Arizona Gov. Hobbs delivers State of the State address

PHOENIX - The Arizona Legislature opened its 2025 session on Jan. 13 as Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs delivered the State of the State address.

Lawmakers first met to take the oath of office and cast their first votes.

Hobbs laid out her plans for the session, including bringing opportunity, freedom and security to Arizona. 

Hobbs highlighted her work to lower costs, keep communities safe, secure the border and grow the state's economy.

Prior to Hobbs' address, Republican lawmakers held a news conference to outline their 2025 plan, which includes economic growth, education reform, securing elections and public safety.

Legislative session begins in Arizona

The legislature kicked off the session with smiles, handshakes and hugs, but underneath the formalities is the coming fight between battling political agendas.

"The voters sent us a very clear message this last election. The governor and the Democrats spent millions of dollars trying to convince Arizonians of the vision that they had," Republican House Speaker Steve Montenegro said. "Not only did Arizonans say no and soundly reject it, they said we actually like the Republican vision."

Republicans now have a majority in the state House and Senate.

They want to lower taxes, pay teachers more, focus on faster ballot counting, secure mail-in voting, prevent foreign funding and secure the border.

"We will support President Trump and our law enforcement in their efforts to protect Arizonans from crime pouring into our communities," said Republican Senate President Warren Petersen.

Hobbs has already signaled she's at odds with Trump’s border agenda, and nor does she support the recently passed Prop 314, which makes it a crime to enter into the state illegally.

"If the governor or other elected leaders choose to stand in the way, get ready for court. The Republican-led Arizona Legislature vows to uphold the rule of law, and we will exhaust all legal options to ensure the chaos we've lived for the past four years comes to an end," said Arizona Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope.

Hobbs did not mention either during her state of the state address.

She instead focused on her aims to invest in affordable housing, job creation, passing the Prop 123 extension to fund schools, fighting the fentanyl crisis, lowering child care costs, securing long-term water supplies and protecting reproductive rights.

The last was a goal that received the largest round of applause.

"Arizonans are counting on us to be their voice," Hobbs said. "To lower costs, to support our schools and secure our border, to defend their freedoms and keep their communities safe, to deliver the Arizona promise. Now, let’s get to work."