07/28/2026
Just a few minutes ago, we received welcome news: the courts have ruled that HCR 2040, now Proposition 143, cannot remain on the November ballot. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Greg Como agreed with what we’ve said from the start — that the measure’s language reached far beyond teachers and school choice, threatening the workplace protections and bargaining rights of fire fighters, police, and other public employees. As the court found, a provision flatly barring the state or any local government from contracting with a labor union violates the Separate Amendment Rule, and when that happens, the entire measure fails — not just the offending piece. We were told for months that we were misreading the measure and should trust the politicians who wrote it. We weren’t wrong.
This victory didn’t happen by accident. Over the past seven weeks, PFFA leadership crisscrossed the state, built coalitions with law enforcement and union partners, worked with legal counsel, and mobilized a statewide campaign — because we believed this measure posed real risks to fire fighters and the communities we serve. Thousands of members stood ready to engage, and that unity almost certainly influenced the outcome. It’s worth remembering why: every day, our members leave their families to face fires, hazardous materials, violent incidents, and the worst moments of other people’s lives. We don’t ask about politics before responding to a 911 call — we just serve. The people who wrote this measure have never worn this uniform, and they don’t fully grasp what that commitment costs.
Today is a day to appreciate a real legal win, but an appeal remains possible, so we can’t call this over yet. Since 1967, the PFFA has existed to protect the people who protect Arizona — fighting for safe staffing, proper training, fair treatment, and against bad policy like this one. Thank you for your trust, your professionalism, and your readiness to stand together. Keep your helmets close — if this fight continues, we’ll answer that call together.
