We also highlighted some bills going through the legislature that impact public education. They are listed below, with hyperlinks.

HB2164: Banning ultra-processed foods in public schools

• prohibits use of 11 additives and dyes in school meals
• AZ legislature believes that childhood obesity, morbidity and wellness are matters of statewide concern

HB2213: Appropriation for free school meals

• Legislature would appropriate $3.8M for the reduced-price lunch copay from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to provide free school lunches for children who meet the family income eligibility requirements

HCR2003: Temporary override for aggregate expenditure limit (AEL) for public schools for FY26SB1007: Resumes and authorizes schools being allowed to use public school tax credit funds for capital purchases

• This use of tax credit funds expired on June 30, 2024; this bill would make these purchases allowable permanently
• SUSD context: Example of how funds are used is Arcadia buying furniture and 3D printers for a robotics lab

Prop 123

• Prop 123 was approved by voters in 2015 for 10 years; expires June 30, 2025
• This agreement authorized the Legislature to increase amount of money taken from State Land Trust for funding education from 2.5% to 6.9% to pay back funds not provided during the Recession
• If Prop 123 expires, the money taken from the State Land Trust for education will revert to 2.5%
• The Legislature is working on resolutions to put on a future ballot for voter approval to keep the higher funding percentage, likely the 2026 ballot, and on mechanisms to cover the difference between June 30, 2025 and when it goes up for a vote
• TL;DR: stay tuned!

SCR1028: Ballot measure to amend state constitution to require any bond issued by a school district to be approved by 60% of voters

• SUSD context (https://www.susd.org/our-district/bond-capital-override): 2016 bond that was used to rebuild/improve Cherokee, Cheyenne, all 5 high school athletic fields, Hohokam, Hopi, Kiva, Navajo, Pima, Pueblo & Tavan passed by 58.51%
• This resolution was not heard in committee

The Arizona Legislature has an online system called Request to Speak that lets constituents weigh in on bills and resolutions. You can literally give a thumbs up or thumbs down! Information about how to sign up is HERE. Getting full access to the system requires verifying your driver’s license at the Capitol. It’s a fun field trip (there’s even a cafe if you want refreshment). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out: president@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org