What is the potential cost of policy? CSI Arizona and the Arizona Chamber Foundation identified 119 bills introduced during the 2026 legislative session that would have increased taxes, fees, labor costs or regulatory requirements. For 88 proposals with quantifiable impacts, CSI estimates the combined cost could have reached at least $31.5 billion annually if enacted. None ultimately became law, but the analysis shows how quickly individual policy proposals can add up across an economy. Read the full report ⬇️ bit.ly/3UKOvSb

Arizona lawmakers are taking a closer look at State Trust Land and its role in addressing the state’s housing shortage. Ahead of a new legislative oversight hearing, CSI research was cited showing that more than 200,000 acres of potentially developable State Trust Land sit within 10 miles of existing urban areas, highlighting the potential role these lands could play in Arizona’s housing supply. Get the facts about the State Land Trust in CSI's full report: bit.ly/4d1tRDM Read the Press Release: bit.ly/47jn84v

A new @CSInstituteAZ Chamber analysis estimates that 2026 legislative proposals could have imposed over $31B in annual costs and reduced employment by 424,000 jobs if enacted. The report highlights major projected impacts from labor, tax, energy, and regulatory measures. azfreenews.com/2026/09/repor…

Arizona’s unemployment rate remains at a post-pandemic high of 4.9% for the third straight month. At the same time, labor force participation has declined for seven consecutive months, falling to 59.9% and sitting 2.2 percentage points below a year ago. CSI breaks down the latest labor market data: bit.ly/4ydGO5S

Arizona lost 4,100 jobs in August, as employment growth continued to slow from earlier this year. Despite the monthly decline, Arizona remains up 21,000 jobs over the last year, with its 0.64% growth rate outpacing the national rate of 0.38%. Get the latest on Arizona’s labor market from CSI: bit.ly/4ydGO5S

Where businesses choose to invest matters. CSI finds the 10 states attracting the most firms had, on average, fewer regulatory restrictions, lower income taxes and lower government spending as a share of their economies than the states losing the most firms. Those states also experienced: 📈 5.8X faster employment growth 📈 30% faster real GDP growth 📈 7.8% faster per-capita personal income growth The data point to a broader connection between a state’s policy environment, investment and economic growth. Read the report ⬇️ bit.ly/3UKOvSb

Arizona’s affordability challenges are fueling a bigger conversation about the policies shaping our economy. In a new op-ed, Vince Gil of Citizens for Free Enterprise highlights CSI research showing that Arizona ranks 45th nationally in affordability and examines what that means for the debate over free enterprise and government intervention. Read the op-ed: bit.ly/4cMxzkp? Read the report: bit.ly/4zg1z1v

Chamber Business News takes a closer look at CSI and the Arizona Chamber Foundation’s new 2026 Arizona “Job Killers” report, which examines the potential cumulative economic impact of 119 bills introduced during this year’s legislative session. The analysis estimates that, had the proposals taken effect together, Arizona could have seen 424,400 fewer jobs and a $48 billion reduction in state GDP. None of the 119 bills became law. Check out the article: bit.ly/3UMPtxp Read the full report: bit.ly/3UKOvSb

Arizona ranks 47th in arts and culture nonprofits per capita, yet ranks 7th nationally in average revenue per arts nonprofit. The state’s arts nonprofits average about $494,000 in annual revenue per organization, showing that a smaller institutional footprint can still generate meaningful economic activity. Learn more in CSI's full report: bit.ly/4cECfc9

A decade ago, Colorado’s economy was growing faster than Arizona’s. Since 2016, that relationship has reversed. CSI finds Arizona’s real GDP has grown 20% faster than Colorado’s since 2016, while the two states have taken increasingly different approaches to taxes and regulation. CSI estimates that if Arizona had instead followed Colorado’s growth trajectory since 2019, Arizona’s economy today would be $26.4 billion smaller, with roughly 154,000 fewer workers. Why the divergence matters ⬇️ bit.ly/4cECfc9

Arizona’s arts sector is growing fast. From 2013 to 2023, the value added by Arizona’s core arts industries grew more than 123%, the fifth-fastest increase in the nation. In 2023 alone, those core industries generated nearly $3.8 billion in value added across performing arts, museums, design, architecture and other creative fields. Learn more: bit.ly/4cECfc9

Phoenix inflation remains below the national rate. Prices rose 2.5% year-over-year in August, compared with 3.4% nationally. See the latest from CSI ⬇️ bit.ly/4xKgmAu

The lasting cost of inflation is adding up. Since August 2019, Phoenix-area prices have risen 33.4%, leaving the typical Arizona household spending an estimated $1,692 more per month than in 2019. Get the facts in CSI's analysis of the latest CPI data ⬇️ bit.ly/4xKgmAu

Arizona entered 2026 with one of the lowest individual income tax rates in the country. During the legislative session, lawmakers introduced 12 proposals that would have created or significantly increased taxes on individuals and businesses. CSI estimates those proposals represented nearly $3.8 billion in potential tax increases. The largest proposals included new taxes on higher incomes, changes to corporate taxation and new business taxes. CSI and the Arizona Chamber Foundation break down the numbers ⬇️ bit.ly/3UKOvSb

Team 1912 was delighted to attend @CSInstituteAZ's "Desert Renaissance" mixer and panel at Ravenscroft in Scottsdale earlier this week. Arizona—from Tucson to Phoenix to Flagstaff—is home to a vibrant and growing arts community. Beyond the industry's direct economic impact, its role in retaining and attracting talent is indispensable.

Today, we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001, honor the heroes who answered the call, and reflect on the strength and unity that followed. We will never forget. 🇺🇸

Arizona’s arts sector is a bigger part of the economy than many may realize. CSI estimates the sector contributes $18.4 billion in total economic output, equivalent to about $11.5 billion in state GDP, while supporting more than 113,000 jobs statewide. That means the arts account for roughly 2% of Arizona’s economy when direct, indirect, and induced effects are included. READ THE REPORT ⬇️ bit.ly/4cECfc9

⬇️ Get the facts at commonsenseinstituteus.org/r…

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined CSI last night for a fabulous event exploring the economic impact of Arizona's vibrant Arts sector. We were thrilled to bring together leaders from across the arts, business, education, and philanthropic communities for such a meaningful conversation and a wonderful performance from the Valley Jazz Cooperative. Check out CSI's new report on the economic impact of Arizona's art sector: bit.ly/4cECfc9

Kicking off The Desert Renaissance event this evening with food, drinks & and a great conversation about the arts🎨🎶

🚨 119 bills. $31 billion in potential new annual costs. 424,400 jobs at risk. The new 2026 “Job Killers” report from the @AZChamberFdn and @CSInstituteAZ looks at harmful bills introduced this legislative session and what they could have meant for jobs, investment and economic growth in Arizona. 📰 Read more: azchamber.com/2026-job-kille… 📊 Full report: commonsenseinstituteus.org/r…