This Week in Education Legislation: Surviving the Cut—Which Bills Are Still in Play?
Another Friday in the books! With the first round of education committee hearings behind us, education bills now face their next barrier—going through the same process in the opposite chamber. Some proposals have cleared their committee hurdles and are moving forward into crossover week, while others stalled out and were left behind as legislative deadlines take their toll. As crossover week unfolds, find out which bills are still in the fight and what’s next for education policy. Stay tuned for more information on bills that died.
Bill Action Recap:
HB 2029 academic standards; attestation; posting (Martinez) — Monitor
Subject to S/E in the House - Passed as Amended
Vote: 11-0-0-1-0-0
Requires that, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all school districts or charter schools in Arizona must annually complete an attestation stating that the school provides instruction meeting the digital citizenship an media literacy standards found in the educational technology standards, computer science standards, English language arts standards, and social studies standards
Requires each school to submit their attestation to the department of education
Further requires each school to post a copy of its attestation on their website
HB 2058 immunizations; proof; exemptions; higher education (Fink) — No Longer Relevant
Subject to unrelated S/E Amendment in House — Passed
Vote: 7-4-1-0-0-0
Requires higher education institutions that mandate documentary proof for enrollment or attendance to fully disclose to prospective students the requirements and exemptions provided in section 15-1825, Arizona Revised Statutes
Exempts any student who is at least 18 years old from the requirement if the student submits either a signed statement affirming that they have received information about immunizations from the department of health services, understand the risks and benefits of immunizations and the potential risks of non-immunization, and do not consent to immunizations due to personal beliefs, including religious beliefs, or a written certification signed by the student and a physician or registered nurse practitioner stating that one or more required immunizations may be detrimental to the student’s health and specifying the nature and probable duration of the medical condition or circumstance preventing immunization
Establishes that an exemption under section 15-1825, Subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, remains valid only for the duration of the condition or circumstance preventing immunization
Defines "documentary proof" as having the same meaning as in section 15-871, Arizona Revised Statutes
Includes within "higher education institution" a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents, a community college, and a career technical education district that provides instruction to adult students
HB 2185 schools; teacher salary increases; reporting (Gress) — Monitor
Subject to S/E in the House - Passed as Amended
Vote: 6-2-4-0-0-0
Requires each charter school budget to include the salary schedule for eligible teachers as defined in section 15-248.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, who are employed by the charter school for the current year
Mandates that each charter school budget contain a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers as defined in section 15-248.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, who are employed by the charter school for the current year
Requires each school district and charter school to revise its salary schedule to increase the base salary of all eligible teachers if voters approve an increased distribution rate from the state land trust permanent funds pursuant to article X, section 7, subsection N, constitution of Arizona
Specifies that any required salary increase must be the amount estimated pursuant to subsection F of this section and must be the same amount for each eligible teacher without regard to teacher experience levels
Prohibits school districts and charter schools from reducing the base salary of eligible teachers below the base salary schedule reported to the department of education in fiscal year 2025-2026 if salary increases are required under section 15-248.01, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, while allowing adjustments consistent with the base salary schedule, including changes due to employment status
Allows school districts and charter schools to reduce the base salary of eligible teachers below the reported base salary for fiscal year 2025-2026 only if their estimated total current expenditures per pupil for a given budget year fall below the total current per pupil expenditures calculated for fiscal year 2025-2026, provided that the reduction does not exceed the percentage decrease in total current expenditures per pupil for that budget year
Establishes the teacher pay fund consisting of legislative appropriations and distributions from the permanent state school fund pursuant to article X, section 7, subsection N, constitution of Arizona, with monies continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing appropriations under section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires the department of education to administer the teacher pay fund and establish procedures to determine the eligibility of school districts and charter schools for funding
Mandates that if salary increases are required, the department of education allocate monies from the fund to each eligible school district or charter school based on the amount determined pursuant to section 15-248.01, subsection G, Arizona Revised Statutes, multiplied by the number of eligible teachers reported by the school district or charter school
Prohibits the use of teacher pay fund monies to supplant, replace, or reduce other funding sources for school districts and charter schools while also exempting these monies from the revenue control limit
Requires the department of education to allocate appropriated monies for salary increases not mandated under section 15-248.01, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, according to the terms of the legislative appropriation
Mandates the state treasurer to provide the staff of the joint legislative budget committee with an estimate of distributions to the teacher pay fund for the upcoming budget year by March 30 of each year
Requires the staff of the joint legislative budget committee to determine a per-teacher allocation from the teacher pay fund for the budget year using the statewide number of eligible teachers reported by March 30 of each year
Directs each school district and charter school that receives teacher pay fund monies to submit a report by November 15 each year to the superintendent of public instruction detailing expenditures from the fund for the previous fiscal year, with the department of education and the auditor general prescribing the report format
Requires the department of education to determine, based on auditor general reports, whether school districts and charter schools comply with the requirements of section 15-248.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, and disqualifies noncompliant entities from receiving teacher pay fund monies until compliance is verified
Defines "eligible teacher" as a person employed by a school district or charter school in Arizona who either works a full school day or full class load, devotes more than 75% of work time to non-administrative instructional activities, or serves as a special education teacher working a full school day or class load while devoting more than 50% of work time to supporting student academic achievement as prescribed by the governing board
Includes both current teachers and teachers hired after the effective date of section 15-248.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, as eligible teachers
Excludes administrators and individuals designated in either of the two lowest performance classifications after an evaluation conducted under section 15-189.06 or 15-537, Arizona Revised Statutes, from being considered eligible teachers
Requires the budget format to contain a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed by the school district for the current year
Makes technical corrections
HB 2585 school open enrollment; tribal students (Garcia) — Support
Passed as Amended
Vote: 11-0-0-1-0-0
Defines “resident transfer pupil” as meaning either:
A resident pupil enrolled in or seeking enrollment in a school within the school district but outside the attendance area of the pupil's residence
A pupil whose residence is located on tribal land and outside of the boundaries of any school district and is enrolled in or seeking enrollment in a school within one of the three closest school districts, other than the district where the pupil resides.
Determines the three closest school districts by calculating the shortest distance from the pupil's residence to the boundaries of each school district
Defines "Tribal land" as referring to lands owned or held by a federally recognized Indian tribe, nation, band, or community as reservation lands, allotment lands, sovereign lands, proprietary lands, or in any other capacity
HB 2609 advanced mathematics courses; student enrollment (Gress) — Neutral
Passed
Vote: 5-4-3-0-0-0
Requires each school district and charter school to enroll a student in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade in an advanced mathematics course as the next mathematics course in which the student enrolls, unless the student's parent objects. However, in order to do so, the student must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Demonstrates the highest proficiency in grade-level mathematics on the statewide assessment
Demonstrates the highest proficiency in grade-level mathematics on an end-of-course exam or a benchmark assessment administered by the school district, charter school, or the school the student attended in the previous school year
Earns a letter grade of at least A, or its equivalent, in the mathematics course the student was most recently enrolled in
Requests, or the student's parent requests, that the student be enrolled in an advanced mathematics course
Requires each school district and charter school providing instruction to students in grades five through eight in this state to annually report the following information to the Department of Education:
The number of students in grades six, seven, and eight, disaggregated by race, family income, and gender, who:
Demonstrated the highest proficiency in grade-level mathematics for the immediately preceding school year
Demonstrated the highest proficiency in grade-level mathematics for the immediately preceding school year, and either:
Enrolled in an advanced mathematics course in the current school year, or
Did not enroll in an advanced mathematics course in the current school year because the student's parent(s) objected to the enrollment
The number of students, disaggregated by grade level, race, family income, and gender, who did not demonstrate the highest proficiency in grade-level mathematics for the immediately preceding school year, but who enrolled in an advanced mathematics course in the current school year
The average score in grade-level mathematics, an end-of-course exam, or a benchmark assessment administered by the school district or charter school, disaggregated by grade level, race, family income, and gender, for:
Students described in section 15-708, subsection C, paragraph 1, subdivision b, item i, Arizona Revised Statutes
Students described in section 15-708, subsection C, paragraph 1, subdivision b, item ii, Arizona Revised Statutes
Students described in section 15-708, subsection C, paragraph 2 Arizona Revised Statutes
All other students enrolled in the school district or charter school
A list of advanced mathematics courses offered by the school district or charter school to students in grades six, seven or eight
A list of resources that the school district or charter school offers to support students in mathematics courses and the number of students who participated in each resource during the current school year
Requires the department to gather the reports submitted each year, and, as permitted by federal law, post the compiled reports on its website without including personally identifiable information
Requires the department to create policies and guidelines to implement this bill, including instructions on how schools can use benchmark assessments
Makes technical corrections
HB 2700 academic standards; social studies; geography (Martinez) — Monitor
Passed
Vote: 6-5-0-1-0-0
Prescribes competency requirements for high school graduation incorporating academic standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies
Requires social studies standards to include personal finance, American civics education, geography, and a comparative discussion of political ideologies, such as communism and totalitarianism, that conflict with the principles of freedom and democracy essential to the founding principles of the United States
Requires geography instruction to include the Gulf of America
Authorizes the state board to consider establishing a required separate personal finance course for graduation
Mandates at least one-half of a course credit in economics, including financial literacy and personal financial management
HB 2725 competency requirements; social studies; civics (Lopez) — Monitor
Subject to S/E in the House — Passed
Vote: 7-5-0-0-0-0
Requires the state board of education to prescribe competency requirements for the promotion of students from the eighth grade and competency requirements for the promotion of students from the third grade that incorporate the academic standards in at least the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Mandates that the competency requirements for the promotion of students from the eighth grade must include the instruction requirements prescribed by section 15-701.05, Arizona Revised Statutes
Establishes a requirement that the state board of education includes in the course of study and competency requirements for eighth-grade promotion a total of at least three course credits in social studies for grades six, seven, and eight, with at least one course credit in civics instruction
Requires that civics education includes instruction on the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments, the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, and the meaning and significance of historical documents, including the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution
Allows a student who transfers into a public school during the second semester of eighth grade to be promoted without completing at least one course credit in civics education if the student transfers from another state or country or from a private school or homeschool in Arizona, successfully completed at least three course credits or the equivalent in social studies, and received instruction on American civics in any of grades six, seven, or eight
HB 2792 student records; expulsions; disclosure requirements (Blackman) — Monitor
Passed as Amended
Requires a school district or charter school to expel a student for at least one year if the student is found to have brought a firearm or deadly weapon to school within the jurisdiction of the school district or charter school, while allowing the school district or charter school to modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis
Defines “deadly weapon” to have the same meaning prescribed in section 13-105, Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires a school district or charter school, upon request from another educational institution in the state, to disclose whether a pupil applying for admission has been expelled, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Changes language relating to governing boards recording possible action towards a student concerning discipline from “may” to “shall”, thus requiring the school governing board to record the results of any disciplinary action done to a student
Makes technical corrections
HB 2867 antisemitism; public schools; prohibition; penalties (Way) — Monitor
Passed as Amended
Vote: 8-4-0-0-0-0
Prohibits a public school, teacher, principal, school administrator, volunteer, contractor, state agency, or higher education institution from teaching, instructing, or training students in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, act, or process that constitutes harassment or discrimination and creates a hostile educational environment, and also applies all these people and groups to the prohibitions listed later on below
Prohibits promoting or providing professional development in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, act, or process that constitutes harassment or discrimination and creates a hostile work or educational environment
Prohibits calling for genocide of any group of persons or for the murder of members of a particular group
Prohibits requiring a student to advocate for or against a specific topic or point of view to receive credit across every subject area for coursework or to receive credits necessary for graduation
Prohibits this state, state agencies, public schools, and teachers from applying for, soliciting, receiving, or using monies or in-kind goods or services for the purpose of teaching, instructing, or training students in antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits developing, purchasing, or acquiring curriculum or course materials for a course that promotes antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits providing teacher training or professional development for a course that promotes antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits hiring or retaining a contractor for any purpose related to teaching, developing curriculum, or providing teacher training that promotes antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits using any public monies to support the costs of teaching antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits providing grants or other monies to state agencies, public schools, or teachers to support the costs of teaching antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes
Prohibits accepting or using monies intended or required to support the costs of teaching or promoting antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes to students enrolled in a public school
Prohibits a public school from taking any adverse employment action against a teacher, school administrator, or other school employee for refusing to teach or promote antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes or for refusing to support, believe, endorse, embrace, confess, act on, or otherwise assist antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, acts, or processes, including penalties and discrimination
Prohibits requiring a teacher, school administrator, or other school employee to complete a curriculum that includes any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, act, or process as a condition of employment or continued employment
Prohibits awarding academic credit to a high school student for completing a course that includes any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, act, or process or that promotes any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct, act, or process
Allows a student who is at least eighteen years old or the parents of a minor student to bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin any violation that creates a hostile educational environment for the student
Removes immunity from civil liability for individuals or public schools named as defendants in a civil action brought under this subsection and holds each individual personally liable for any damages arising from their conduct in violation
Prohibits this state, a state agency, or a public school from using taxpayer monies to satisfy a judgment entered against them or to reimburse an individual defendant found liable for a violation
Allows a court to award actual damages, consequential damages, punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney fees in an action
Allows a student, parent, teacher, or member of the public to report an alleged violation to the Department of Education
Requires the superintendent of public instruction to notify the State Board of Education if a teacher or principal is determined to have knowingly or recklessly committed a violation
Requires the State Board of Education to issue a formal reprimand for a first offense
Requires the State Board of Education to suspend the teacher’s or principal’s certificate for a period determined by the board based on the severity and circumstances of the violation for a second offense
Requires the State Board of Education to revoke the teacher’s or principal’s certificate for a third offense
Clarifies that this section does not prohibit individuals from discussing or using instructional materials as part of a course on the history of Jews, Judaism, or the State of Israel
Affirms that this section does not diminish or infringe on any rights protected under the Constitution of Arizona or the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
Requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules, subject to approval by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, to implement and enforce this section
Defines “antisemitism” as the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, and the United States Department of State, including the contemporary examples identified in the adopted definition
Defines “a hostile education environment” as harassment or discrimination that is so severe, pervasive, or persistent that it interferes with or limits a student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school, faculty member, school administrator, school employee, school official, or school contractor
Requires the Department of Education to transmit a copy of this act to each public school and career technical education district that provides instruction to adult students in this state no later than thirty days after the effective date of this act
Requires the Arizona Board of Regents to transmit a copy of this act to each university under their jurisdiction
Requires the state board for private postsecondary education to transmit a copy of this act to each private postsecondary educational institution that is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 30, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes
Establishes that this act may be cited as the "Antisemitism in Education Act"
HB 2883 school district governing boards; training (Hernandez, L.) — Monitor
Subject to S/E in the House — Passed
Vote: 7-2-2-1-0-0
Requires the department of education, in consultation with the office of the auditor general, to develop a training program for school district governing board members that includes instruction on school district governance, public school finance, compliance with the uniform system of financial records, how to develop and revise a school district budget, audit requirements and procedures, how to prepare the annual financial report, best practices related to internal controls, reports and resources provided by the office of the auditor general, fiduciary duties of school district governing board members, and any other topics determined by the department
Mandates that each governing board member of every school district in the state completes the training at least once in every two-year period
HCR 2003 expenditure limit; school districts; authorization (Gress) — Support
Passed
Vote: 10-0-1-1-0-0
Establishes that the legislature authorizes school districts to spend local revenues exceeding the expenditure limit set by Article IX, Section 21 of the Arizona Constitution for fiscal year 2025-2026
This authorization becomes effective only if approved by at least two-thirds of the members of each legislative house through a roll call vote
S/E: HCR 2020 reporting; teacher salary increases; schools (Kolodin) — Monitor
Subject to S/E in the House - Passed as Amended
Vote: 6-2-4-0-0-0
Requires each charter school budget to include the salary schedule for eligible teachers employed by the charter school for the current year and a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed by the charter school for the current year
Mandates that if voters approve an increased distribution rate from the state land trust permanent funds, each school district and charter school revises its salary schedule to increase the base salary of all eligible teachers employed by the school district or charter school.
Specifies that the salary increase must be the amount estimated pursuant to statute and must be the same for each eligible teacher regardless of experience level
Prohibits school districts and charter schools from reducing the base salary of eligible teachers below the base salary schedule reported to the department of education in fiscal year 2025-2026 if salary increases are required
Clarifies that this does not restrict the authority to adjust an individual teacher’s salary in a manner consistent with the applicable base salary schedule, including adjustments for employment status changes
Allows school districts and charter schools to reduce the base salary of eligible teachers below the 2025-2026 base salary if the estimated total current expenditures per student for the budget year are lower than the total current expenditures per student in 2025-2026
Specifies that the reduction may not exceed the percentage reduction in total expenditures per student and applies only to the current budget year
Establishes the teacher pay fund, consisting of legislative appropriations and distributions from the permanent state school fund. Exempts monies in the fund from lapsing and requires the department of education to administer the fund
Directs the department to allocate funds to eligible school districts and charter schools in amounts determined pursuant to statute, ensuring that distributed funds do not supplant other funding sources and are exempt from the revenue control limit
Requires the department of education to allocate appropriated monies from the teacher pay fund according to legislative appropriation if the legislature provides funding for salary increases not required by statute
Directs the state treasurer to provide an estimate of teacher pay fund distributions for the budget year to the joint legislative budget committee staff by March 30 of each year
Requires the joint legislative budget committee staff to determine a per-teacher amount from the teacher pay fund using the statewide number of eligible teachers reported by March 30 of each year
Mandates that each school district and charter school receiving funds from the teacher pay fund submit an annual report by November 15 to the superintendent of public instruction, detailing expenditures of distributed monies
Requires the department of education, in conjunction with the auditor general, to prescribe the report format
Requires the department of education to determine compliance with statutory requirements based on the auditor general’s report
Specifies that school districts or charter schools failing to correct deficiencies within 90 days of receiving notice are ineligible for teacher pay fund monies until compliance is confirmed by the auditor general
Defines "eligible teacher" as a person employed by a school district or charter school who either works a full school day or equivalent and devotes more than 75% of their time to non-administrative instruction, or is a special education teacher who devotes more than 50% of their time to supporting student academic achievement
Includes current and newly hired teachers but excludes administrators and teachers rated in the two lowest performance classifications under evaluation statutes
Requires the budget prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction and the auditor general for all school districts to include a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed by the school district for the current year
Directs the secretary of state to submit this proposition to voters at the next general election
S/E: HCR 2047 permanent funds; state land trust (Gress) — Neutral
Subject to S/E in the House - Passed as Amended
Vote: 6-2-4-0-0-0
Requires the state to maintain annual distributions from the permanent funds for common schools at levels set on the effective date of this section until fiscal year 2035-2036, except under specific conditions outlined in Article X, Section 7, Subsections I, J, or K, Arizona Constitution, or unless a three-fourths majority vote in each legislative house approves a reduction below the distribution prescribed in Article X, Section 7, Subsection G, Paragraph 3, Arizona Constitution
Allocates any increase in expendable earnings from distributions exceeding two and one-half percent of the average monthly market value of the fund for the prior five years, beginning in fiscal year 2035-2036, to a statewide classroom teacher compensation program to raise base salaries and salary schedules for all eligible classroom teachers
Mandates the 57th Legislature to establish legislation for the teacher compensation program that distinguishes between performing and underperforming teachers, sets reporting and auditing requirements, updates salary schedules, ensures equal per-teacher allocation of funds, and distributes funds only to full-time teachers who primarily provide classroom instruction, meet or exceed performance requirements, and do not hold administrative roles
Prohibits funds appropriated under this provision from replacing existing teacher compensation funding sources
Requires the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to voters at a special election in 2025
SB1226 School Policies; Wireless Communications Devices (Bolick) — Opposed
Passed as amended
Vote: 5-2-0-0
Requires each school district governing board to do the following:
Develop and adopt a policy in a public meeting to limit students' use of wireless communications devices, including gaming devices and video players, during instructional time
Provide parents, teachers, and students with a copy of the adopted policy at the beginning of each school year and notify them of any changes
Specifies that the policy may include a requirement for students to deposit their wireless communications devices in a secure location during instructional time and establish procedures for deposits
Establish conditions and procedures for students to retrieve their wireless communications devices from the secure location
Establish procedures for a student's parent to contact the student during instructional time
Establish procedures for a student to contact their parent during instructional time
Specifies conditions under which a student may use their wireless communications device during instructional time, including membership in a volunteer firefighting company or an ambulance or rescue squad, medical necessity for the student or an immediate family member, requirements under an individualized education program, use as a translator for English language learners, teacher-approved educational use, or any other condition identified by the school district governing board
Exempts a school district from developing and adopting a new policy in a public meeting under section 15-341, subsection A, paragraph 47, Arizona Revised Statutes, if the district already has a policy limiting students' use of wireless communication devices during instructional time on the effective date of this act
Makes technical corrections
SB1227 School Safety; Cell Phone Bans (Bolick) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Requires the department of education, through the school safety program, to support the costs of implementing a policy to limit the use of cell phones in school classrooms
Mandates any program proposal from a school district or charter school to support the costs of implementing a policy to limit the use of cell phones in school classrooms to include a detailed description of the school safety needs of the school district or charter school
Requires the proposal to include a plan for implementing a policy to limit the use of cell phones in in the classrooms of one or more school sites, including the cost of materials required by the plan
Requires school districts or charter schools that have previously participated in the school safety program to provide information on the success, compliance, and implementation of the most recent grant
Makes technical corrections
SB1240 Technical Correction; Transaction Privilege Tax (Mesnard) — Neutral
Passed as amended
Strike-Everything
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Revises the budget requirements for charter schools to include the salary schedule for eligible teachers as defined in Section 15-248.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, who are employed for the current year and a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed for the current year
Requires school districts and charter schools to revise salary schedules to increase the base salary of all eligible teachers if voters approve an increased distribution rate from the State Land Trust Permanent Funds under Article X, Section 7, Subsection N of the Arizona Constitution
Sets the required salary increase at the amount estimated under section 15-248.01, Subsection F, Arizona Revised Statutes, and requires that it is the same for each eligible teacher regardless of experience
Prohibits school districts and charter schools from reducing the base salary of eligible teachers below the level reported to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2025-2026, unless total current expenditures per pupil for the budget year fall below the amount calculated for fiscal year 2025-2026 under Section 15-255, Subsection B, Paragraph 2, Arizona Revised Statutes
Authorizes a reduction in base salary for eligible teachers only if the total current expenditures per pupil decrease, with the reduction limited to the percentage decrease in expenditures, and restricts the reduction to the current budget year
Establishes the Teacher Pay Fund consisting of legislative appropriations and distributions from the Permanent State School Fund under Article X, Section 7, Subsection N of the Arizona Constitution, with continuous appropriation and exemption from the provisions of Section 35-190 related to lapsing of appropriations
Requires the Department of Education to administer the fund and allocate monies to eligible school districts and charter schools to fund salary increases as required based on the number of eligible teachers employed and reported under Section 15-189.05 or 15-903, Arizona Revised Statutes
Prohibits the use of Teacher Pay Fund monies to supplant or replace other funding sources and exempt distributed monies from the revenue control limit under Section 15-947, Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows the Legislature to appropriate additional monies to the Teacher Pay Fund for salary increases beyond those required and directs the Department of Education to allocate those funds according to legislative appropriation terms
Require the Treasurer to estimate the amount of distributions to the Teacher Pay Fund for the budget year by March 30 of each year and provide this estimate to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff
Requires the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff to determine a per-teacher amount from the Teacher Pay Fund for the budget year based on the Treasurer’s estimate and the statewide number of eligible teachers reported
Mandates that school districts and charter schools receiving Teacher Pay Fund monies submit a report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by November 15 each year detailing expenditures of the previous fiscal year, with the report format prescribed by the Department of Education in conjunction with the Auditor General
Directs the Department of Education to determine compliance with the section based on Auditor General reports and disqualifies noncompliant school districts and charter schools from receiving Teacher Pay Fund monies until compliance is restore
Defines "eligible teacher" as a person employed by a charter school or school district who either works a full school day or full class load as determined by the Department of Education and devotes more than 75% of work time to nonadministrative instructional activities, or is employed as a special education teacher under similar conditions but devotes more than 50% of work time to student academic achievement support as prescribed by the governing board
Includes current teachers and those who begin employment after the effective date within the definition of "eligible teacher"
Excludes administrators and individuals designated in the two lowest performance classifications under Sections 15-189.06 or 15-537, Arizona Revised Statutes
Require the Superintendent of Public Instruction in conjunction with the Auditor General to prescribe a budget format for all school districts, including a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed for the current year
SB1292 Noncertificated School Personnel; Disciplinary Action (Miranda) —Support
Passed as amended
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Requires an applicant applying for a new teaching certificate, a participant in field experience or student teaching, an applicant renewing an existing teaching certificate, an applicant who is required to renew fingerprints in order to continue teaching at a charter school, an applicant who is required to be fingerprinted or to obtain a fingerprint clearance card, and any person contracted by the state, a school district, or a charter school to provide tutoring services, to submit for an identity-verified fingerprint card to be used by the department of public safety for verification to process the fingerprint clearance card
Requires all persons engaged in instructional work, including classroom, laboratory, or other teachers, as well as supervisory teachers, speech therapists, and principals, along with all charter representatives, charter school governing body members, and officers, directors, members, and partners of the charter holder, to have a valid fingerprint clearance card issued pursuant to title 41, chapter 12, article 3.1 Arizona Revised Statutes, unless they are volunteers or guest speakers accompanied in the classroom by a person with a valid fingerprint clearance card
Subjects all other personnel to the fingerprint check or fingerprint clearance card requirements prescribed by section 15-512 Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows a charter school to require personnel not subject to fingerprint check requirements to obtain a fingerprint clearance card
Allows charter schools to hire personnel before receiving the results of a fingerprint check or the issuance of a fingerprint clearance card if proof is provided of the submission of an application to the department of public safety for a fingerprint check or a fingerprint clearance card
Requires the charter school seeking to hire the applicant to document in the applicant's file the necessity for hiring and placing the applicant before the results of a fingerprint check are received or a fingerprint clearance card is issued
Requires the charter school to ensure that the department of public safety completes a statewide and federal criminal records check on the applicant every one hundred twenty days until the fingerprint check is completed or the fingerprint clearance card is issued or denied
Requires the charter school to provide general supervision of the applicant until the results of the fingerprint check are received or the fingerprint clearance card is obtained
Requires the state board of education to investigate written complaints alleging that a noncertificated person has engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct if sufficient monies are available and pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted under section 15-203 Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires the state board to adopt rules and procedures for disciplinary action of noncertificated persons that are substantially like those for certificated persons if sufficient monies are available
Eliminates a provision that clarified that a “noncertificated person” is required or allowed to provide services directly to students “without being supervised by a certificated employee”
Eliminates multiple instances of text containing the definition of “supervised” as pertaining to “noncertificated persons”
Requires noncertificated personnel and personnel who are not paid employees of the school district, who are not also either the parent or the guardian of a student who attends school in the school district, and who are hired by the school district after January 1, 1990, to obtain a fingerprint clearance card
Removes exceptions to the fingerprint card requirement
Requires school districts to develop procedures for fingerprinting employees and submitting identity verified fingerprint cards under section 15-106 Arizona Revised Statutes
Eliminates fingerprint checks
Establishes that school districts must assume the costs of fingerprint clearance cards and may charge these costs to the school district’s fingerprinted employees
Establishes that school districts may not charge the costs of the fingerprint clearance cards to personnel of the school district who are not paid employees
Eliminates a provision that establishes that section 15-505, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, does not apply to a person who provides instruction or other education services to a student, with the written consent of the parent or guardian of the student, under a work release program, advance placement course, or other education program that occurs off school property
Allows a school district to hire noncertificated personnel who are required or allowed to provide services directly to students before a fingerprint clearance card is issued, if the school district ensures that the department of public safety completes a statewide and federal criminal history information check on the applicant every one hundred twenty days until the date the fingerprint clearance card is issued or denied
Appropriates $1,200,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the state board of education to implement the requirements in this act
Intends for the appropriation to be considered ongoing funding in future years
Establishes that this act does not take effect unless $1,200,000 is allocated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the state board of education to implement section 15-505, Arizona Revised Statutes
Makes technical corrections
SB1355 School Mapping Data; Requirements; Accessibility (Gowan) — Neutral
Passed
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Establishes the school mapping data program in the department of education to facilitate efficient emergency responses on school campuses by ensuring that school mapping data is accurate, standardized, and accessible to public safety agencies
Requires the department to develop standardized school mapping data program requirements and guidelines, including the following:
Ensures that the school mapping data software:
Is compatible with software platforms used by local, state, and federal public safety agencies providing emergency services to schools in the state
Does not require a public safety agency to purchase additional software or pay a fee to view or access the school mapping data
Includes school mapping data in a printable format
Does not allow the school mapping data for a school site to be modified or updated without updating the data in each platform used by local, state, or federal public safety agencies providing emergency services to the school site
Ensures that the school mapping data is oriented true north, overlaid with gridded x and y coordinates, and includes:
Accurate floor plans overlaid on current, verified aerial images of the school campus
Site-specific labels matching the structure of each school building, including room labels, hallway names, external door numbers, and stairwell numbers
Site-specific labels matching the school grounds, including parking areas, athletic fields, roadways, and neighboring properties
The location of each critical utility, key box, automated external defibrillator, trauma kit, and any known hazard at each school site
Ensures that if a school contracts with a vendor to produce school mapping data, the contract includes provisions ensuring:
Public safety agencies and the school will have perpetual access to all school mapping data at no additional cost
Each contractor that produces school mapping data will verify the accuracy of the data by conducting a walk-through of all school buildings and grounds included in the data
SB1383 Schools; Health Services; Disclosures (Epstein) — Monitor
Passed
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Requires each school district or charter school providing routine health care services to students in the school's health office to provide, on request by a student's parent or guardian, the health care credentials of each individual providing routine health care services, if any
Requires each school district or charter school to provide, on request by a student's parent or guardian, information describing the types of emergency response training, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, that the school district or charter school requires school employees to complete
Clarifies that this bill does not require a school district or charter school to release the personally identifiable information of a school employee or individual providing routine health care services, including the employee's or individual's address, salary, social security number, or telephone number
Defines "health care credentials" as a license, certificate, permit, or registration to practice a health care profession
SB1454 Empowerment Scholarship Accounts; Debit Cards (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Strike-Everything
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Establishes requirements for issuing a subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate to individuals with expertise in a content area
Requires individuals certified under this provision who provide literacy instruction in kindergarten programs or grades one through five, as determined by the board, to obtain a literacy endorsement as prescribed by the board
Permits individuals with a subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate to provide instruction in their field of expertise in kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve at any public school in the state
Clarify that section 15-501.01, subsection C, paragraph 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, does not require individuals holding another type of teaching certificate to obtain a subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate to provide instruction in kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve
Establishes eligibility for a subject-matter expert standard teaching certificate for individuals holding a baccalaureate degree who meet at least one of the following criteria:
Demonstrates a proficiency in specific grade-level content knowledge and curriculum through a standardized assessment that evaluates subject-specific skills and teaching abilities
Fulfills all of the following, as attested by the school principal:
Shows relevant experience through an alternative method determined by the school principal
Completes any required professional development
Demonstrates expertise in a specific subject area and grade level
Makes technical corrections
SB1472 School District Budgets; Three Years (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passed
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Allows any existing override authorization of the former high school district and the former common school district or districts to continue until expiration, based on the revenue control limit of the school district or districts that had override authorization before unification
Allows the unified school district to request new override authorization for one or more budget years based on the combined revenue control limit of the new district after unification
Replaces any existing override for each budget year for which override authorization is approved, if the unified school district's request for override authorization is approved
Requires the governing board to order an override election to be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November at least ninety days before the proposed election if a proposed budget of a school district exceeds the aggregate budget limit for any budget year
Mandates that the purpose of the election is to present the proposed budget to the qualified electors of the school district, who by a majority vote shall either affirm or reject the budget
Limits the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in section 15-481, subsections E or F Arizona Revised Statutes, or the combination of subsections E and F Arizona Revised Statutes, to fifteen percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes for any budget year, except as provided in subsection H Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows a school district requesting an override pursuant to section 15-482 or continuing with a budget override for pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one through three authorized before December 31, 2008, to request and authorize a maximum budget increase of ten percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for any budget year
Limits the maximum budget increase that may be requested and authorized as provided in subsection I or J of section 15-481 Arizona Revised Statutes, or a combination of both, to five percent of the revenue control limit as provided in section 15-947, subsection A for any budget year
Allows the governing board to request a new budget increase under section 15-481, subsection E or F, Arizona Revised Statutes, based on the prior budget increase, if a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years
Limits the new budget increase to not exceed the maximum amount allowed under section 15-481, subsection G, Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows the governing board to request a new budget increase under section 15-481, subsection I or J, Arizona Revised Statutes, based on the prior budget increase, if a budget increase was previously authorized and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years
Limits the new budget increase to not exceed the maximum amount allowed under section 15-481, subsection K, Arizona Revised Statutes
Allows the governing board to request an additional budget in excess of district additional assistance if a budget in excess of district additional assistance was previously adopted by the voters in a school district, and will be in effect for at least one budget year or subsequent years as provided in section 15-481, subsection L or M, Arizona Revised Statutes
Defines "budget year" as a fiscal year that is both a fiscal year for which the school district is budgeting and one of the three fiscal years that immediately follow the current year
Requires the governing board of each school district to prepare and furnish a proposed budget in an electronic format for the next three fiscal years to the superintendent of public instruction and the county school superintendent, unless waived by the county school superintendent, no later than July 5 of each year or the publication of notice of the public hearing and board meeting as required by this section
Mandates that the proposed budget contain the required information and be in the form provided by the department of education
Includes in the proposed budget the total amount of revenues by source necessary to meet the proposed budget of the school district for each budget year, excluding property taxes
Allows school district governing boards to include in the proposed budget any items or amounts authorized by legislation filed with the secretary of state that will become effective during each budget year
Includes the following when calculating the sum for the aggregate budget limit for each budget year:
The general budget limit for each budget year
The unrestricted capital budget limit for each budget year
Allows a school district, except for an accommodation school, that applies for Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 assistance during the current year to budget an amount for Title VIII administrative costs for each budget year
Exempts the amount budgeted for Title VIII administrative costs from the revenue control limit and limits it to an amount determined for each budget year, including the following:
The amount determined in paragraph 6 the amount, if any, to be expended by the school district in each budget year through an intergovernmental agreement with other school districts or the department of education to provide Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 technical assistance to participating districts
The lesser of the amount determined in paragraph 7 or the revenues available as determined in paragraph 3 for each budget year
The amount determined in paragraph 8 as the maximum amount that may be budgeted for Title VIII administrative costs for each budget year as provided in this subsection
Defines "Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 assistance" for the current year as an amount equal to the final determination of Title VIII assistance for the fiscal year preceding the current year as confirmed by the Division of Impact Aid, United States Department of Education, or if a final determination has not been made, the amount estimated by the superintendent of public instruction as confirmed by the Division of Impact Aid, United States Department of Education
Establishes for each budget year an amount equal to the determination of Title VIII assistance for the fiscal year preceding the budget year as estimated by the superintendent of public instruction
Requires the superintendent of public instruction to correct errors in the calculation of state aid or budget limits for a school district or charter school within the previous three years if they did not conform with statutory requirements
Allows corrections to be made in the current year or the budget year immediately following, except that in cases of hardship to the school district, permits the superintendent to approve corrections partly in one year and partly in the year after that year
Makes technical corrections
SB1493 DCS; School Visits; Identification Requirements (Farnsworth) — Support
Passed
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Requires a department caseworker visiting a child in the care, custody, and control of the department at the child's school to present both forms of identification
Mandates the caseworker's department identification
Mandates the caseworker's valid driver license or valid nonoperating identification license
Requires a school to require a department of child safety caseworker visiting a child in the care, custody, and control of the department of child safety at the child's school to present both forms of identification
Mandates the caseworker's department of child safety identification
Mandates the caseworker's valid driver license or valid nonoperating identification license
SB1502 Literacy Endorsement; Curricula; Special Education (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Expands the requirement of a literacy endorsement for certificated teachers, by replacing the language “a qualifying grade level” with “kindergarten programs or in any of grades one through five”
Removes a beginning date establishing when instruction must meet requirements for dyslexia training
Removes a beginning date establishing when the state board of education must require all approved educator preparation programs in elementary education, early childhood education, and mild-moderate special education as defined by the state board of education, to require the courses that are necessary to obtain a literacy endorsement
Removes the definition for a “qualifying grade level”
Defines “curriculum” pertaining to section 15-704, Arizona Revised Statutes to include any curriculum that is used to provide reading instruction to children with disabilities or English language learners
Makes technical corrections
SB1503 Continuation; School Facilities Oversight Board (Farnsworth) — Support
Passed
Vote: 6-1-0-0
Repeals section 41-3025.07, Arizona Revised Statutes, pertaining to the termination of the school facilities oversight board
Changes the termination of the school facilities oversight board to July 1, 2027
Repeals Title 41, Chapter 56, Articles 1 through 9 Arizona Revised Statutes, and section 41-3027.09 on January 1, 2028, only if:
No outstanding state school facilities revenue bonds, no outstanding state school improvement revenue bonds, and no outstanding lease-to-own transactions exist
Allows repeal if the legislature provides for paying or retiring all outstanding bonds and lease-to-own transactions
Delays repeal beyond January 1, 2028, if neither condition is met
Repeals Title 41, Chapter 56, Articles 1 through 9 Arizona Revised Statutes, and section 41-3025.07, thirty days after the retirement of all revenue bonds and lease-to-own transactions
Continues the school facilities oversight board to evaluate the capital needs of school districts
Authorizes the board to distribute monies to school districts to cure existing deficiencies, provide for building renewal, and construct new facilities
Establishes that sections 1 and 2 of this act are effective retroactively to July 1, 2025
SB1505 Certified Teachers; Braille Literacy; Requirements (Farnsworth) — Monitor
Passed
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Requires teachers who are certified in education blind and visually impaired students to demonstrate competence in braille, as measured by successful completion of either of the following:
A national certification in a unified English braille examination
A comparable braille test developed in a university-level teacher preparation program
Defines ”braille” for the purposes of section 15-214, Arizona Revised Statutes, as the unified English braille code
Prohibits the state board of education from requiring certified teachers who completed a university-level teacher preparation program or bachelor's degree program before July 2016 to demonstrate competency in braille until January 1, 2028
Makes technical corrections
SB1508 Technical Correction; Additional Judges (Bolick) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Strike-Everything
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Requires each school district governing board to prescribe and enforce policies and procedures prohibiting pupils from harassing, intimidating, and bullying other pupils on school grounds, school property, school buses, school bus stops, school-sponsored events and activities, and through electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums, and mailing lists. This includes the following components:
Defines bullying as either a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power, involves written, verbal, electronic, or physical expression, occurs on or is delivered to school property, a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or a vehicle operated or used by the school district for student transportation, and meets any of the following conditions:
Results in physical harm, substantial negative mental health effects, or damage to a student’s property or places a student in reasonable fear of harm or property damage
Is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment
Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school
Infringes on a student’s rights at school
Defines cyberbullying substantially as follows:
Means bullying conducted through an electronic communication device, including a telephone, cellular phone, computer, pager, camera, email, instant messaging, text messaging, social media application, internet website, or any other internet-based communication platform
Includes any conduct or communication delivered to school property, a school-sponsored activity, or a school-related activity if it interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, school-sponsored activity, or school-related activity
Defines harassment consistent with section 13-2921, Arizona Revised Statutes
Defines intimidation consistent with section 13-1202, Arizona Revised Statutes
SB1526 Small School Adjustments; District Eligibility (Dunn) — Support
Passed
Vote: 7-0-0-0
Establishes eligibility for small school adjustments for a common school district when determining the school district's budget in fiscal year 2025-2026 if the school district meets the following criteria:
Is located in a county with a population between two hundred thousand and two hundred ten thousand persons
Has a student count in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight between one hundred twenty-five and one hundred fifty students
Has an average daily membership in the current year in kindergarten programs and grades one through eight of one hundred twenty-five or less
Repeals this section after December 31, 2026
SB1528 Schools; Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (Bolick) — Support
HELD
SB1693 Students; Interscholastic Activities; Eligibility; Costs (Kavanagh) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Allows a private school student residing in a public school attendance area to try out for interscholastic activities at the public school under the same conditions as enrolled students, except as provided in section 15-802.03, Arizona Revised Statutes
Requires policies and requirements for registration, eligibility, fees, insurance, transportation, physical condition, qualifications, responsibilities, schedules, behavior, and performance standards to be consistent for both private and public school students
Requires the parent of a private school student trying out for an interscholastic activity to submit written verification that the student is receiving passing grades in all courses and making satisfactory progress toward advancement or promotion
Prohibits a private school student who was previously enrolled in a school district, charter school, or different private school from participating in interscholastic activities for the remainder of the school year in which the student was previously enrolled
Prohibits a school district from contracting with any private entity supervising interscholastic activities if the entity prohibits private school students from participating in interscholastic activities at public, private, or charter schools
Defines "private school student" as a student residing in a public school attendance area who is educated in a private school and whose private school does not offer the interscholastic activity for which the student is trying out
Prohibits a public school from charging a participation fee for a student not enrolled in the public school to participate in interscholastic activities that exceeds the student's pro rata share of program costs
Requires a student's pro rata share to be calculated by dividing the total budgeted amount for the interscholastic activity by the total number of participating students during the budget year
Allows a public school to require students participating in interscholastic activities to pay for related expenses if the school requires all participating students, including those enrolled in the public school, to pay for the same expenses
Makes technical corrections
SB1707 Public High Schools; AEDs; Requirements (Gowan) — Neutral
Passed
Vote: 6-0-1-0
Requires each public school serving students in grades nine through twelve and sponsoring an athletic team or sports program to provide an automated external defibrillator at each school campus and school-sponsored athletic event
Requires that each automated external defibrillator be in an unlocked location accessible during the school day and at each venue where any school-sponsored athletic event, including practices or competitions, is held
Requires that each automated external defibrillator is in a location where it can be promptly retrieved and used at the school or any school-sponsored athletic event
Requires that each automated external defibrillator be maintained in good working order and tested according to the manufacturer's guidelines
Allows school districts and charter schools to accept gifts, grants, donations, and in-kind donations to purchase and maintain automated external defibrillators
Defines "automated external defibrillator" as having the same meaning prescribed in section 36-2261, Arizona Revised Statutes
Defines "school-sponsored athletic event" as an event related to a sport or activity in which students participate as individuals or as team members and includes scheduled practices, trainings, and competitions
SCR1005 State Retirement Systems; Digital Assets (Hoffman) — Monitor
Passed as amended
Strike-Everything
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Requires each charter school budget to include the salary schedule for eligible teachers employed by the charter school for the current year and a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed by the charter school for the current year
Requires each school district and charter school to revise its salary schedule to increase the base salary of all eligible teachers if voters approve an increased distribution rate from the state land trust permanent funds.
Requires salary increases to be the estimated amount determined under section 15-248.01, subsection F, Arizona Revised Statutes, and to be the same amount for each eligible teacher regardless of experience levels
Prohibits school districts and charter schools from reducing the base salary of eligible teachers below the base salary schedule reported to the Department of Education in fiscal year 2025-2026 if salary increases are required under section 15-248.01, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, while allowing adjustments consistent with the applicable base salary schedule, including changes due to employment status
Allows school districts and charter schools to reduce the base salary of eligible teachers if total current expenditures per pupil fall below the amount calculated for fiscal year 2025-2026, with reductions not exceeding the percentage decrease in expenditures per pupil, applying only to the current budget year
Establishes the Teacher Pay Fund consisting of legislative appropriations and distributions from the permanent state school fund. Continuously appropriates monies in the fund and exempts them from lapsing
Requires the Department of Education to administer the fund and determine eligibility for receiving monies
Requires teacher’s salary increases to be funded by allocations from the fund based on the statewide number of eligible teachers
Prohibits funds from replacing other funding sources and exempts them from revenue control limits
Requires the Department of Education to allocate any additional legislative appropriations for salary increases not mandated under section 15-248.01, subsection A, Arizona Revised Statutes, according to the terms of the appropriation
Requires the State Treasurer to provide an annual estimate by March 30 of distributions to the Teacher Pay Fund for the budget year
Requires the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to determine a per-teacher amount from the Teacher Pay Fund based on the estimated statewide number of eligible teachers and the Treasurer’s estimate
Requires each school district and charter school receiving Teacher Pay Fund monies to submit an annual report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by November 15, detailing expenditures from the fund
Requires the Department of Education and Auditor General to prescribe the report format
Requires the Department of Education, based on Auditor General reports, to determine compliance.
Disqualifies noncompliant school districts and charter schools from receiving Teacher Pay Fund monies until compliance is restored
Defines "eligible teacher" as a person employed by a school district or charter school who meets certain criteria, including working full-time or teaching a full class load and spending a majority of work time on nonadministrative instruction or special education support
Includes current and newly hired teachers
Excludes administrators and teachers rated in the lowest performance classifications under specific evaluation statutes
Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in conjunction with the Auditor General, to prescribe a uniform budget format for all school districts
Requires the budget format to include a statement identifying the number of eligible teachers employed by each school district for the current year
Requires the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election
SCR1015 State Land Trust; Permanent Funds (Mesnard) — Neutral
Passed as amended
Strike-Everything
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Amends Article X, section 7, of the Arizona Constitution
Prohibits the state or any state officer from reducing the annual distribution from the permanent funds corresponding to land granted by the Enabling Act for the benefit of common schools, below the level in effect on the effective date of this section, until fiscal year 2035-2036, except as provided in Article X, Section 7, Subsection I, J, or K Arizona Constitution, or below the distribution prescribed in Article X, Section 7, Subsection G, Paragraph 3 Arizona Constitution, unless approved by at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature
Requires that beginning in fiscal year 2035-2036 (this year range is a clerical error and should be represented as 2025-2026), any increase in expendable earnings under Section 37-521, Subsection B, Paragraph 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, resulting from a distribution exceeding two and one-half percent of the average monthly market values of the fund for the preceding five calendar years, be appropriated for a statewide classroom teacher compensation program to increase the base salary and salary schedules of all eligible classroom teachers
Mandates that the 57th Legislature enact legislation for the statewide classroom teacher compensation program that:
Ensures the program distinguishes between performing and underperforming teachers
Establishes reporting and auditing requirements, requires schools to update teacher salary schedules
Mandates schools allocate an equal amount per teacher to all eligible teachers employed by the school, and
Allocates monies only to classroom teachers who are full-time, spend most of their time on nonadministrative classroom instruction, and meet or exceed performance requirements
Requires that monies appropriated for this program supplement and not replace teacher compensation funds from other sources
Directs the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to voters at a special election to be held in 2025 as provided by Article XXI of the Arizona Constitution
SCR1028 School Bonds; Sixty Percent Vote (Bolick) — Opposed
HELD
SCR1032 Permanent School Fund; Distribution; Uses (Mesnard) — Monitor
Passed
Vote: 4-3-0-0
Requires the state treasurer and the state land department, beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027, to annually transfer funds to the school facilities revenue bond debt service fund, the school improvement revenue bond debt service fund, and the state school trust revenue bond debt service fund, if available monies exceed the required amount and if outstanding state school facilities revenue bonds, qualified zone academy bonds, or state school trust revenue bonds exist
Requires that the transferred amount is sufficient to cover the fiscal year's debt service on these outstanding bonds
Provides guaranteed financing for common schools beginning in fiscal year 2026-2027, including debt obligations issued on behalf of a school district or charter school to acquire, construct, renovate, equip, refinance, or improve capital facilities consistent with state laws
Prohibits the state treasurer and state land department from transferring any monies under this section before fulfilling all obligations guaranteed under this provision
Requires the Secretary of State to submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election
Makes technical corrections
Coming Up Next Week: A Break!
Neither the House nor Senate Education Committees will meet next week.