An increase in state taxes requires a ________ vote of each house in the legislature.

In Arizona, an increase in state taxes necessitates a two-thirds vote of each house in the legislature. This requirement is in place to ensure that any significant changes to the tax structure, which may impose a heavier financial burden on citizens, receive substantial legislative support. The stipulation for a two-thirds majority reflects the importance placed on tax policy decisions, as they require broad consensus among elected officials rather than just a simple majority. This threshold helps to promote fiscal responsibility and accountability in taxation. Other voting thresholds, such as simple majority or unanimous consent, do not apply in this scenario, as they either do not provide enough assurance of legislative agreement or are impractical for the nature of tax legislation.