Overview

• The legislature approved House Bill 2704 on a 35-20 vote after Senate passage earlier in June; it now awaits Gov. Katie Hobbs’s signature.
• The measure would redirect up to $500 million in sales and income taxes generated at Chase Field and nearby downtown properties over the next 30 years into stadium improvements.
• The Diamondbacks have pledged $250 million toward the renovation costs but lawmakers included only a nonbinding intent clause and repeal authority if the contribution is not fulfilled.
• Supporters say the funding will secure the franchise’s lease beyond its 2027 expiration and create good-paying construction jobs in Phoenix.
• Critics contend the plan amounts to a subsidy for billionaire owner Ken Kendrick at a time when state budgets face potential cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.