Last month, it was described as a “dumpster fire” — but things have finally slowed down at the state capitol. 

Four weeks ago today, our elected leaders adjourned their legislative session and began hibernating in cocoons of taxpayer money, waiting for the autumn chill and the sound of lobbyist checkbook pages turning to awake once again. 

But before the ink dried on their budget bills, lawmakers managed to pass a handful of measures that could hit close to home. Here is a list of six new laws that snagged Gov. Katie Hobbs’s elusive autograph that will impact life in Maricopa. 

SR 347 overpass and improvements 

SB 1737

This is the big kahuna, the law that impacts Maricopa most directly. Deep within the state appropriations bill, sponsored by Sen. John Kavanaugh (R-Fountain Hills), State Route 347 gets $41.4 million for the Riggs Road/SR 347 overpass and additional design work to widen SR 347 between Interstate 10 and Maricopa. 

Two other bills aimed at funding improvements to SR 347 failed after being held in chambers in March. SB 1617, sponsored by Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge), would have allowed the $49 million already set aside for the overpass to be used in the 2025 fiscal year. 

The other bill, HB 2557, sponsored by Rep. Chris Lopez (R-Casa Grande), proposed more than $16.2 million from the state’s general fund for widening and improvements along SR 347 starting this year. The bills, which passed on GOP party lines, were lobbied by Maricopa leaders before dying in committee. 

Advanced Air Mobility planning 

SB 1750

Arizona just set the stage for what could be the future of commuting, leap frogging over the traffic of SR 347. 

Advanced Air Mobility units are somewhere between air taxis and electric cargo drones. This law creates a statewide Infrastructure Trust Fund and a separate Advanced Air Mobility Fund, both run by the state treasurer. The goal? To bankroll vertiports (landing pads for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft) and charging stations for electric aircraft. 

The law shifts oversight of the state’s transportation innovation program from the Arizona Department of Transportation to the treasurer and lets the funds accept public or private donations, grants and nonfederal money. No projects have been named yet, but these funds are explicitly meant for state and federal highway improvements and advanced air mobility projects. 

Given the state’s recognition of the deep need for travel improvement, Maricopa could be a prime spot for future regional air travel. It’s all speculative for now.  

Preapproved housing designs 

SB 1529

This law requires all Arizona cities, including Maricopa, to create standardized preapproved home designs for developers. It’s an idea meant to speed up permitting and lower the costs of constructing new housing developments. 

For Maricopa, this could mean that the rapid growth could be made even rapider and homes could be made even more affordable. Single-family home designs have to be approved by July 1, 2026, according to the bill. 

The home sizes are 200 square feet, 600 square feet and 1,000 square feet. Plans for duplexes are due by Jan.1, 2027. 

Food tax ballot measure 

HCR 2021

Voters will decide next year if they want to ban municipal food taxes by 2027. Maricopa currently collects a 2% food tax, so a ban could lower grocery bills. The tradeoff is reducing city revenue for services. 

Property tax breaks for veterans 

SB 1749

The Maricopa area is home to more than 10,000 military veterans, according to U.S. Census data. This law exempts all disabled veterans and their surviving spouses from property taxes.  

Turquoise Alert System 

HB 2281

Maricopans saw the first alert from this new system Wednesday. It is a new statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people, similar to Amber Alerts. Maricopa borders both the Ak-Chin and Gila River Indian Communities and its planning area scrapes the Tohono O’odham Nation.

The Ak-Chin and GRIC leaders proclaimed strong support for the program when it was announced July 10. The first alert generated a tip that led authorities to 6-year-old Violet Coultas, who was found safe yesterday in Cottonwood.