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Toma probably won’t offer bill to revamp ESA program
The Republican speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives indicated Nov. 14 that he doesn't plan to write any legislation with the goal of overhauling the state’s growing Empowerment Scholarship Account program after he chaired a House panel tasked with oversight into the program.
Certain counties to receive settlement monies for reentry programs
A legislative committee today approved monies for counties to spend on reentry programs to reduce recidivism rates, but only counties with existing programs can get the money, excluding some.
Attempts to curtail universal ESA program fail
In the first legislative session following the universal expansion of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, attempts to curtail or enact further oversight for the program fell flat.
Early look at 2024’s competitive legislative districts
As the 2024 state election draws closer, Republicans and Democrats are already targeting several key competitive legislative districts that could determine which party has control of the Legislature.
Schools using 50-50 Dual Immersion Model to teach ELL not at risk of losing funds
Schools using the 50-50 Dual Immersion Model to teach English Language Learners are no longer at risk of losing funds, despite threats from the Arizona Department of Education.
Democrat caught hiding Bibles in House, apologizes
A Democratic lawmaker apologized to her colleagues on the House floor Wednesday for removing and hiding Bibles in the members’ lounge, calling the act a protest of a lack of separation of church and state.
Gress wants to expand Teachers Academy program
A first-term state lawmaker wants to expand the Teachers Academy program that provides scholarships to prospective public school teachers to students attending private and religious colleges.
House passes bill to expand laws allowing sale of ‘cottage foods’ to public
With only 11 dissenting votes, the state House approved legislation Thursday to expand state laws that allow the sale of "cottage foods'' to the general public.
$10K teacher raise bill stalls; Gress hopes for bipartisan solution
A Republican measure that would give Arizona teachers a $10,000 raise over the next two years stalled as the bill sponsor hopes to reach a bipartisan agreement that Gov. Katie Hobbs can sign.
Legislators evaluate new school finance transparency tool
Arizona lawmakers are considering whether the state should continue funding its recently launched school finance transparency portal.
After budget veto, more GOP bills likely for Hobbs’ rejection
It’s been more than a decade since Arizona had a divided government, but Republican legislators are signaling they’re willing to send bills to die at the desk of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.
House committee approves bill to fine schools teaching ‘CRT’
A Republican majority in the House Education Committee, with support from Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, revived the crusade against critical race theory (CRT) and passed a bill imposing a $5,000 fine on schools whose staff are found to have provided “prohibited instruction” on race outlined in the legislation.
