Gov. Doug Ducey addresses a joint session of the Arizona Legislature, Jan. 12, 2015.
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Arizona's 2016 regular legislative session opens Monday and Gov. Doug Ducey will deliver his second State of the State speech.
Ducey is expected to call for more incremental tax reductions. He earned praise last year from the business community for attracting new companies to the state.
Business leaders said for this year they will focus on education funding. Prop 123, Ducey’s plan to give more money to education from the state land trust fund will be a major part of that discussion.
“While that is outside the legislature that vote occurring in May is going to steer the legislative session especially when it comes to education funding, obviously that subject,” said Robert Medler with the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Medler said education is important to business.
“We have an interest in making sure our schools, especially education programs that directly effect workforce readiness is well funded by also of the highest quality,” Medler said.
If education and business seem to be an odd match, children’s advocates are on the same page. The Children’s Action Alliance top priority this legislative session is the restoration of the KidsCare insurance program.
“There have been studies indicating that having KidsCare, having this program available to parents and families is good for small businesses. People feel better about taking on a business venture if they don’t have to worry about health coverage for the kids,” said Pati Urias with the Children’s Action Alliance.
Child welfare will also be a top priority for many in the legislature and children’s advocates as the state’s top child welfare agency struggles with growing pains.
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