HB 2943 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

municipal fire departments; defunding; prohibition

This bill prohibits Arizona cities and towns from reducing municipal fire department operating budgets below the previous year's level. If a city or town cuts funding, the state treasurer must withhold an equal amount of state shared funds until the budget is restored. The rule does not apply if a city lacks funds to maintain last year's budget level. It directly affects local fire departments and the distribution of state tax revenues to municipalities.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Last action Feb 24, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill adds new protections for municipal fire department budgets by prohibiting cities and towns from reducing their fire department operating budgets below the previous year's amount. If a city or town does reduce the budget, the state treasurer must withhold state shared monies from that jurisdiction until the budget is restored. The bill also updates existing revenue distribution laws to include these new budget protection provisions.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of fire department budget protections by adding new statutory sections that prohibit budget reductions and establish enforcement mechanisms through state shared monies withholding.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section 9-500.52 that prohibits cities and towns from reducing fire department operating budgets below the previous year's amount.

ENFORCEMENT

Added enforcement mechanism requiring state treasurer to withhold state shared monies from any city or town that reduces fire department budgets below the previous year's amount.

EXCEPTIONS

Added an exception allowing budget reductions if a city or town does not have the monies required to maintain the previous year's budget level.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'fire department' to mean a municipal fire department in multiple sections.

FISCAL

Modified sections 42-5029 and 43-206 to include withholding provisions for fire department budget reductions.

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Committee

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor