Oppose SB 1157: $20 Million Border Wall Appropriation

I urge you to vote against SB 1157 in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. This bill would divert $20 million from Arizona's state general fund to reimburse cities, towns, and counties for building supplemental fencing and bollard walls along the southern border. Border security infrastructure is a federal responsibility, not a state expense. The federal government has constitutional authority over international borders and immigration enforcement, and Congress appropriates billions of dollars annually for these purposes. Arizona taxpayers should not be subsidizing what is fundamentally a federal obligation. Our state general fund faces competing priorities that directly affect Arizona families. These $20 million could address critical needs in education, healthcare, infrastructure, or public safety within our communities. When we redirect state resources to cover federal responsibilities, we shortchange investments that would improve the daily lives of constituents across all 30 legislative districts. The fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation in SB 1157 sets a troubling precedent. If Arizona assumes financial responsibility for border infrastructure, we signal to the federal government that states will fill funding gaps. This creates an expectation for ongoing state expenditures on what should remain federal projects, potentially committing Arizona to an indefinite financial burden. Local governments that choose to pursue border infrastructure projects should seek federal funding through appropriate channels rather than drawing down state resources. The reimbursement structure in this bill essentially makes Arizona taxpayers the funding source of first resort instead of last resort. I ask you to oppose SB 1157 in committee and protect Arizona's general fund for state priorities. The federal government must fulfill its border security responsibilities without shifting costs to state taxpayers who already contribute to federal border operations through their federal taxes.