SB1007, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), extends the deadline for the public school tax credit to be used for broader purposes, including school meal programs, consumable health care supplies, playground equipment and shade structures. This ability expired June 30, 2024; the bill is retroactive, so if it passes, it will be as though the ability never expired. Having the flexibility to determine what needs attention most will benefit local schools. Scheduled for Senate Finance Committee, Monday. SUPPORT.
SB1036, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would expand an existing law that bans cities, counties and school districts from using taxpayer dollars to convince voters to cast their ballots a certain way. Any Arizona resident could file suit, and if they win, that resident would get a $5,000 taxpayer-sponsored reward. The sponsor says he's looking to encourage these lawsuits to combat what he sees as an increasingly prevalent problem, and isn't concerned about frivolous suits. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1243, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would require school boards and other public bodies to put their "open call to the public" at the beginning of the meeting before any other official business. This is a direct attack on local control. Scheduled for Senate Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1255, sponsored by Shawnna Bolick (R-2), would require each school district and individual public school to post on its website information on students’ race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age that is meant for the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. Schools would also have to complete a newly created survey from the Arizona Department of Education on bullying, fighting, harassment and other school safety issues, which ADE would post on their website. Public schools are already subject to many laws covering discrimination and bullying, making this an excessive overreach. Meanwhile, bills to expand these protections to kids at ESA voucher-funded schools are going unheard. See SB1369, 2024. Scheduled for Senate Education Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1269, sponsored by Wendy Rogers (R-7), would let district and charter school boards allow volunteer school chaplains into schools to provide support, services or programs to students. The bill does not specify what the chaplains' roles would include, set any training or certification requirements, or require that students from a range of faith traditions be accommodated. Participating schools would have to adopt policies detailing the scope of chaplain services, maintain a publicly available list of chaplains with their religious affiliations, and notify parents of available services. Most credentialed chaplains are not qualified to address the needs of public school students and cannot replace trained school counselors or other student support staff. The ramifications for tracking people's religious affiliations alone are dangerous. The ACLU, which opposes such proposals across other states, says, “Chaplains may provide inappropriate responses or interventions that could gravely harm students, including those experiencing mental health crises, LGBTQ students, and other vulnerable individuals. When a student seeks mental health care at school, that care should be provided by a qualified professional.” People who happen to be chaplains are already welcome, just like anyone else, to participate in existing school volunteer programs — to help with educational efforts, not to proselytize to students. Scheduled for Senate Education Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2164, sponsored by Leo Biasiucci (R-30), would ban what the sponsor deems "ultra-processed foods" from being served in public school cafeterias, snack bars and vending machines. While perhaps well-intentioned, the bill would ban common brands of everything from salad dressings and ketchup to breads and tortillas. This is an unfunded mandate, as schools would likely need major financial support from the state in order to overhaul all meal offerings. The cost of this change is unknown but doubtless significant. This comes amid a focus on food additives from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick to head the US Department of Health, and is based on few documented research findings. Scheduled for House Education Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
HB2703, sponsored by Laurin Hendrix (R-14), is yet another bill that would require early ballots to be returned by the Friday before Election Day. Voters who tried to return their ballots after that would be forced to show ID, sign an affidavit, and cast a new ballot in person. The bill also forces principals to allow their schools to be used as polling places, creating potential issues relating to child safety and available space. Scheduled for House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
