ARIZONA FILM INSIDER - april 2026

INSIDE THE AZ LEGISLATURE

Legislative Update

Activity at the Capitol remained relatively quiet in April as we continue to wait for the Majority’s budget proposal to be released. Behind the scenes, however, the tone around budget negotiations has sharpened considerably.

Governor Hobbs issued a legislative moratorium, calling on House and Senate leadership to put forward a serious, good-faith budget proposal. She indicated she would veto any legislation sent to her desk in the interim, signaling a clear shift toward prioritizing budget negotiations above all else.

The Senate’s Director of Nominations Committee (DINO) met to consider Governor Hobbs’ appointee to lead the Arizona Department of Housing, Director Ruby Dhillon-Williams. While the hearing included pointed questioning, particularly from Senator Hoffman, Director Dhillon-Williams ultimately advanced out of committee on a 3–2 vote. Her nomination now moves to the full Senate, where we await the final floor vote.

Rep. David Marshall (R-LD7) submitted his resignation from the Arizona House, effective immediately. His departure follows his appointment by the Navajo County Board of Supervisors to serve as County Recorder. However, that appointment may face legal challenges due to provisions in the Arizona Constitution that prohibit lawmakers from holding another state or county office during the term for which they were elected. Marshall cited personal reasons in his resignation letter and did not reference the appointment. The situation remains fluid as questions surrounding his eligibility continue to be reviewed.

Budget Outlook Remains Dire

The most significant development came during the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting, where updated revenue projections painted a more challenging fiscal picture for the state. While January estimates already reflected a constrained analysis, with only roughly $577 million in projected revenue, not accounting for tax conformity or Proposition 123, or any ongoing “one-time” appropriations, the April update reduced that figure to approximately $378 million.

For those pursuing appropriations or simply trying to circumvent the looming but very real threat of cuts, this tightening outlook presents a particularly difficult landscape. With fewer available dollars and several major policy issues still unresolved, competition for limited resources is expected to intensify as negotiations move forward.

FAC committee members shared there are several factors are contributing to the challenging revenue outlook, including global instability impacting oil and gas markets, a cooling labor market in Arizona, and broader federal economic uncertainty.

Looking ahead, rumors continue to circulate about a potential extended “spring break” following the release of a Majority budget proposal. While neither has materialized yet, the last week of April is widely viewed as a likely window for both to emerge. As always, we will continue to monitor developments closely as the budget process begins to take shape.

INSIDE FILM TUCSON

We recently assisted two different PBS shows: Wild Foods and a repeat visit from award-winning chef Pati Jinich for her new show Pati Jinich Explores PanAmericana.

Local Art Director Linette Shorr recently asked us to give a presentation to two of the film classes she teaches at Pima Community College. Many of these students will become the future local crew members of tomorrow, so this is a great way for us to connect with them early in their careers which will lead to beneficial collaborations in the future.

INSIDE PHOENIX FILM OFFICE

The Phoenix Film Office has seen a decent amount of activity during the month of April with commercials for Evisort, HonorHealth, Rezdiffra, and Hyundai all selecting our region as their backdrop.

Once again, the Phoenix Film Festival opened its theatre doors (along with a huge assist from Harkins Theatres) to an estimated 20,000 movie fans who watched over 250 films.  The event ran from April 9th through the 19th and the Phoenix Film Office was once again a sponsor. Industry Night was the best it has been in years and we spoke directly with many filmmakers about their upcoming projects.

A special highlight: local filmmaker Kieran Thompson (who also edits this newsletter and would never brag about himself, so I’ll do it for him) directed and produced The Only Way Out Is Through. After three sold-out screenings, it’s no surprise the film won the Best Ensemble award and that Kieran was honored with the prestigious Arizona Filmmaker of the Year. Watch out, Spielberg…