The legislation that would “shift sales and income tax revenue” to help the D-backs update Chase Field passed the Arizona House Commerce Committee on Tuesday and will “now work its way to a final vote” in the House of Representatives, according to Hupka & Barchenger of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. If passed, it would need Senate approval before heading to Gov. Katie Hobbs to sign into law. Nearly a dozen people on Tuesday “took to a podium during an about hour-long hearing at the Legislature to express their stances on the bill.” Several major business and economic development groups “signaled support,” while taxpayer advocates and labor-related organizations “opposed the funding plan or had trepidations.” Officials with Phoenix and Maricopa County “also registered opposition to the bill.” No city officials spoke at the hearing, but Assistant County Manager Zach Schira said that he had “‘one slight concern’ that the legislation could impact revenues earmarked for transportation and the county jails by voter-approved measures.” He added that if the team “agreed to forego those revenues,” the county “would take a neutral position on the proposal.” Hupka & Barchenger note underlying the proceedings was legislators' and stakeholders' “fear of losing the team.” On Tuesday, an 81-page amendment was attached to the bill which “introduced several new stipulations, including clawback provisions.” If the D-backs leave before 2035, they would pay a $10M “penalty.” That “goes down” to $5M through 2045 and $1M in 2050 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/5).
Bill to help fund Chase Field renovations clears House committee
