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SCR 1008

municipalities; counties; vote; fee increases

57th Legislature - First Regular Session Introduced by Warren Petersen

SCR 1008 would require two-thirds votes by city councils and county boards to raise assessments, taxes, or fees, preempts local control, and takes effect only if voters approve.

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Bill Summary · SCR 1008

SCR 1008 — Summary

Status: DP (Do Pass committee action)
Introduced: January 27, 2025
Sponsor: Senator Warren Petersen
Classification: Senate Concurrent Resolution (places a statutory change before voters)
Action: Passed by Legislature (transmitted to House; committee and floor actions in Jan–Mar 2025). The Secretary of State must submit the measure to voters at the next general election. The measure takes effect only if approved by voters and proclaimed by the Governor.

Purpose / Intent

SCR 1008 would amend Arizona law to require a supermajority vote of local governing bodies before any municipality or county may impose increases in assessments, taxes, or fees. It also declares regulation of such increases to be a matter of statewide concern and preempts further local regulation.

Key provisions

  • Adds Arizona Revised Statutes section 9-256 (municipalities) and 11-225 (counties).
  • Two-thirds vote requirement:
    • Municipalities: “The common council of a municipality may not levy or impose an increase in any assessment, tax or fee without a two‑thirds vote of the common council.”
    • Counties: “The board of supervisors of a county may not levy or impose an increase in any assessment, tax or fee without a two‑thirds vote of the board of supervisors.”
  • Statewide preemption:
    • Declares regulation of increases in assessments, taxes, and fees to be a matter of statewide concern.
    • Provides that a municipality’s or county’s ability to increase assessments, taxes, and fees (subject to the two‑thirds requirement) is not subject to additional local regulation.

Who would be affected

  • Municipal governments (city/town common councils) and county boards of supervisors across Arizona.
  • Local budgets and revenue-raising actions that involve raising assessments, taxes, or fees.
  • Residents and businesses that pay local assessments, taxes, or fees (indirectly, through changes in local service levels or alternatives to local revenue increases).

Potential impacts and issues

  • Raises the legislative threshold for locally enacted revenue increases, making it harder for councils/boards to raise local revenue without broad governing-body consensus.
  • Could constrain local governments’ ability to respond quickly to fiscal needs (services, infrastructure, emergencies).
  • May shift pressure to the state level for funding or force local governments to reduce services or seek alternative revenue sources.
  • The bill does not define “assessment, tax or fee” in detail; scope and application could be litigated.
  • The preemption language limits local discretion to adopt stricter or alternative rules on these increases.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Legislative activity (selected): Senate First Reading 2025-01-27; Senate Second Reading 2025-01-28; Passed Senate 2025-02-20; Transmitted to House 2025-02-20; House First Reading 2025-03-12; House Second Reading 2025-03-13; Committee action (DPA/DP) Feb–Mar 2025.
  • Per the resolution, the Secretary of State will place the measure on the ballot at the next general election; it becomes law only if a majority of voters approve it and the Governor proclaims the result.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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