John --

We officially adjourned our legislative session last week, and at 171 days, it was the third longest session ever (if we had stayed in session a couple of more days, we would have set the record for longest in Arizona history. So close!).

As you know by now, we passed a state budget, and while it had some good elements to it, it included many bad ones as well, including an enormous tax cut that will ultimately cost $1.8 billion a year if certain economic triggers are hit over the next couple of years.

The legislature also passed a law that is a direct run around to the voter approved Proposition 208 that was approved last year, which would allow wealthier taxpayers to avoid paying the 3.5% surcharge. It will result in hundreds of millions of dollars a year less in dollars that would have gone to our public schools.

The one part of the budget that I did like, and ultimately voted for, was the commitment to higher education. As you know, I have talked for years about the need for more investments for our state’s universities and community colleges, after a decade plus of cuts. 

The final budget included over $100 million for our state’s three universities through their New Economy Initiative, and also included the creation of a new promise scholarship program for low-income students. I’ve run a similar version of this program as a bill for several years, and am very happy that the state has now created a permanent program designed to increase need-based financial aid for Arizona college students.

That’s why I voted yes for the higher education part of the budget (the budget is split up into about a dozen different bills, each relating to a different policy area). This was the third year that I voted for the higher education section of the budget, after voting yes in both 2017 and 2020 (I also voted for the K-12 section of the budget in 2018). 

With session drawing to a close last week, we also stopped some bills that I thought were misguided for the state, including bills to allow loaded guns in school parking lots and further changes to our state’s elections systems.

Another piece of good news: our bill to ensure that mental health is included in K-12 health curriculums finally passed the House last week, with strong bipartisan support. It is currently on the governor’s desk, and I hope he will sign it. This would be the second bill of mine signed this year, and the sixth bill signed in just the last four years. 

So now that session has concluded, what’s next? I am taking some much needed time to rest and recover from a very long legislative session, and spending a lot of time thinking about what’s next.

I haven’t decided yet whether I will run for re-election next year, and will take the next couple of weeks to think it through and make a decision. 

I am allowed to run one more time before I would hit term limits, meaning I would not be allowed to run in 2024 if I run and win next year.

I have spent the last several months thinking through what I want to do next, whether it’s running for re-election or pursuing other opportunities. I absolutely love my job, and treasure the time I have been able to spend representing the community I grew up in.

There are many factors to consider when making a decision like this, and I won’t go into the details here. Either way, I hope to have your support in whichever direction I end up choosing.

I hope you enjoyed these updates throughout session, and thank you for sticking with me through a long six months. As always, thank you for your support and kind words!

Take care and all the best,

Sean

http://www.seanbowieforaz.com/

Paid for by Sean Bowie for State Senate. Authorized by Sean Bowie.