PHX Reporter

Matt Gress, Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Budgetary Funding Formulas, said he wants to pass a bipartisan budget bill focused on "families and kids" to ensure "they have the support and certainty they deserve." He made these remarks to PHX Reporter.

"My goal remains what it has always been: Solve this issue for these families and kids in a way that makes sure they have the support and certainty they deserve," said Gress, State Representative from Arizona. "I have every confidence that will happen and in a bipartisan fashion."

Governor Katie Hobbs has announced a moratorium on signing new legislation until lawmakers agree to pass a bipartisan supplemental funding bill. This bill aims to support services for approximately 60,000 Arizonans with developmental disabilities. According to a news release, Hobbs rejected the latest funding proposal as inadequate and indicated her support for alternative funding sources, such as the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund. She remains confident that a bipartisan solution is possible.

Republican lawmakers have proposed a $122 million emergency funding bill to address the shortfall in the Division of Developmental Disabilities. As reported by AP News, their plan includes measures like reducing paid caregiving hours for parents and implementing stricter eligibility criteria, which they argue are necessary for the program's long-term sustainability. House Speaker Steve Montenegro criticized Governor Hobbs' moratorium on signing new legislation as "political blackmail," claiming it obstructs the legislative process.

In a news release shared on X by Arizona House Republicans, Montenegro said that Hobbs "created this crisis by foolishly expanding the DDD program without legislative approval or funding in place," adding that she is now reacting negatively because "the Legislature is doing the responsible thing: funding services while putting guardrails in place to keep the program from collapsing."

According to Ballotpedia, Matt Gress is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 4 since January 2023.