakers and business leaders with a useful point of reference for how a similar model can expand coverage options for small employers.

“HB 2693 allows for greater flexibility, expanded choice, improved stability, and lower costs,” said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry. “For small businesses working to attract and retain talent, those benefits can make a meaningful difference for employers and employees across Arizona.”

Thanks to this legislation, the Chamber is launching a MEWA program that will help Arizona’s small businesses, the backbone of our economy, have access to more affordable and flexible health coverage.

As that program takes shape, the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry has created an HB 2693 website where employers can learn more about MEWA and add their support for expanding health coverage options for Arizona small businesses.

For small employers facing rising benefit costs, HB 2693 creates a new option for more stable, affordable coverage, helping businesses better support employees and compete for talent.

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The �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry has installed Monica Coury, vice president of external affairs at Arizona Complete Health, as chair of its board of directors, as the organization begins its new fiscal year.

Coury officially assumed the chairmanship during a ceremonial passing of the gavel at the Chamber’s June 26 board meeting. She succeeds Ted Geisler, president and CEO of APS, who served as board chair over the past two years.

As chair, Coury will lead the Chamber’s board while helping guide the organization’s efforts to advance policies that strengthen Arizona’s economy, improve the state’s business climate, and promote long-term prosperity.

“It is an incredible honor to serve as chair of the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry,” Coury said. “I want to thank my fellow board members for the confidence they’ve placed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Chamber’s outstanding team. The Chamber has long been one of Arizona’s most effective and respected advocates on behalf of the state’s job creators, and I look forward to building on that legacy as we continue working to make Arizona the best place in the nation to live, work, and do business.”

Coury has served on the Chamber’s board for several years. She previously chaired the Public Affairs Committee and most recently served as chair-elect. In her role at Arizona Complete Health, she oversees one of the state’s leading health plans and has been a prominent voice on issues involving healthcare access, workforce development, and Arizona’s economic competitiveness.

“Monica is an exceptional leader whose collaborative approach, strategic vision, and deep commitment to Arizona make her the ideal person to lead our board,” said Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry. “She understands that a strong economy depends on smart public policy, and she has consistently brought thoughtful leadership and sound judgment to the Chamber. I look forward to working closely with Monica as we continue advancing policies that help Arizona employers create jobs, invest, and grow.”

Seiden also thanked Geisler for his leadership during a period that included significant legislative successes and continued growth for the Chamber.

“Ted has been an outstanding chairman, a trusted partner, and a friend,” Seiden said. “His steady leadership, business acumen, and unwavering commitment to Arizona’s economic future have helped position the Chamber for continued success. We are grateful for his service and look forward to his continued counsel and involvement on our board.”

The Chamber also installed the following governing board officers:

• Chair-elect: Jimmy Lindblom, Willmeng Construction
• Vice-chair, audit & finance: Don Isaacson, Isaacson Law Firm
• Vice-chair, manufacturing: Angela Creedon, Intel

The �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry is Arizona’s leading statewide business advocacy organization, representing employers of every size and industry across the state. The Chamber’s mission is to advance Arizona’s competitiveness through policies that foster economic growth, job creation, and opportunity for all Arizonans.

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The Arizona Court of Appeals Division Two has upheld a lower court ruling in favor of the Town of Marana in a referendum dispute tied to a planned hotel development.

In a memorandum decision filed June 23, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Pima County Superior Court’s ruling denying requests from Arizonans for Responsible Development to force Marana to process referendum petitions challenging a town development agreement.

The case centered on a Marana resolution approving a development agreement for approximately 19 acres of town-owned property near Marana Main Street and Civic Center Drive. The agreement is tied to the Rancho Marana West Town Center Specific Plan, which was adopted in 2008 and contemplated a mixed-use town center with commercial, retail, office, institutional, entertainment and residential uses.

Arizonans for Responsible Development submitted referendum petitions seeking to refer the resolution to voters. Marana rejected the petitions, arguing the resolution implemented previously adopted policy and was administrative rather than legislative. Under Arizona law, legislative acts may be subject to referendum, while administrative acts generally are not.

The superior court sided with Marana earlier this year, finding the resolution was administrative and not subject to referendum. The Court of Appeals agreed.

The �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry participated in the case as amicus curiae through the �鶹���� Legal Center.

“This decision is an important affirmation of the principle that referendum powers cannot be used to relitigate every administrative step needed to carry out an already-approved development plan,” said Mike Bailey, general counsel and director of legal reform programs for the �鶹����. “Arizona’s referendum process is an important constitutional right, but there has to be a clear line between creating new policy and implementing policy that has already gone through the public process. That distinction matters for communities, employers and developers who need certainty to move projects forward.”

In its decision, the Court of Appeals said the Marana resolution did not create new policy. Rather, the court found that the development agreement implemented the requirements of the Rancho Marana West Town Center Specific Plan Amendment, which had already been adopted by a 2008 ordinance.

The court wrote that the development agreement “furthers an already-declared policy” and later concluded the resolution was “not legislative but administrative and is therefore not referable.”

The court also rejected the challengers’ broader statutory argument that all development agreements are automatically subject to referendum under Arizona law. The court said Arizona statute does not expand the traditional limits on local referendum power and noted that if the Legislature intended to make all development agreements subject to referendum, “it could have said so clearly.”

Bailey said the ruling is especially important as Arizona communities work to advance projects that support housing, hospitality, commercial development and job creation.

“Economic development depends on a process that is transparent, predictable and fair,” Bailey said. “When a community has already adopted a plan, and a later action simply carries out that plan, businesses should not face endless uncertainty over whether that implementation step can be delayed or derailed. This ruling helps reinforce that common-sense boundary.”

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The �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry has announced its endorsements for the July 21, 2026 primary election, backing a bipartisan group of candidates for the Arizona Legislature, Congress, and the Arizona Corporation Commission.

The endorsements, approved by the Chamber’s board of directors following recommendations from its Political Affairs Committee, reflect what the organization describes as a continued focus on supporting candidates whose records and policy positions align with the Chamber’s Business Agenda, an annual document that outlines the organization’s positions on various public policy issues.

“Good policy has helped make Arizona one of the most attractive places in the country to start, grow, or relocate a business,” Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “The decisions made at the Capitol, in Congress, and at the Corporation Commission have real consequences for employers, workers, and communities across our state. Many of the candidates we’re endorsing have already demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting Arizona’s competitive advantage, and we’re confident this slate will bring the serious leadership and practical solutions needed to keep that momentum going.”

The Chamber’s endorsements include candidates from both major political parties and span races across the state. Among those receiving the Chamber’s backing are Republican legislative leaders and Democratic lawmakers, as well as U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton (D) and Juan Ciscomani (R).

The organization said incumbents were evaluated based on their voting records and their alignment with the Chamber’s policy priorities. Candidates seeking offices they have not previously held were asked to complete questionnaires and participate in interviews with members of the Chamber Political Affairs Committee before recommendations were forwarded to the board of directors for final approval.

The Chamber’s endorsements come as Arizona prepares for a competitive election cycle that will determine the makeup of the Legislature and other key offices that influence the state’s economic climate.

The Chamber also endorsed incumbent Arizona Corporation Commissioners Kevin Thompson and Nick Myers. The commission regulates utilities and oversees matters affecting energy reliability, infrastructure investment, and rates.

“Reliable, affordable energy is one of the most important issues in today’s economy,” Chamber Executive Vice President Courtney Coolidge said. “Sustaining Arizona’s rapid growth means electing leaders who will work to ensure we have the energy mix and modern infrastructure that job creators demand.”

The organization said additional endorsements could be issued ahead of the general election, which culminates on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The full list of endorsements can be found .

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The Arizona Legislature wrapped up its 2026 session after 153 days, leaving the state’s business community with a mix of accomplishments to celebrate and concerns about Arizona’s long-term competitiveness.

Business leaders pointed to several significant victories, including expanded health coverage options for small employers, additional infrastructure funding to support economic development projects, preservation of key economic development tools, and a bipartisan budget that avoided broad-based tax increases. At the same time, they expressed concern about reductions to public university funding, the repeal of a longstanding job-creation incentive, and policy changes affecting future data center investment.

“Like most sessions in divided government, this legislative session delivered a mixed bag of results for job creators,” said Courtney Coolidge, executive vice president of the �鶹���� of Commerce & Industry. “The good news is that Arizona continues to demonstrate a commitment to economic growth, competitive tax policy, and job creation. The challenge moving forward is ensuring we don’t undermine the very advantages that have made Arizona one of the most attractive places in the country to invest and grow.”

Among the business community’s top priorities this year was legislation aimed at helping small employers provide affordable health coverage to workers.

HB 2693, sponsored by Rep. David Livingston and signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs, creates a pathway for small businesses to join together through a statewide business organization to purchase health coverage. Supporters say the measure will allow smaller employers to increase purchasing power, reduce costs, and provide more stable benefit options.

“Small businesses often face the greatest challenges when it comes to offering competitive health benefits,” Coolidge said. “This legislation creates a voluntary, market-based option that gives employers more flexibility and employees more choices.”

Another significant victory came through the state budget, which included additional funding capacity for Arizona’s Public Infrastructure Program, a tool frequently used to support large-scale economic development projects.

The program helps communities finance roads, water systems, and other infrastructure needed to accommodate major investments. It has been utilized in projects involving companies such as TSMC, Intel, Amkor, and LG Energy Solution Arizona.

“Arizona’s economic success depends on our ability to compete for transformational projects,” Arizona Manufacturers Council Executive Director Grace Appelbe said. “Those investments don’t happen without infrastructure, and communities need tools that allow them to prepare for growth.”

The Chamber also praised lawmakers for largely preserving the Arizona Competes Fund, one of the state’s primary economic development incentives. Early budget discussions included proposals to sweep money from the fund to help address budget shortfalls, but the final agreement maintained most of the program.

In addition, the budget included full conformity with recent federal tax changes, avoided broad-based business tax increases, and provided funding to support Arizona’s ongoing Colorado River negotiations.

Still, business leaders say several decisions made during the session could create challenges in the years ahead.

One of the biggest concerns was the repeal of the Quality Jobs Tax Credit, a program designed to encourage companies to create high-wage jobs and make major capital investments in Arizona.

The Chamber also expressed concern over a three-year pause on issuing new sales tax exemption certificates for future data center projects. While existing projects will continue under current agreements, supporters of the incentive argue that uncertainty surrounding future projects could make Arizona less competitive in attracting additional investment.

“The state’s economic momentum didn’t happen by accident,” Coolidge said. “For years, Arizona has built a reputation for consistency and predictability. We don’t want to send a message to investors that they can’t plan for the long-term.”

Higher education funding remains another area of concern for the business community.

Arizona employers have increasingly emphasized the importance of workforce development as the state’s economy continues to expand. Business advocates warned that cuts to public universities could affect the talent pipeline needed to support growth in industries ranging from advanced manufacturing and semiconductors to healthcare and technology.

“Workforce remains one of the defining economic issues facing Arizona,” Coolidge said. “If we want to continue attracting investment and creating opportunity, we have to continue investing in the talent that makes those opportunities possible.”

Attention will now shift from the Legislature to voters, who will weigh in on several measures referred to the ballot by lawmakers, as well as potential citizen initiatives that are still gathering signatures.

For Arizona employers, the end of the legislative session marks the beginning of another important phase in shaping the state’s economic future.

“Arizona remains in a strong position,” Coolidge said. “In the months ahead, we’ll encourage voters to elect leaders who will continue making the decisions necessary to stay ahead of states that are competing for the same jobs, investments, and talent.”

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