HB 2992 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

pilot program; sexual abuse prevention

HB 2992 establishes a two-year pilot program in Arizona public schools for students in grades 6-8, requiring six selected schools to provide evidence-based sexual abuse prevention education. The program mandates 4 hours of teacher training on prevention, identification, and responses to abuse (including technology-facilitated abuse), and 3 hours of age-appropriate student instruction focused on recognizing abuse, boundary violations, disclosure strategies, and bystander action. Parents may opt their child out of the program with written notice, and participating schools must submit a report by October 2028 detailing participation and feedback. The pilot is funded by $100,000 from the victim compensation fund and will expire after December 31, 2028.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Mar 31, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version House Engrossed Version (03/18/2026) · 6 edits · Mar 18, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was significantly expanded to include a broader range of students (kindergarten through 12th grade) and added specific definitions for 'grooming' and 'exploitation.' The program now requires the Department of Education to select specialized organizations to provide instruction and develop a survivor-informed curriculum, rather than just selecting schools. Funding sources were changed from the victim compensation fund to the state general fund.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from targeting only grades six through eight to include all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
DEFINITION

Added new legal definitions for 'grooming' and 'exploitation' to clarify the behaviors the program addresses.

SCOPE

Expanded the target student population from grades six through eight to include kindergarten through 12th grade.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that the Department of Education select specific organizations to provide instruction and develop the curriculum, with strict criteria regarding survivor expertise.

Required the Department to gather stakeholder input from survivors and safety organizations before developing the curriculum.

Updated reporting requirements to track instruction hours provided by the selected organizations rather than the schools directly.

FISCAL

Changed the funding source from the victim compensation and assistance fund to the state general fund.

Floor votes · House Mar 18, 2026

How they voted

3520
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 60
Mar 18, 2026
D Democratic27
2 Yea 20 Nay 5
74% Nay
R Republican33
33 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
8
Committee
1
Amendments
4
Mar 31, 2026
Upper · Passed
DP
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
Mar 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Matt Gress
Matt Gress
RRepublican
AZ
4