Sen. Lela Alston

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes public safety telecommunicators as a vital part of Arizona's first responder teams. It commends these workers for their dedication and acknowledges their critical role in handling emergency calls, providing life-saving instructions, and coordinating resources for first responders. The legislation serves as a symbolic resolution to honor the profession rather than changing laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal review process for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, which provides educational funding for students, with the goal of deciding whether to continue or end the program by July 1, 2032. It requires legislative committees to conduct a comprehensive program review and an independent audit by the Auditor General at least seventeen months before the program's scheduled termination to evaluate its effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with original objectives. The process includes a draft report allowing the department to submit comments, public hearings to gather testimony, and a final decision based on the collected data. If the legislature chooses to continue the program, it must pass new legislation before the July 2032 deadline, and the bill also sets a date for the repeal of the relevant laws in 2033.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill requires the state Department of Education to create guidelines and resources for teaching digital citizenship and media literacy by January 15, 2025. It establishes an advisory committee made up of teachers, parents, librarians, and experts to help develop these practices and recommend updates to state academic standards. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, school districts and charter schools must annually review and update their own policies on internet safety and media literacy by consulting with parents, staff, and students. The legislation defines digital citizenship as responsible behavior online and media literacy as the ability to critically analyze and use various forms of media.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standards and reporting requirements for Arizona schools offering online instruction, affecting public school districts and charter school authorizers. It mandates that these schools meet specific criteria regarding curriculum, safety measures like internet filtering, faculty expertise, and student testing compliance. Additionally, the bill requires online schools to submit annual data on course completion and student performance to the Department of Education and maintain daily logs tracking student academic time.

Maddy summaryArizona Senate Bill 1485 updates the rules for the state's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), which provide funds to eligible students for private education. The bill clarifies that parents must use these funds primarily for core academic subjects and explicitly prohibits using the money to pay for a student's transportation or to purchase general computer hardware like televisions or video game consoles. It also expands allowable expenses to include specific educational therapies, assistive technology, and vocational training for students who meet certain eligibility criteria. Additionally, the legislation reinforces restrictions by forbidding parents from simultaneously holding an ESA and a scholarship from a tuition organization or filing a homeschooling affidavit for the same student.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new financial reporting and audit requirements for qualified schools in Arizona that accept payments from parent empowerment scholarship accounts. While the legislation maintains that these schools cannot be forced to change their curriculum or practices to participate in the program, it mandates that they comply with specific financial transparency rules. The state board of education must develop minimum financial performance standards and reporting formats similar to those used for public school districts, and a financial transparency portal will be created to publish this data. Additionally, the bill clarifies that in legal challenges regarding the law's application, the state must prove the regulations are necessary and do not impose undue burdens on these schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the existence of the board of directors for the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind until July 1, 2033, ensuring continued oversight for sensory-impaired children. It achieves this by repealing a previous statute that would have ended the board's term earlier and adding a new provision that sets the specific termination date and outlines when related laws will be removed. The legislation also includes a statement of purpose confirming that the legislature intends to maintain adequate educational opportunities for these students during this extended period.

Maddy summarySB 1018 amends state law to update how the Arizona State Board of Equalization calculates spending limits for school districts and other political subdivisions. The bill requires the commission to determine these limits annually based on population growth and changes in the GDP price deflator, which measures inflation. It also provides specific formulas for setting limits in new cities, towns, or counties that are created or divided. By adjusting these calculations, the legislation ensures that spending caps reflect current economic conditions and demographic shifts rather than fixed historical figures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to Arizona's laws regarding English language education for students in public schools and charter schools. It would repeal existing statutes and replace them with new requirements for identifying students whose primary language is not English and assessing their proficiency through standardized tests. Under the new rules, schools must provide specific daily amounts of English language instruction based on the student's grade level and ensure access to research-based programs. Additionally, the bill grants parents the legal right to sue schools if they fail to provide the mandated quality of education, with provisions for attorney fees and damages. The state board of education would be responsible for adopting and approving specific instructional models that meet these new standards.