HB4140

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would requires, as session law, any unrestricted federal monies received by the state beginning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 to be deposited in the state General Fund (GF) to pay essential government services, contains a retroactivity clause of July 1,, and states, as session law, that the Legislature is not required to appropriate monies to or transfer monies from the Budget Stabilization Fund through FY.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to put public resources toward the named state purpose through an accountable appropriation. It would requires, as session law, any unrestricted federal monies received by the state beginning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 to be deposited in the state General Fund (GF) to pay essential government services, and would also contains a retroactivity clause of July 1,, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.