SB 1091 Arizona Senate · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

school districts; bonds; overrides; ballots

SB 1091 requires Arizona school districts to hold voter-approved elections (override elections) when proposing budget increases exceeding state limits. It mandates that districts provide voters with a detailed informational pamphlet 35 days before the election, including the proposed budget amount, current budget, alternate budget, tax impact estimates for different property types, and balanced arguments for and against the increase (submitted with signed, sworn statements). The bill directly affects school districts needing budget approvals and voters deciding on tax increases. Key provisions include standardized pamphlet content, strict rules for public arguments, and clear disclosure of how proposed increases would be funded (e.g., property taxes vs. other revenue). The bill was passed by the legislature in May 2025 but vetoed by the Governor.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Vetoed

May 2025

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Vetoed May 12, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Feb 26, 2025

MODERATE

SB 1091 was amended to add detailed requirements for informational pamphlets and ballot language in school finance elections, particularly for small school districts and capital improvement overrides. The bill clarifies how tax rates, budget increases, and funding sources must be disclosed to voters, ensuring greater transparency in school budgeting decisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include more specific disclosure requirements for small school districts and capital improvement elections, while maintaining the same fundamental authority for school districts to seek budget overrides.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirements for informational pamphlets to include current limited property values, net assessed valuations, and estimated tax rates for different property classifications (owner-occupied residences and businesses).

Added new requirements for ballot language in capital improvement elections to include statements about exceeding state standards and entitlement to state capital funding under the Students First Capital Funding System.

Modified argument submission requirements to clarify that factual statements must be reviewed and corrected by the county school superintendent, while opinions cannot be edited.

Added new provisions requiring public meetings between September 1 and October 31 to update voters on the progress of programs or capital improvements financed through budget overrides.

Added new requirements for continuing budget overrides, requiring specific ballot language about tax rate reductions if the override is not renewed.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific provisions for small school districts with fewer than 154 or 176 students, establishing different maximum budget increase limits and calculation formulas based on student counts.

Floor votes · House May 5, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

executive

May 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor