Personal Information:

Barbara Leff is the State Senator from District 11. She served three terms in the House and is currently in her fourth term in the Senate. Barbara is the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Barbara is the Chairman of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee and is also a member of the Health Committee and the Finance Committee.

Barbara has a Bachelor's Degree from Boston University from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She has a Master's Degree in Social Work from Simmons College.

Barbara's work experience includes being a Medical and Psychiatric Social Worker for the Veteran's Administration, a Certified Community College Instructor for the Maricopa County Community College System and the owner of a small retail sporting goods business in Scottsdale. Barbara also has years of experience in the volunteer sector including running a program that resettled Russian Refugees in the Valley. Barbara's focus was to create and run a program to help them be successfully employed and therefore, self-sufficient. Barbara's work and volunteer experiences led her to the world of politics. She volunteered on Jon Kyl's first campaign for the United States Senate, spending many hours working on his behalf.

Barbara has been married to Dr. Edmund Leff for thirty-nine years. They have two children. The Leffs have lived in Paradise Valley for twenty-nine years.

Barbara’s legislative achievements include sponsoring legislation that: improves the quality of health care; prevents frivolous lawsuits; protects social security numbers to prevent identity theft; increases penalties for producing and selling Meth; puts felons in jail for life with a third felony conviction; prevents the clustering of sex offenders; provides tools to enforce existing laws against illegal immigration and to secure the border; allows people to ship wine to Arizona and to order wine directly from small wineries; protects the health of Arizonans who receive treatments at Med Spas; educates children on the prevention of skin cancer; makes sure tobacco taxes are used to help people stop smoking; increases funding for our schools to cover their actual utility costs as well as fighting for increased funding in the classroom. Barbara was also the sponsor of “The Teenage Driver Safety Act” which puts reasonable restrictions on new teenage drivers.

To strengthen Arizona’s economy, Barbara has worked on policies to lower taxes, reduce red tape and encourage entrepreneurship including my legislation to promote investing in small Arizona technology companies.  This year Barbara sponsored successful legislation that will bring high paying jobs to Arizona. SB1403 provides tax incentives for renewable energy manufacturing, research and development and renewable energy headquarters to locate in Arizona. Arizona should be the leader in the rapidly expanding solar industry and this law will give us the tools we need to accomplish this goal.

Barbara knows that accomplishments are not only measured in successful legislation. Much can happen by working with other branches of government to solve problems. For years, Barbara has been working to help make doing business in Arizona more efficient. In the near future, someone who wants to start a business or expand a business will be able to go to one website for permits and to learn about current regulations. This will make a real difference for Arizona businesses.

Barbara has received numerous awards for her work on critical issues and on behalf of her constituents.