AZ Legislative Update 11-17-2023

Arizona’s long-running discussion about teacher pay continued this week as a group of House and Senate Republicans announced their intention to ask voters to extend state trust land funding for a teacher pay increase.

The voter-approved funding mechanism, narrowly enacted as Proposition 123 in 2016, increases the percentage of state land trust resources that go toward education. It will expire in 2026 unless voters approve a new or continued version of the funding.

Republicans are still working on the details of their plan, but they say it will boost a teacher’s salary by approximately 7%, or $4,000. It will differ from the current version by removing authority for schools to determine how to allocate the funding; instead, it will direct the funding only toward teacher pay increases.

Democrats and some education advocacy groups responded with skepticism, asserting that the Republican plan would reallocate existing dollars and reduce overall funding for schools.

This is just the start of the debate on Proposition 123, which is sure to dominate the 2024 legislative session. The discussion will be even more divisive because it connects to the state budget, which faces an estimated $400 million deficit.

In the News

Senate Democrats want to focus on a long life for the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind next year. Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) says the budget won’t cut education funding even though there’s a deficit. House Democratic leaders filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Leezah Sun (D-Phoenix). A committee charged with studying Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) did not agree on recommendations and probably won’t inspire legislative changes next year. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (R) wants schools to end clubs sponsored by UNICEF and Amnesty International.

On the Bright Side…

These friends have life advice.