HB 2482 establishes a state fund to provide grants to Arizona public school districts for maintaining existing school facilities. It requires districts to submit preventive maintenance plans to qualify and restricts funds to critical repairs (e.g., safety issues or operational disruptions), major renovations for academic spaces, system upgrades, and infrastructure - excluding new construction, aesthetic remodeling, or routine maintenance. Grants must be spent within 12 months (with extensions for complex projects), and districts must follow strict procurement rules for projects over $50,000. Accommodation schools are ineligible, and unspent funds must be returned to the state. The division prioritizes critical projects and reports monthly on fund distribution.
SCR 1032 is a proposed referendum bill that would require Arizona school districts and charter schools to increase base salaries for eligible teachers if voters approve additional funding from the state land trust. It establishes a "teacher pay fund" using state land trust distributions to cover these salary increases, ensuring all eligible teachers receive the same amount regardless of experience. Schools must publicly post annual salary data on their websites and report to the state education department, with eligibility limited to full-time instructional staff who spend over 75% of their time teaching students. The bill does not take effect until approved by voters and requires ongoing reporting to ensure compliance with the salary increases.
HB 4165 updates Arizona's education funding distribution rules for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and establishes a fee system to modernize the state's tax collection technology. The bill directs specific amounts of state revenue to schools, universities, community colleges, and tribal colleges for purposes such as basic aid, technology research, workforce development, and school safety. Additionally, it requires local governments and regional transportation authorities to pay fees to the Department of Revenue to cover the costs of upgrading the integrated tax system. If local entities fail to pay these fees by the deadline, the state will withhold future revenue distributions until the debt is satisfied.
HB 4163 updates the financial rules for specific charter schools in Arizona that are sponsored by state agencies, universities, or community colleges. The bill clarifies that school districts are not financially responsible for these schools and establishes new methods for calculating their funding based on student counts and enrollment data. It also prevents double-counting of students who are enrolled in both a charter school and a traditional public school by ensuring their total daily membership does not exceed one. Additionally, the legislation requires that if a charter school receives federal or state grants for basic operations, its state funding must be reduced by the same amount to avoid taxpayer duplication.
This bill updates the administrative powers of the Arizona Board of Regents to govern the state's public universities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the board to set tuition and fees based on student residency and enrollment status, while establishing a separate fund for tuition revenue that cannot be used to support alumni associations. The legislation also mandates public hearings and roll call votes for any tuition increases, ensures guaranteed admission for veterans, and requires the board to submit annual budget requests that include projected tuition revenue.
HB 2142 establishes a school safety program within Arizona’s Department of Education to fund safety personnel and resources for schools. It directly affects Arizona public school districts and charter schools, which can apply for up to three years of funding to cover costs for school resource officers, counselors, social workers, safety technology, training, or infrastructure improvements. School applications must include detailed safety assessments, building plans, and specific plans for implementing programs (like law-related education or counseling services), with requirements differing based on whether the funding supports personnel or alternative safety measures. The program is administered by the Department of Education’s School Safety Center, which reviews proposals using crime and academic data and verifies school submissions.
HCR 2003, if approved by voters, would require Arizona schools and athletic associations to designate interscholastic and intramural sports teams based on students' biological sex as recorded at birth (per their original birth certificate). It prohibits male-identified students from participating in teams designated for females, mandates sex-segregated facilities (like locker rooms), and allows students or schools to sue for violations. The law creates legal remedies for those harmed by noncompliance, including injunctive relief and damages, with claims needing to be filed within two years of the violation. This bill directly affects all public and private schools with athletic teams competing against public schools, as well as athletic associations.
SB 1004 allows Arizona students using Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) to participate in school district sports and activities on the same terms as enrolled students. School districts must apply identical eligibility rules, fees (capped at the student’s pro rata share of costs), and academic requirements - such as passing grades and progress - to ESA students as they do for enrolled students. The bill prohibits districts from charging ESA students more than their fair share of activity costs or contracting with organizations that exclude ESA students. It also bars ESA students from participating if they were enrolled in district schools, multiple private schools, or a private school offering the activity during the same school year.
SB 1424 requires Arizona public schools to provide annual, age-appropriate firearm safety instruction to students in kindergarten through 12th grade starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The instruction must focus solely on accident prevention and personal safety - covering safe storage, actions to take if encountering a firearm, and risks of unsafe handling - while explicitly prohibiting live firearms, ammunition, or any training on firearm use. The Arizona Department of Education will develop neutral, fact-based instructional materials in collaboration with public safety agencies, and schools must make all materials available for parental review. The bill does not regulate firearm ownership or possession, nor does it promote or discourage firearm ownership.
SB 1009 requires Arizona high schools to provide all students with mandatory training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use during high school. The training must be age-appropriate, based on current national guidelines, and include hands-on practice (except for online students). Schools may accept donations for materials and must allow exemptions for students with parental consent, prior certification, or individualized education program accommodations. This policy directly affects all Arizona public high school students and mandates training through certified providers like EMTs, Red Cross representatives, or school staff.
