Maddy summarySB 1706 establishes standards for Arizona's online instruction programs. It requires online schools to meet specific criteria for curriculum, student safety, and teacher qualifications before approval, and places new online schools on probation for up to three years until they demonstrate academic improvement. The bill mandates annual reporting to the state education department on student performance and daily attendance logs, and sets funding rules: full-time online students receive 95% of standard funding, while part-time students receive 85%. It directly affects online schools, students enrolled in virtual programs, and school districts managing hybrid enrollment. The bill does not relate to full-day kindergarten as implied by its title, but instead focuses on online education accountability and funding.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 1708 prohibits Arizona cities, counties, and state-owned property from being used for civil immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant. It bans local and state governments from allowing immigration officers to use parking lots, garages, or vacant lots as staging areas, processing sites, or bases for enforcement operations. Within 30 days of the law taking effect, all affected government entities must post clear signage at public entrances stating the property cannot host immigration enforcement without a warrant. The law also requires immigration officers to show a warrant before questioning, detaining, or arresting anyone on government property. This directly affects local governments and their property management practices regarding immigration enforcement activities.
Maddy summarySB 1739 allocates $15 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund domestic violence shelters and beds. The funds will be distributed as grants to tribal nations: 25% to the Navajo Nation, 25% to the Hopi Tribe, and 50% to other federally recognized tribes in Arizona. This funding covers surveying, designing, constructing, and operating shelters and beds. The appropriation is exempt from standard funding lapse rules under Arizona law. The bill directly affects tribal nations by providing dedicated resources for domestic violence shelter services.
Maddy summarySB 1693 (correcting the title discrepancy) primarily updates teacher certification rules, not superintendent requirements. It requires all teachers providing literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade 5 to obtain a literacy endorsement by specific deadlines (2028 for current teachers, within three years of certification for new teachers starting August 2025). The endorsement mandates evidence-based science of reading training covering foundational skills, high-quality materials, and interventions for reading deficiencies (including dyslexia). Teachers may bypass formal coursework through local district verification using classroom observations and student data, and the bill explicitly prohibits requiring a master's degree for certification.
Maddy summarySB 1801 establishes tax deduction rules for event wagering operators in Arizona, specifically limiting how much they can deduct for free bets or promotional credits from their taxable income. It allows operators a deduction equal to up to 20% of gross wagering receipts for the first two years, 15% in year three, and 10% in years four and five, with no deduction permitted after that. The bill directly affects licensed event wagering operators - including sports teams, racetracks, and tribal entities - and defines key terms like "event wagering" (covering bets on sports, e-sports, and other competitions) and "adjusted gross receipts." The policy creates a structured, time-limited tax incentive to encourage operator participation while maintaining clear definitions for regulatory compliance.
Maddy summarySB 1830 establishes Arizona's "turquoise alert" system to quickly notify the public about missing persons under age 65 who are in danger. It requires law enforcement to exhaust local resources and confirm the person is a runaway (especially children), kidnapped, or missing under suspicious circumstances before activating the alert. The system issues public alerts through the emergency alert system when specific recovery information is available, and mandates that the department share alerts with other state notification services. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, the public, and missing persons under 65, particularly children and those at risk. The bill does not change existing Amber Alert protocols but creates a new, separate alert category for runaways and vulnerable missing persons.
Maddy summarySB 1765 redirects specific portions of Arizona's state lottery fund to support problem gambling initiatives. It allocates $1.3 million annually to the existing problem gambling fund (established under §5-1318.01) and an additional $1.3 million to the Department of Gaming's division for problem gambling treatment, prevention, and education programs. These funds come from the lottery revenue after covering bond debt service and other mandatory expenses, with allocations adjusted yearly for inflation and exempt from standard appropriation lapsing rules. The bill does not regulate gambling but uses existing lottery revenue to directly fund services for individuals affected by problem gambling.
Maddy summarySB 1697 prohibits Arizona public schools from shaming or treating students differently due to unpaid meal fees, ensuring all students receive the same meals regardless of payment status. It specifically bans school staff from serving different meals (except for dietary/religious needs) or taking disciplinary action that denies students nutritious meals meeting state nutrition standards. The law directly affects students with unpaid meal fees and requires schools to maintain equal treatment and meal access during the instructional day. This policy change focuses on preventing stigma and ensuring consistent access to required meals, without altering meal eligibility or financial assistance processes.
Maddy summarySCR 1046, if approved by Arizona voters, would require public schools to identify students needing English language support, assess their proficiency, and provide structured English immersion programs with specific daily time requirements (120 minutes for K-5, 100 minutes for grades 6-12). It directly affects school districts, charter schools, and English learners (students whose primary language is not English). Key provisions include mandating high-quality language programs, allowing parents to sue schools for noncompliance, and requiring the state board to adopt research-based teaching models. The bill would replace existing laws on English learner education and needs voter approval to become law.
Maddy summarySCR 1042 proposes to repeal the constitutional requirement that Arizona school districts must adhere to spending limits based on 1979-80 expenditure levels adjusted for student population and cost of living. This would remove the existing framework where school districts' local revenue spending was capped by a formula calculated annually by the economic estimates commission. The bill specifically targets Section 21 of Article IX in Arizona's constitution, which currently governs these expenditure limitations for both school districts and community college districts. If passed, this repeal would eliminate the need for districts to calculate or comply with these historical spending caps, though it does not create new spending rules. The bill is a constitutional amendment proposal requiring voter approval, not a direct legislative change to current spending policies.