Lawmakers Seek Ballot Boost for Their $24,000 Salaries

In a significant development for Arizona politics, the Senate is weighing a proposal to adjust lawmaker salaries, spurred by the recent resignation of Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, who cited inadequate pay as a primary reason for her departure from the Legislature. Burch stepped down on March 14, stating, “I know that I am not the first, nor will I be the last, good person to find themself a casualty of legislative pay.” She emphasized the need for future lawmakers to earn a living wage to ensure representation from those familiar with the challenges faced by working-class constituents.

It has been nearly three decades since lawmakers last received a pay raise. In 1998, voters approved a salary of $24,000, a figure that, when adjusted for inflation, would approximate $46,000 by 2025. The proposed measure has gained bipartisan support in committee, with Sen. Brian Fernandez, D-Yuma, arguing that the current salary does not reflect the extensive hours lawmakers invest in their roles, both during and outside of sessions.

Fernandez noted, “The real problem is who can run. There are a lot of people who can’t do this … We don’t have a real citizen Legislature.” Meanwhile, Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, mentioned during a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing that previous governors have failed to appoint members to the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers, resulting in no salary recommendations in recent years.

Former state Rep. Laura Terech, who also resigned due to the difficulties of balancing legislative duties with financial stability, echoed these concerns. “I worked three jobs … it’s really difficult to make a living as a lawmaker,” she stated, highlighting the challenges many face in the role.

However, opposition exists. Dianne Post, legislative liaison for the Arizona National Organization for Women, remarked that lawmakers have not earned a raise considering their historical performance. She also pointed out that lawmakers receive per diem payments intended to offset travel and living costs associated with their responsibilities, which adds another layer to the compensation debate.

Current per diem rates vary, with Maricopa County lawmakers receiving $35 per day for up to 120 days, and those outside the county earning roughly $250 per day under specific conditions. Previous attempts to increase salaries for lawmakers and other elected officials have not gained traction, although Fernandez did sponsor a bill in 2024 proposing significant raises for various positions.

Another proposed measure this year, sponsored by Rep. Chris Mathis, D-Tucson, aimed to align legislative salaries with those of county supervisors, though it did not advance in committee. The upcoming Senate vote on SCR1003 could reshape the landscape of legislative compensation, with preliminary approval already secured on March 10.

If the Senate and House approve the measure, the ultimate decision on salary adjustments for lawmakers would be left to voters in the 2026 general election, marking a critical juncture for the future of legislative pay in Arizona.