POLICY
From 2010 to 2019, Arizona had the fourth-highest net in-migration of any state.
Arizona’s Office of Economic Opportunity has projected that Arizona employment will continue to grow at a rate of 1.6% annually compared to 0.5% annual growth nationwide. Over the past decade, Arizona’s annual employment grew at twice the national rate.
Unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been since before the Great Recession.
The state recovered all the jobs lost during the pandemic.
Labor market analyst EMSI ranked Maricopa County no. 1 on its 2021 Talent Attraction Scorecard.
Arizona experienced the second-fastest manufacturing employment growth over the latter half of the last decade.
Under Governor Ducey’s leadership, Arizona has diversified its economy, drawing industry leaders to move and expand to the state.
Intel announced a $20 billion expansion to create two new semiconductor fabrication facilities. With this new expansion, Intel will employ nearly 16,000 Arizonans and will have invested more than $50 billion in our state.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) in 2020 selected Arizona to be the first U.S. manufacturing operation in the U.S. for the company. The project will create over 1,600 new high-tech jobs and generate thousands of additional jobs in the state for suppliers and other companies within the semiconductor industry.
Lucid Motors landed in Arizona to build the first greenfield, dedicated electric vehicle factory in North America, creating 6,000 jobs and $100 million in economic impact.
Nikola in 2018 selected Arizona for its hydrogen-electric, semi-truck manufacturing headquarters facility.
ElectraMeccanica, a Canadian designer and manufacturer of environmentally efficient electric vehicles (EVs), broke ground on its first U.S. based assembly facility and state-of-the-art engineering technical center in Mesa, Arizona.
KORE Power, which announced in July 2021, will build a 1-million-square-foot lithium ion battery manufacturing facility in Buckeye.
UACJ Whitehall, an EV parts manufacturer, announced a new facility in Flagstaff in March 2021.
Li-Cycle, a lithium-ion battery recycler, announced it will build a commercial lithium ion battery recycling facility in Gilbert in April 2021.
When Governor Ducey took office, the state was operating at a $1 billion deficit. Now, we’re operating at a $2.8 billion surplus, and Governor Ducey brought Arizona’s Rainy Day Fund to a record-breaking $1.4 billion.
In 2019, the credit rating company Moody’s Investors Service announced it is upgrading Arizona’s credit rating from Aa2 to Aa1, the second-highest rating Moody’s offers. Arizona is also the only state to have received two ratings upgrades from Moody’s in the past six years.
Governor Ducey reformed and cut taxes every year he’s been in office.
Arizona passed the largest income tax cut in the state’s history, making our flat tax the lowest in the nation at 2.5%.
Governor Ducey’s budget this year proposes keeping ongoing spending below ongoing revenue coming in — continuing the longest streak of consecutive structural surpluses in Arizona since 2000.
Since 2015, Governor Ducey has poured an additional $11 billion into funding students, teachers and schools.
Arizona is the national leader in school choice and was ranked the #2 state for parental choice by the Center for Education Reform. The state has more than 550 public charter schools teaching 230,000 Arizona students.
Governor Ducey expanded programs such as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to give more educational freedom to all of Arizona’s families.
34 new schools have been built across Arizona since 2015.
Following the per-pupil spending declines of the Great Recession, Arizona has increased the amount of state funding that is going to students on a per pupil basis every single year.
2006-07 pre-recession per pupil spending: $10,391/per pupil
2021-22 per pupil spending: $14,656/per pupil
Prop 123 put $3.5 billion in new funding to education from our State Land Trust Fund over ten years, without raising taxes.
Arizona Teachers Academy, an initiative Governor Ducey announced in his 2017 State of the State Address, is now a program allowing students who commit to teaching in an Arizona public school to graduate from college debt-free.
Ducey signed legislation creating an important $1 billion university bonding program.
Governor Ducey created the 20x2020 plan, which provided $306 million in funding that included a 10% increase in teacher pay in the 2018 school year, $470 million in 2019 and $645 million in 2020. The 20x2020 plan resulted in over $1 billion in additional ongoing dollars by school-year 2020.
Governor Ducey allocated in advance $100 million to continue the “AZ OnTrack Summer Camp” for the summer of 2023, an eight-week program to help our students get caught up in math, reading and civics.
In 2018 Governor Ducey signed a 20-year extension of voter-approved Prop 301, ensuring continued funding for Arizona’s K-12 schools.
Recognizing that school choice isn’t a reality for parents who don’t have transportation to take their children to school, Governor Ducey launched a pilot program to provide grants that pay for transporting students to their schools.
Today, Arizona has 5,000 fewer government jobs than it did in December 2014, before Governor Ducey took office, but more than 400,000 additional private sector jobs. As of 2020, the population has grown by more than 536,000 people, so we’re serving more people with fewer government employees.
Arizona has eliminated over 3,000 regulations since 2015 — the equivalent of a $169 million tax cut.
First state in the nation to establish recognition for out-of-state occupational licenses in 2019. If you were a carpenter in Illinois and move to Arizona, you don’t have to go through an onerous re-licensing regimen to start working here. Since then, 11 states have followed Arizona’s policy.
First state in the nation to require high school students to pass a civics exam to graduate. Since this legislation passed, 19 other states have followed Arizona’s lead and enacted similar laws by requiring a civics test. In March 2022, the governor signed legislation that ensured Arizona students demonstrated even greater competency in civics before graduating high school.
First state to fully implement tele-health services, allowing people to see their doctor on-line. This is especially helpful for rural Arizonans, where there is a doctor shortage and often a long drive for medical care; and for snowbirds who want to be able to use their doctors at home instead of having a second set of doctors here in Arizona.
First state in the nation to launch a FinTech Sandbox in 2018. While playing in the sandbox, startups can test their innovations on a limited, temporary scale, allowing for business growth.
First state in the nation to create the PropTech Sandbox. The PropTech sandbox gives visionary thinkers a platform to test unique, tech-based property services and products.
First state to allow residents to put their drivers license on their smartphone.
Governor Ducey’s first piece of legislation he signed into law was the American Civics Act, ensuring all Arizona students pass an American civics test before graduating high school. Arizona was the first state in the nation to enact such a law.
In March 2020, Governor Ducey established Civics Celebration Day, where a majority of classroom instruction is devoted to civics education.
In September 2021, Governor Ducey signed legislation to strengthen education about the Holocaust and other genocides in Arizona’s schools. He also announced plans to make teaching the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks mandatory in Arizona schools.
Arizona uses less water than it did in 1957 with more than six times the population and 22 times the economy.
In 2019, Governor Ducey passed historic legislation ratifying Arizona’s Drought Contingency Plan, one of the most significant pieces of water legislation since the Groundwater Management Act of 1980. This legislation allows Arizona to join six other western states and Mexico in signing onto an inter-state water agreement and outlines where Arizona will contribute in conserving more water from the Colorado River.
Passed the second major water bill in four years, with more than $1.4 billion for conservation and development of new water sources to be overseen by an expanded Water Agency.
Provided $40 million to ASU for programs related to water conservation and new policy development.
In the first year of his administration, Governor Ducey created the Border Strike Force, a division of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The mission is to protect Arizonans by stopping the flow of criminals, narcotics, weapons and ammunition trafficked in the state.
In 2022, Governor Ducey and 25 other states launched the American Governors’ Border Strike Force, modeled after Arizona’s Border Strike Force. In an August 2022 operation, the coordinated effort to secure the border seized 7,000 pounds of deadly drugs.
This year, Governor Ducey signed legislation that provided historic investments into border security and provided the resources to build physical and virtual infrastructure along our southern border.
In May of 2022, Governor Ducey partnered with local nonprofits, like the Regional Center for Border Health in Yuma, to begin voluntarily busing migrants from Southern Arizona to Washington, D.C. in an effort to alleviate strain on border communities.
In August of 2022, Governor Ducey issued an executive order directing the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs to immediately fill the gaps in the Yuma border wall. Using $6 million of the $335 million in the border security fund, DEMA filled the 1,000 ft gap with 60 double-stacked shipping containers with concertina wire on top.
Throughout his term, Governor Ducey has signed multiple pieces of legislation protecting the 2nd amendment and the rights of gun owners in Arizona. These policies include:
HB 2527 strengthens state firearm preemption laws by prohibiting state agencies and political subdivisions from regulating the transfer of firearms and further prohibited these entities from charging a fee for the private transfer of firearms the following year in HB 2224.
HB 2216 affirms that it's illegal to require an individual to use or subject themselves to electronic firearms tracking technology.
SB 1382 classifies ammunition and firearms-related business as essential during a state of emergency.
SB 1177 requires DPS to send renewal reminder notices and applications to a concealed weapon permit holder at least 60 days before the expiration.
Arizona is one of the top pro-life states in the nation. Throughout his term, Governor Ducey has signed a number of bills reaffirming that commitment.
In 2021, Ducey signed SB 1457 which made it a Class 6 felony to perform an abortion solely because of a genetic abnormality.
That same session he also signed SB 1254 which ensures women have easy access to information about adoption and resources that are available to assist them during pregnancy and HB 2410 to extend the time a baby can be delivered to a Safe Haven program from 72 hours to 30 days old.
In 2022, Governor Ducey signed SB 1164 that prohibits a physician from performing an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Governor Ducey in 2021 signed historic legislation and an amended tribal-state gaming compact that modernized gaming in Arizona and provided millions of dollars in revenue for critical state needs. The new compact has already resulted in record tribal contributions to the Arizona Benefits Fund.
In March of 2015, Arizona launched the Roadmap to Veteran Employment as a statewide effort focused on connecting service members, veterans, and their family members to employment opportunities, training, and resources. It was developed in partnership by ADVS, Arizona Coalition for Military Families, and public and private sector partners and shareholders
In 2017, Arizona launched the Be Connected program aimed at helping prevent veteran suicide and it has since been used as a model for federal programs. The program connects Arizona service members, veterans, and their families to information, support and resources, across all social determinants of health, including employment, housing, essential needs, physical and mental health, and more through a statewide support line.
Arizona passed first of its kind occupational licensing reform when Governor Ducey signed HB 2569 and became the first state to recognize out of state occupational licenses easing burdens on veteran families who are required to relocate often.
Further supporting veterans, Governor Ducey signed the state budget in 2021 which eliminated all state income taxes on veterans’ military pensions. This saves the average veteran an additional $650 a year.
Governor Ducey made it a priority to enhance recruitment and retention of military veterans in state government and provided expanded job opportunities. The AZHiresVets initiative was launched in 2022 with a goal of increasing the number of veterans in the state’s workforce from 8.5% to 15% by 2025.
During the 2022 legislative session, Governor Ducey signed legislation to provide employment and education opportunities to veterans and their spouses. HB 2741 waives any initial occupational licensing fee for active duty military spouses and honorably discharged veterans and HB 2864 invests $10 million to create a scholarship fund at ABOR for spouses of military veterans to attend an Arizona community college or university.
During his first campaign, Governor Ducey pledged to negotiate Medicaid waiver 1115 to responsibly take care of those in need without turning it into a vast and unaffordable new entitlement program. Governor Ducey successfully secured waivers in 2016 and 2021, ensuring the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) continued funding support.
Following the medical lessons learned during the pandemic, Governor Ducey made it a top priority in 2021 to ensure Arizonans have access to safe and reliable medical services. He signed H.B. 2454 passed with bipartisan support, making Arizona a leader with one of the most expansive telehealth laws in the country.
Granted $150 million to the University of Arizona for creation of a Center for Advanced Molecular Immunological Therapies (CAMI), which will help develop individualized treatments for a variety of diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer’s.
In April 2018, Governor Ducey signed legislation to honor the commitment and sacrifices of Phoenix Police Officer Craig Tiger. The Officer Craig Tiger Act provides critical treatment of PTSD for public safety personnel because of their experiences on the job.
Governor Ducey continually highlighted his legislative priority to improve mental health care in Arizona.
Governor Ducey has helped lead several advancements that improve conditions for children in foster care in Arizona – especially in the mental health area. In 2016, he signed Jacob’s Law, which helps foster children gain easier access to mental health services.
In March 2021, Governor Ducey signed Jake’s Law, establishing a whole community approach to prevent suicide, especially for youth populations. The law is named after teen Jake Edward Machovsky who died by suicide in 2016.
Also in March of 2021, Governor Ducey signed H.B. 2459, to protect young Arizonans experiencing suicidal thoughts by allowing a manslaughter charge if an adult provides guidance that a minor uses to take their life.
In 2022, he signed H.B. 2274 which raises the stipend for grandparents and close relatives raising children in kinship care.
In 2017, Governor Ducey expanded the Infant at Work program to the Governors office and encouraged the program at other state agencies.
In 2015, Governor Ducey signed a tort reform measure aimed at increasing transparency and fairness in asbestos claims.
In 2021, Governor Ducey signed legislation to ensure Arizonans acting in good faith during the COVID-19 pandemic are protected against frivolous civil claims. The bill balanced providing a legal framework for when liability claims can be brought in relation to COVID-19 while still ensuring that claims based on gross negligence and wilful misconduct can be heard.
In 2021, the governor launched the Arizona Healthy Forest Initiative to fight the threat of wildfires in Arizona and expand inmates' post-release opportunities.
Through the expanded partnership between ADDCR and DFFM, the initiative created an additional 700 jobs for inmates on fire suppression crews. The investment of $24.5 million will protect Arizona’s most vulnerable land from fires while allowing inmates an opportunity to learn new skills and reduce recidivism across the state by helping those who served their time build better lives.
In 2017, the governor launched the Second Chance Centers within three Arizona prisons to help reduce recidivism and make Arizona communities safer. Second Chance Centers offer resources that lead to job readiness, including job skills training, résumé and interview preparation, on-site job fairs, enrollment in health care, transportation services and more. To date, more than 19,000 Arizonans have completed Second Chance programs and more than 12,600 had a job upon release.
Governor Ducey led the charge to destigmatize employing ex-offenders. Through an Executive Order, Arizona bans the use of a question about criminal history on the initial state job application.
In 2013, before Governor Ducey was elected, Arizona ranked 35th in the nation for internet access. In 2018, three years into the Ducey administration Arizona jumped to 14th in the nation.
In 2020, Arizona invested $3 million to establish the Rural Broadband Development Grant Program designed to help local communities build high-speed internet infrastructure. In 2021, Governor Ducey announced expanding this grant with a $100 million commitment, making it one of the largest broadband investments in state history.
During the 2021 legislative session, Governor Ducey championed and signed HB 2596 allowing private broadband providers to install, operate and maintain telecommunications equipment within ADOT’s rights-of-way. It also allows ADOT to grant access to its own broadband conduit to private telecommunications companies in a non-exclusive and non-discriminatory manner — reducing the cost of installing rural broadband infrastructure.
In 2021, Arizona invested $100 million to build broadband corridors along Interstate 19 and Interstate 17 to serve as the backbone in providing broadband services. This allows for the acceleration of economic development, enhancing education, expanding access to healthcare, improving public safety, and modernizing government services.
During his first term, Governor Ducey signed House Bill 2537, adding two seats to the Arizona Supreme Court. By updating the number of Justices to meet the growing population of the state, the AZSC bench with 7 seats ensures that “Arizonans deserve swift justice from the judicial branch”.
By the end of his term, Governor Ducey will have made a total of 121 judicial appointments, ensuring that his conservative legacy stands far past his time in office.
Ducey has been cited as a role model for other governors to follow regarding court appointments.
The governor has appointed 6 Justices to the Arizona Supreme Court, 14 to the Court of Appeals (currently working on appointing 7 more), and 94 to the superior courts.
43 of the governor’s judicial appointments have been women. Of note, Governor Ducey’s appointment of Justice Kate King marks the fifth woman in Arizona history to serve on the Supreme Court
Ducey’s appointment of Justice John Lopez marks the first Latino justice to serve on the state’s Supreme Court.
100 of the governor’s judicial appointments have been merit selection commission appointments while 14 were appointments made in rural counties that do not use the merit selection commission process.
Throughout his eight year term, Governor Ducey prioritized election integrity and ensured the state was a leader on this issue. He signed numerous pieces of legislation to protect Arizona voters and streamline the way elections are conducted, including:
HB 2023 that prohibits ballot harvesting in Arizona. The law makes it a class 6 felony to knowingly collect a voted or unvoted early ballot from another person, unless it’s a voter’s family member, household member or caregiver.
SB 1370 prohibits a person from knowingly voting in two or more jurisdictions and makes violation of this a Class 5 felony.
SB 1287 makes it a class 2 misdemeanor to show another voter’s ballot or the machine another voter used that reveals the contents.
SB 1072 requires a qualified elector to present identification, as prescribed in statute, at any on-site early voting location or other early voting location before receiving a ballot.
HB 2492 codifies steps that counties must take in order to ensure that voters in Arizona provide documentary proof of citizenship to vote in a presidential election and vote by mail.
SB 1485 which renamed the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and made important reforms to ensure the list accurately reflects current voters. Moving forward, voters on the AEVL who do not return at least one early ballot over the course of two election cycles will be removed from the list by the county recorder.
SB 1492 requires initiatives and referendums to include a Proposition 105 notice be printed in the publicity pamphlet below the analysis of the initiative or referendum.
HB 2054 requires the Arizona Secretary of State to compare the death records transmitted annually by the Arizona Department of Health Services with the Statewide Voter Registration Database.
HB 2359 requires voting machines and electronic pollbooks containing data ports, plugs, doors, and other methods of physical or electronic access to be secured to prevent unauthorized access to the voting machine or electronic pollbook during an election.
HB 2905 prohibits a county recorder, city or town clerk from delivering or mailing an early ballot to a person who has not requested an early ballot for that election or a person who is not on the active early voting list.
In the Fall of 2022, the Arizona Department of Transportation began the long-awaited I-17 Improvement Project intended to add additional capacity through flex lanes and ease congestion on the heavily traveled corridor between Anthem and Sunset Point. The state’s $40 million investment will improve safety and benefit commerce.
With the signing of the FY 23 budget, Arizona invested over $1 billion in transportation initiatives, the largest investment in state history. This investment included $875 million for infrastructure projects across the state, $400 million for the 1-10 expansion, $50 million for the State Match Advantage for Rural Transportation grant program and $20 million deposit into the aviation fund.
Between 2021 and 2022, the state invested $90 million for pavement preservation projects outside of Maricopa County with a poor/fair rating.
In March 2022, following a multi-year effort, Governor Ducey and the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) celebrated the opening of a new connection on State Route 189 – a key international trade corridor.
In 2021, the governor launched the Arizona Healthy Forest Initiative to fight the threat of wildfires in Arizona and expand inmates' post-release opportunities.
Through the expanded partnership between ADDCR and DFFM, the initiative created an additional 700 jobs for inmates to learn crucial skills on fire suppression crews. Crews work on vegetation management, gain experience with tools and gear and engage in teamwork.
Prior to the program creation, only 4,000 acres were receiving treatment each year. With the expansion, it is projected that 20,000 acres will receive treatment annually.
The $24.5 million program creates greater capacity to reduce wildfire fuels around our most at risk communities and increases partnerships to reduce the risk on federal lands surrounding these communities through expanded grant opportunities.
The investment protects Arizona’s most vulnerable land from fires while allowing inmates an opportunity to learn new skills and reduce recidivism across the state by helping those who served their time build better lives.
