Aggregate Expenditure Limit First Steps
Tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon at 2 p.m., the House education committee will hear Rep. David Cook’s HCR2001, a resolution to override the Constitutional Aggregate Expenditure Limit for FY2023. ASBA is in strong support of this resolution and we thank Rep. Cook for making introducting it and making at priority, and committee chair Rep. Beverly Pingarelli for placing it on the agenda.
Take a few seconds and express your support to committee members by clicking here to send a message (Please enter your HOME address to be matched with your representatives. ASBA does not sell or disclose your information. If you receive a message the campaign isn’t available in your area, that’s OK, it just means you don’t live in a district represented by anyone on the education committee. There will be additional opportunities!)
If you have an RTS (Request To Speak) account, click here to register your support.
“Prohibited Instruction” Bill Reappears
A bill that prohibits certain instruction around race and ethnicity in public schools is also being heard in House education committee Tuesday afternooon. ASBA successfully challenged this bill in court in 2021 and helped prevent its passage last session. The bill has been introduced this session as HB2458 race; ethnicity; prohibited; instruction. As in previous years, ASBA is opposed to this bill on the basis that decisions regarding curriculum and instruction are a local matter to be handled by the elected governing board.
If you have an RTS account, click here to register your opposition
The Budget Dance Begins
Late Monday afternoon, the Senate introduced a package of budget bills for FY2024, with the House expected to follow suit Tuesday. The bills represent essentially a baseline budget, which contains only enough spending to fund required formula increases and spending designated as ongoing in the previous year’s budget. For K-12 education, this means required formula growth, including a 2% inflation adjustment, as well as $200M in supplemental funding to cover the unbudgeted expenses associated with universal ESA expansion. This budget also level-funds building renewal grants at the FY2023 level of approximately $200M. This proposal is not a negotiated agreement and does not have the support of Legislative Democrats or Gov. Hobbs. It is expected that if it reaches her desk, it will be vetoed.
Mark Your Calendars for Advocacy Day
Want to learn more about the Legislative process and meet with your elected representatives? Make sure to sign up for advocacy day at the capitol! Advocacy Day is taking place Monday, February 20th. Advocacy day is free of charge and is open to participants from ASBA member districts. Learn more on the ASBA events page.