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AZ GOP Senate Passes Budget: Includes Tax Cuts, Bans Teaching Critical Race Theory

azlibrary.gov

The Arizona Senate has passed a $12.8 billion budget for the coming fiscal year that contains massive income tax cuts after majority Republicans packed the package with a conservative policy wish list.

The Senate finished voting on the 11 budget bills about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. The House had planned to vote Tuesday, but minority Democrats boycotted the session and Republicans now plan to vote Thursday. The new Senate provisions include a big expansion of the school voucher program, bans on teaching critical race theory in schools, and a host of bans on COVID-19 rules like mask and vaccine requirements.