Education (School Choice)

introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1726: STOs; scholarship reporting; identification numbers

SB 1726 requires certified school tuition organizations (STOs) in Arizona to report detailed student data to the Department of Education annually. It creates a student identifier system to track scholarship recipients and mandates STOs to submit specific information, including each student's family income level (categorized by federal lunch program thresholds), the amount of scholarship received, and the school attended. The bill also requires STOs to report the number and dollar amounts of scholarships awarded to students in different income brackets, broken down by school. The Department of Education must then post this aggregated data publicly on its website by March 31 each year. This bill directly affects STOs, students receiving scholarships, and the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires STOs to track scholarship recipients' income levels and school attendance, ensuring equitable access for low-income students per federal lunch program thresholds.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Arizona · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 4037: individual income tax; credit; education

HB 4037 creates a new refundable education tax credit for Arizona taxpayers with qualifying children. The credit (up to 80% of the state's base support level) applies to children not enrolled in public school or scholarship programs for more than 50% of instructional days. Taxpayers can claim this credit starting tax year 2026, with excess credit paid as a refund. The bill also modifies income tax filing procedures to streamline forms for eligible taxpayers and requires electronic filing for tax preparers handling over 10 returns annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable education tax credit reducing tax liability for eligible families, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates refundable tax credit for non-public education expenses, expanding financial access to educational options beyond public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1692: ESAs; tutors; safety; rules

SB 1692 clarifies eligibility requirements for Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which provides state-funded tuition assistance for students attending private schools. It directly affects students with disabilities (per IDEA or state disability definitions), children from schools rated "D" or "F," military-connected children, foster youth, and those from low-income households eligible for free lunch. Key provisions update definitions to specify how students qualify (e.g., requiring online students to log minimum instructional hours) and ensure schools receiving funds meet safety and non-discrimination standards. The bill modifies existing statutes without creating new funding, focusing on administrative clarity for the current ESA program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies ESA eligibility, expanding state-funded private school access for vulnerable student groups including disabled students and low-income families90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid Student Health

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 1699: empowerment scholarship accounts; distribution; intervals

SB 1699 establishes Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (AESA) to provide public funds for K-12 education outside public schools. It directly affects parents of qualifying students who choose to withdraw from public school districts or charter schools and use AESA funds. The bill specifies that account monies can cover tuition at qualified schools, textbooks, educational therapies (for students meeting specific disability criteria), tutoring, approved curricula, and other education-related expenses like transportation and assistive technology. Parents must agree not to enroll students in public schools, accept concurrent private scholarships, or homeschool while using AESA funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via AESA for private education, increasing budget expenditure for education choice programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates public funding for private school options, expanding educational access beyond public schools through scholarship accounts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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passed · Arizona · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 2499: appropriation; ESA administration

HB 2499 appropriates $2.6 million and 12 full-time equivalent positions from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Department of Education. This funding specifically supports the administration of the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which provides state-funded scholarships to students. The bill designates this as ongoing funding intended for future years, ensuring continued operational support for the program. The measure directly affects the Department of Education (as the administrator) and the ESA program's beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $2.6M from state general fund to fund ESA program administration, directly supporting state education funding through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds ESA program administration, providing state scholarships for student educational choice and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Arizona · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 2360: ESAs; enrollment; required disclosures; prohibition

HB 2360 protects nonpublic schools that accept Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds by preventing them from being forced to change their religious, educational, or admissions policies. It prohibits these schools from requiring parents to disclose whether a student uses an ESA or the amount in their ESA account as a condition for enrollment. The bill also states that schools accepting ESA funds are not considered government agents and shifts the burden of proof to the state if a legal challenge arises over the law's application. This directly affects nonpublic schools participating in Arizona's ESA program and ensures parental privacy regarding scholarship usage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects nonpublic school enrollment policies for ESA recipients, expanding educational access without restricting school autonomy or requiring disclosure of ESA usage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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introduced · Arizona · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1361: empowerment scholarship accounts; postsecondary education

SB 1361 creates Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, providing state-funded scholarships for students to use at approved educational providers. It directly affects Arizona students and their parents, who must sign agreements to use funds only for specific educational expenses like tuition at qualified schools, textbooks, tutoring, special education services (for eligible students), and postsecondary education costs. Key provisions include restrictions on concurrent use with school tuition organizations, requirements for approved providers (e.g., fingerprinted staff), and annual eligibility reviews for students nearing age 22. The bill expands educational options beyond traditional public schools while specifying allowable uses of funds through detailed expense categories.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-funded scholarships for K-12 and postsecondary education, expanding access and providing direct funding for educational expenses like tuition, textbooks, and special education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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signed · Arizona · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 2370: schools; weapons detection systems; administration

HB 2370 amends Arizona's charter school laws to strengthen background checks for school staff. It requires all charter school applicants and personnel with student contact (including teachers, administrators, and governing board members) to undergo fingerprint-based criminal background checks before employment. The bill mandates that charter schools verify applicants have valid fingerprint clearance cards issued under Arizona law, and schools must report arrests for certain offenses involving staff with clearance cards. This directly affects charter school applicants, staff, and sponsors by adding specific screening requirements before charter approval and hiring. (Note: The bill title mentions "weapons detection systems," but the actual text focuses solely on background checks, not security technology.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStrengthens school staff background checks for safety, directly protecting students and staff in K-12 settings per education topic description.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

introduced · Arizona · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2576: school funding; inflation adjustment

HB 2576 amends Arizona's charter school funding statute to establish an annual inflation adjustment for charter school per-student payments. It sets fixed base rates ($2,131.90 for K-8 and $2,484.69 for 9-12) and requires the legislature to increase charter additional assistance by at least 2% or the GDP price deflator change (whichever is lower) starting in 2026-2027, while ensuring funding never drops below the 2026 base level. This directly affects Arizona charter schools receiving state funding, ensuring their per-student payments rise with inflation. The bill focuses on concrete funding mechanics rather than enrollment or operational rules. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (House First/Second Reading, 2026).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual inflation-based funding increases for charter schools, preventing budget cuts and ensuring stable state appropriations for education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates annual inflation adjustment for charter school funding to prevent cuts and ensure base rates are maintained, directly strengthening school funding stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding

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introduced · Arizona · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2553: federal tax credit; authorization; scholarships..

HB 2553 authorizes Arizona to participate in a federal tax credit program (under Internal Revenue Code section 25F) that allows individuals to claim a tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship organizations. It requires the Arizona Department of Education to certify nonprofit scholarship organizations meeting federal standards and maintain a public list of certified organizations by January 1 each year. Starting December 31, 2026, these certified organizations may provide scholarships for elementary or secondary education expenses to eligible students, in alignment with federal law. The bill directly affects Arizona residents who contribute to scholarship programs and the nonprofit organizations administering them.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes tax credit for scholarship contributions, providing tax relief to contributors, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle/lower income families.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates tax credits for scholarship contributions, expanding educational access through private funding mechanisms for K-12 students.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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