2023 Legislative Agenda

SALC Focus Areas outline policy priorities ratified by the Board. These “Policy Goals & Actions” serve as guiding principles and inform SALC’s legislative agenda.
Download Legislative Agenda PDF

2023 Legislative Agenda & Policy Goals

Education
  • Expand access to high-quality early childhood education in the region
  • Partner with organizations across the state to reach short-and longer-term solutions to the funding crisis created by the aggregate expenditure limitation
  • Connect business leaders with Superintendents and education leaders (especially through Tucson Values Teachers) to leverage opportunities and support of P-20 system
  • Advocate for policies and legislation that preserve and increase funding along the P-20 continuum
  • Advocate for legislative action that leads to a one-year exceedance and/or permanent change to the Aggregate Expenditure Limitation funding formula
  • Collaborate with key partners to improve attainment and outcomes in the P-20 education system
  • Regularly prioritize SALC’s efforts along the education pipeline to capitalize on opportunities that arise

 

 

 
Infrastructure
  • Foster collaborations and increased funding to solve infrastructure issues impacting the economy and quality of life
  • Actively participate in RTA reauthorization process
  • Pursue discussions on securing critical mineral supply chain and the role of mining in Arizona/U.S. as we advance a green energy economy
  • Engage with state, regional, and local leaders to ensure effective infrastructure investment of inflowing federal funds
  • Support efforts to identify funding within current budgets and other opportunities for road repair and maintenance throughout region
  • Promote increased high-speed broadband access to communities statewide, and a regional water policy that ensures sufficient supply for economic growth
  • Lead Business Partners for Trade and Transportation committee, and the Tucson Regional Water Coalition to ensure the business community has a coordinated, cohesive voice
Healthcare
  • Highlight healthcare as a critical economic driver in the region/state
  • Support legislation and initiatives that sustain or increase stability and affordability of healthcare for individuals and employers
  • Support healthcare worker staffing through policies that include non-cumbersome financial support and pipeline development
  • Support efforts to curb expansion of healthcare unionization
  • Update SALC members on the healthcare environment
  • Champion policies that seek to expand Graduate Medical Education (GME) in Arizona
  • Support policies and programs that help prevent and treat substance abuse/addiction
  • Support legislation and policies that lead to creation of a database of adult flu and COVID-19 vaccines
  • Support policies and initiatives that increase access to mental health/resources
Innovation Economy
  • As opportunities arise, convene Innovation Economy Business Partners to bring key leaders together to grow the innovation economy of the region/state
  • Engage with partners to protect the Technology & Research Innovation Fund (TRIF), an essential resource for growing Arizona’s economy through the research and development of our universities
  • Actively collaborate with Flinn Foundation to illuminate priorities in the innovation space
  • Collaborate with partners in the region to support the PipelineAZ workforce platform to support students, job seekers and employers across all sectors
  • Support policies and legislation that advance incentives for growing the innovation economy, business-friendly regulatory reforms, and enhancement of tech-transfer at Arizona’s universities
Governance
  • Expand leadership in efforts to identify and cultivate local/ statewide candidates for office
  • Seek expanded engagement with state and local elected officials and administrators
  • Lead effort to promote more regional collaboration
  • Raise the awareness of business issues among emerging leaders of Tucson Young Professionals, the Flinn-Brown Fellowship, and the Civic & Political Leadership Academy
  • Convene consensus-building efforts for a ballot initiative campaign to reform primaries in Arizona.
  • Advocate for policies that improve civic engagement and participation at all levels
  • Collaborate with key partners to seek structural reforms that increase the responsiveness, efficiency, and efficacy of local/state governments
  • Support legislation, policies, and initiatives that improve the citizen initiative process
  • Support efforts that seek to strengthen protections for local and state election processes