SB1318, sponsored by JD Mesnard (R-13), and its companion bill SCR1014 would ask voters to mandate that, if Arizona has a budget surplus in any given year, the state must automatically cut income tax rates by 50% for the following year. Arizona’s budget is one of the smallest per capita in the US, and schools are funded at 49th in the country. Meanwhile, Arizona still gives away more money every year ($29.9 billion) in tax cuts, credits and carve-outs than it spends in its budget. Any budget surplus isn’t evidence that we’re collecting too much revenue; it’s evidence of lawmakers’ persistent unwillingness to invest in our public schools and services. Part of an overall package of tax cuts which would impact the state General Fund by billions of dollars; the fiscal note from 2023 projects a loss of $253.5 million in FY2027 alone. The House refused to pass this idea in 2023. Scheduled for Senate Finance Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
SB1321, sponsored by Wendy Rogers (R-7), would force district and charter schools to allow "eligible patriotic youth membership organizations" to recruit in schools during school hours. Schools would be forced to schedule activities for these groups and notify parents of speaking engagements. "Discrimination" against eligible organizations would be prohibited. Scheduled for Senate Education Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
SB1441, sponsored by Carine Werner (R-4), would make school board elections partisan, a move being pushed by national extremist organizations. Local school boards are our most democratic institutions, and should stay above party politics. Making school boards partisan turns districts and schools into just another venue for extremist conflict. This idea failed in committee in 2022 and was vetoed last year. OPPOSE.
SB1625, sponsored by Carine Werner (R-4), would expand the Arizona School Spending Portal to force district and charter schools to report each general ledger entry, including revenues, expenditures and disbursements. This is bureaucratic red tape that would snarl schools in time-consuming overreporting, not to mention a massive government overreach. Meanwhile, Arizona's ESA voucher program has no such transparency. Scheduled for Senate Education Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
HB2167, sponsored by Matt Gress (R-4), would ban school districts from holding an override election for one year if they fail to correct a financial reporting deficiency within 90 days of receiving notice from the auditor general. The bill also penalizes districts by removing 1% per month of the district's budget after 18 months until the Auditor General reports compliance. This unnecessarily punitive bill is inspired by troubles which have been uncovered and solved thanks to the robust accountability requirements in place for public schools. Meanwhile, ESA vouchers are costing our state $1 billion every year with zero accountability. Scheduled for House Education Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
HB2169, sponsored by Matt Gress (R-4), forces district school boards to approve any out-of-state travel at least one month prior. This potentially will cause major issues for schools, such as when a student team wins a competition and schools have just 2 or 3 weeks notice to arrange a trip with chaperones. The bill also requires district school boards to meet in district buildings and requires 5 years of online access to materials and recordings; it is ludicrous to tighten these already stringent requirements when publicly funded charter and private school boards are subject to no such requirements. Scheduled for House Education Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
HB2213, sponsored by Nancy Gutierrez (D-18), would fund free school lunches for children whose families meet the federal income requirements for free or reduced-price lunches. This change would help kids who don't qualify for free meals but still struggle to afford the costs. Kids who eat school meals show improved attendance, behavior and academic achievement (kids can't learn when they're hungry!), and they get more whole grains, milk, fruits and vegetables at mealtimes. Scheduled for House Appropriations Committee, Wednesday. SUPPORT.
HB2724, sponsored by Tony Rivero (R-27), would allow public school principals to decide whether to allow "patriotic youth groups" to address students for up to ten minutes during the first quarter of each academic year. Principals would then have to ensure that any materials from these groups are distributed directly to students throughout the school year. Scheduled for House Education Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
HCR2042, sponsored by Steve Montenegro (R-29), would ask voters to enshrine racism in the state Constitution. This culture-war-driven measure would prevent the state from giving BIPOC-owned businesses any preference in state contracts, keep school districts from specifically hiring black or brown teachers in an effort to increase representation, block teachers from discussing inclusion and equity issues that have arisen despite the 14th Amendment, and ban certain content from being taught in schools. This would negatively impact student learning, as well as teacher retention and recruitment. The legislature would be allowed to also "prescribe related practices or concepts" to ban. Scheduled for House Government Committee, Wednesday. OPPOSE.
