ARIZONA FILM INSIDER - APRIL 2025

INSIDE THE AZ LEGISLATURE

Arizona Legislative Update: Budget Battles and Stalled Negotiations Take Center Stage

Arizona’s legislature has concluded all committee hearings and the focus has shifted squarely to the unresolved state budget; a complex puzzle with high-stakes pieces still missing. While the annual budget process is always fraught, this year’s negotiations are marked by heightened partisan friction and competing priorities.

One of the most urgent issues is Governor Hobbs’ request for a $122 million supplemental appropriation to address severe funding shortages in developmental disability services. While supplemental appropriations are routine, the proposal became a lightning rod for disagreement through most of April. Republican legislators countered with demands to tie the funding to programmatic policy changes. Initial House and Senate Republican proposals suggested pulling dollars from the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Housing Trust Fund in order to fill the DDD funding gap. The Governor called those proposals “unserious” and called for a clean supplemental.

The clash reflects broader tensions between the GOP-led legislature and the Democratic governor over how to balance fiscal restraint with social investments. After Governor Hobbs issued a legislative moratorium, threatening to veto all bills sent up to her until a resolution was reached, both the House and Senate passed a rare, bi-partisan version of the supplemental agreement and the Governor signed it into law with an emergency clause, making it immediately effective, on April 24th.

Beyond the supplemental debate, the broader budget remains unresolved. The “Big Three,” Governor Hobbs, Senate President Warren Petersen, and House Speaker Steve Montenegro, have barely begun negotiations, raising concerns about prolonged gridlock. Complicating matters, the Senate has signaled interest in recessing for much of May, while the House prefers to stay in session until a deal is reached. With the fiscal year ending June 30, the clock is ticking.

For the Arizona Film Coalition and allies, this stalemate underscores the importance of staying engaged and informed about what’s happening at the local level. While film industry priorities like the incentive program aren’t currently in the spotlight, prolonged budget fights could sideline other critical policies and the longer the legislature stays in session, the more potential there is for problematic meddling.

LD9 Vacancy Update

Senator Kiana Sears (LD9-D) was sworn in on Monday, March 31st to the Arizona State Senate. She was appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to fill the seat vacated by Senator Eva Burch who stepped down earlier in March citing low legislative pay and the partisan nature of the work. Sears has served on the Mesa Public Schools Board for eight years. Before her tenure at the Board, Sears served as a research staffer for the Arizona State Senate.

INSIDE FILM TUCSON

The popular Lifetime series Military Makeover, hosted by Montel Williams. It's an uplifting renovation program where designers and contractors transform the residence of a deserving military member and their family.

HGTV's My Lottery Dream Home, hosted by David Bromstad (winner of the debut season of HGTV Design Star), which takes recent lottery winners on an extravagant hunt for their new forever homes.HGTV's Zillow Gone Wild, which follows Jack McBrayer (30 Rock's Kenneth the Page) as he explores America's zaniest homes on the market, sharing crazy histories and meeting the quirky folks who buy them.

INSIDE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE

In April, the City of Phoenix hosted 12 in-person Community Budget Hearings to gather public input on the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–26 Trial Budget. These meetings were an opportunity for residents to share their support or concerns about how city funds are allocated for the upcoming year.

A full list of upcoming meetings can be found on the Budget Events Calendar, where you’re invited to attend and speak in person. You can also submit written comments through the Contact the Budget and Research Department page. Please note: feedback is only accepted from Phoenix residents and businesses, as you’ll need to provide your address and Council District.

For more information on the process, visit the Trial Budget page.

Curious how this affects the Phoenix Film Office? The Film Office is part of the Community and Economic Development Department. While $504,000 in reductions are proposed (see pages 16–17 of the Budget Tabloid), there’s no cause for concern. These cuts are related to reallocations or eliminations of positions in other divisions within the department, as well as a reduction in professional services funding—not a direct impact to the Film Office.

If you’re a Phoenix resident and want a say in how city funds are used, this is your chance to be heard! Or, if not a Phoenix resident or business owner, check with your local government on how you can participate in your own municipal budget process!

ARIZONA PRODUCTION UPDATE

The Tombstone Film Festival announced a $20,000 Western Pitch Competition to have ITN Films make the winner's movie in Arizona in the Spring of 2026. The winner will be announced at the festival's awards ceremony on Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Submissions begin May 1, 2025 via Film Freeway.