SB 1430, the "Tax Corrections Act of 2026," amends Arizona's retail tax code to clarify and correct exemptions from the sales tax. It adds 25 specific exemptions, including sales of medical equipment (like prosthetics, hearing aids, and durable medical devices), prescription drugs, food, textbooks, and nonprofit sales. This directly affects businesses selling these items by ensuring they are exempt from the tax, resolving prior ambiguities in the code. The bill is a technical correction to the tax code, not a change in tax rates or policy.
HB 2255 establishes Arizona's Teachers Academy to support students pursuing teaching careers. Community college students in teacher preparation programs can receive scholarships covering tuition and fees for up to two years (four semesters) if they agree to teach in Arizona public schools for one year per year of scholarship support. The program prioritizes high-demand areas like special education, STEM, rural schools, and low-income districts, with scholarships requiring repayment if the teaching commitment isn't fulfilled. The initiative is funded through state appropriations and aims to address teacher shortages by linking financial aid to service in Arizona schools.
SB 1166 allows Arizona county school superintendents to offer high school equivalency preparation instruction through accommodation schools to students in grades 10-12 who are at least 16 years old. Students must have written parental consent (or self-consent if emancipated) and must also enroll in a career or technical education program leading to a certification, license, or credential. The bill defines "high school equivalency preparation instruction" as coursework preparing students to pass the state-administered equivalency test. This policy change directly affects older high school students seeking an alternative to traditional graduation pathways.
HB 2040 would require Arizona public schools to provide students with information about current U.S. adoption practices and state adoption resources whenever school staff discuss contraception, STI testing, or dispense contraception. It also mandates that sex education curricula for grades 7-12 include specific content about adoption practices, resources, and related laws. Schools must make curriculum materials available for parental review and hold public hearings before adopting or updating programs. The bill is currently pending in the Arizona legislature and has not been enacted.
HB 2008, the "Library Freedom Act," prohibits Arizona public schools from using taxpayer funds to pay dues or membership fees to professional associations that advocate for libraries and librarians. This directly affects public school libraries and their governing bodies, preventing them from financially supporting such associations with public money. The bill includes an exception allowing county free libraries, municipal libraries, or other contracted entities to still join these associations using their own funds. The law clarifies that "school library" encompasses the school's library, all sites it serves, and the school governing body.
HB 2992 establishes a two-year pilot program in Arizona public schools for students in grades 6-8, requiring six selected schools to provide evidence-based sexual abuse prevention education. The program mandates 4 hours of teacher training on prevention, identification, and responses to abuse (including technology-facilitated abuse), and 3 hours of age-appropriate student instruction focused on recognizing abuse, boundary violations, disclosure strategies, and bystander action. Parents may opt their child out of the program with written notice, and participating schools must submit a report by October 2028 detailing participation and feedback. The pilot is funded by $100,000 from the victim compensation fund and will expire after December 31, 2028.
This Arizona constitutional amendment (HCR 2056) would recognize and protect an individual's fundamental right to refuse any medical treatment, product, or mandate - including those tied to employment, education, or public access - without government coercion. It prohibits government entities from forcing medical interventions (like vaccinations or implants) as a condition for benefits, rights, or services, but includes key exceptions: court-ordered treatment for mental health risks, law enforcement custody, parental decisions for minors, emergency life-saving care, and federal or existing state requirements. The bill defines "coerce or compel" as imposing penalties or denying benefits for noncompliance. If approved by voters, it would amend Arizona's constitution, making this right enforceable.
HB 2239 establishes Arizona's Child Care Grant Program and a dedicated Child Care Infrastructure Fund to address statewide child care shortages. The bill provides grants to eligible applicants - including child care facilities, providers, and those seeking to open licensed operations - for services like underserved community care, nonstandard-hour care, infant/toddler care, and care for children with disabilities. It funds specific infrastructure improvements such as facility expansions, property acquisitions, renovations, provider training, licensing support, and start-up costs through the newly created fund. The program aims to increase affordable, accessible child care capacity, particularly in rural and low-income areas, as highlighted in the legislature's findings on underfunded early childhood services.
HB 2188 establishes a state grant program to provide language acquisition services for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing in Arizona. The program, administered by the state department, funds listening and spoken language services through contracted providers and requires referrals to both the grant program and the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for American Sign Language (ASL) and other language options. Families accessing early intervention services must be directed to these resources. The bill directly affects families with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing, aiming to expand access to language development support through specific service referrals and state-funded grants.
HB 2020 defines and penalizes interference with or disruption of public educational institutions in Arizona. It requires public schools, colleges, and universities to adopt rules for maintaining order on their property, with penalties including ejection, suspension, or expulsion for students and staff who violate these rules. The law classifies threatening harm as a class 1 misdemeanor for minors or a class 6 felony for adults (18+), while entering school property to disrupt operations is a class 1 misdemeanor. Private educational institutions are exempt from these requirements, and the bill explicitly preserves approved gun safety programs on campuses.
