STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Representative Vince Leach (R-11) today applauded Governor Doug Ducey for signing HB 2213 into law.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Leach, closes several loopholes related to the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) and reduces the length of GPLETs from 25 years to 8 years. HB 2213 received bipartisan support, passing the Senate by a vote of 29-0 and the House by a vote of 56-0.

GPLETs are levied in lieu of property taxes when governments lease publicly-owned property to private businesses. When local governments give property tax incentives like GPLETs to developers, it deprives school districts of tax revenue. State taxpayers are forced to make up the difference through elevated payments to those school districts.

GPLETs have been the subject of much controversy, with critics charging that cities are manipulating the intent of the program to reward well-connected developers with millions of dollars in tax breaks.

“It ought to be the marketplace that picks winners and losers, not local governments,” said Representative Leach. “By closing loopholes in GPLET, we’ll put an end to these tax giveaways to developers and direct the savings where it’s more needed: K-12 education.”

“I thank Governor Ducey for signing HB 2213 into law, my colleagues for their bipartisan support of the bill, and stakeholders on the issue for their input and hard work.”

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STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Representative Vince Leach (R-11) today praised Governor Doug Ducey for signing HB 2404 into law. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Leach, restores integrity to Arizona’s initiative process by removing the incentive for fraud.

HB 2404 prohibits the payment of petition circulators per signature and modifies the number of days from five calendar days to ten business days within which a challenge to the registration of circulators can occur.

“This commonsense reform keeps our state’s valued initiative process intact as a legislative tool for Arizonans yet ensures much needed integrity in the system by removing the incentive for fraud,” said Representative Leach. “I thank my colleagues in the Legislature and Governor Ducey for enacting this critical new law.”

Former Governor Janet Napolitano first advocated for the reform in 2009, using her State of the State address to ask the legislature to “crack down on signature fraud” by prohibiting the payment of petition circulators per signature.

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STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Representative Vince Leach (R-11) today applauded the Senate Finance Committee for unanimously passing legislation that he’s introduced (HB 2214) that lets businesses amortize costs associated with complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the year they incur those costs.

Presently, businesses must amortize ADA compliance costs over 39 years.

“Momentum continues to build for HB 2214,” said Representative Leach. “Small businesses shouldn’t have to choose between costly repairs or costly lawsuits. HB 2214 helps bring businesses into compliance with the ADA by lessening the cost of doing so.”

The House of Representatives passed HB 2214 last month by a vote of 58-1. The bill has broad support, ranging from business groups, like the National Federation of Independent Businesses, to advocates for the disability community, like the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

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STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Representative Vince Leach (R-11) today commended Central Arizona College (CAC) and Dr. Jackie Elliott, president of CAC, for scheduling a series of community forums in April.

The forums are designed to provide community members with an opportunity to hear about CAC’s vision for the future and the role CAC plays in serving Pinal County communities.

“I commend Dr. Elliott for conducting these forums and encourage community members to learn about Central Arizona College and the benefit it provides to citizens in Pinal County,” said Representative Leach. “I support CAC in its efforts to train our local students to fill the talent needs of our region and was happy to help facilitate these community forums.”

“These forums will provide attendees an opportunity to ask questions and to hear more about my
vision for CAC,” stated Dr. Jackie Elliott, President of CAC. “It is my goal to guide CAC toward
becoming an institution of higher education that our community members and taxpayers desire.
We are the communities’ college.”

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