Lawmakers could address ESAs and other K-12 issues in special session
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Lawmakers could return to the Capitol to take another crack at a grand bargain over reforms to the state's voucher programs that fell through in the final hours of this year's legislative session.
Why it matters: A special session could determine whether and how reforms to the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program are enacted.
State of play: House and Senate Republicans are discussing a possible deal for a special session, similar to a proposed compromise between GOP lawmakers and the Arizona Education Association (AEA) on the session's final day, per House GOP spokesperson Andrew Wilder and Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert).
- Petersen said discussions include possibly pulling education-related legislative referrals from the ballot.
- Gov. Katie Hobbs told reporters she's willing to call a special session "if the parties that are working on this can come to an agreement that will be productive."
Catch up quick: As the session neared an end, GOP lawmakers and the AEA sought an 11th hour agreement to pull the teachers union's proposed ballot initiative for new ESA restrictions in exchange for passage of more modest reforms.
- Senate Democrats opposed the measure, as did Petersen and Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek), ensuring its defeat.
After the deal fell through, Republicans referred measures to the ballot that would:
- Nullify the AEA's entire ESA reform measure, which is attached to a provision adding protections for military families who use vouchers.
- Cripple teachers unions by preventing them from using public resources and barring districts from negotiating collective bargaining agreements.
- Require school districts to use at least 60% of their spending for "direct instructional expenses."
The intrigue: Any special session deal would involve a "stand down of the anti-ESA initiative," Wilder told Axios.
- AEA spokesperson Geneva Fuentes wouldn't say whether the group is willing to do that, but told Axios, "We have always been supportive of any pathway to achieve common-sense voucher reform."
Threat level: The ballot referral targeting teachers' unions could also eliminate collective bargaining rights for police and firefighter unions, the Arizona Mirror reported last week.
- The Arizona Police Association called for the entire measure to be repealed.
What we're watching: The campaign for the Protect Education Act to enact ESA reforms must submit its signatures by next Thursday.
- It must collect about 256,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
- The campaign filed a lawsuit Wednesday to block the legislative referral that would nullify the proposed restrictions.