In the final hours of the 2026 legislative session, Republican lawmakers tried to torpedo proposed reforms to Arizona's school voucher program.

Why it matters: Even if voters approve a proposed measure to rein in the state's controversial Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program, those reforms would be completely nullified if the Legislature's ballot proposal passes as well.

Catch up quick: The Protect Education Act, a proposed citizen initiative which hasn't yet qualified for the ballot, would make several major changes to the ESA program:

• Limit eligibility for most families to those with household incomes up to $150,000;
• Crack down on improper spending;
• Bar families from saving unspent ESA money for future college use, instead returning those dollars to the state.

State of play: After GOP lawmakers and public education groups failed to reach an 11th-hour agreement over ESA reforms, Republicans responded with a ballot referral that would bar the state from sweeping voucher money from children of military families.

• Lawmakers titled the plan the Military Families College Savings and Scholarship Protection Act.

Threat level: The act also has a poison pill provision stating that any law passed by the Legislature or voters that violates the military families provision is voided in its entirety.

• That means if voters approve both measures, it would completely negate the ESA reforms in the Protect Education Act.

The Legislature adjourned for the year early Saturday morning after Republicans spent much of their final day of session on conservative ballot referrals, which only require legislative approval and aren't subject to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' well-used veto stamp.

Other last-minute referrals included ballot measures to:

🗳️ Require all voters, including those who vote by mail, to show valid government ID "before casting a ballot in each election."

🏫 Bar teachers unions from using public resources and bar districts from aiding labor groups by automatically deducting dues from paychecks or approving paid leave for union activities.

📸 Prohibit photo traffic enforcement, except for contracts that are already in place.

• Cities and towns with preexisting photo radar systems must get voter approval to keep using them.

Tell a voter

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Arizona kids are worse off than most of their out-of-state peers, according to a new report.

Why it matters: Children's wellbeing affects future workforce participation and economic growth, and researchers warn rising costs and safety-net reductions could further strain families.

The big picture: The Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2026 Kids Count Data Book measures children's well-being across four categories: economic wellbeing, education, health, and family and community.

Threat level: Arizona ranked 40th overall and, like most of the nation, saw well-being decrease across major indicators post-pandemic.

Arizona's declines between 2019 and 2024 include:

• Children ages 3 and 4 not in school (61% → 65%)
• 4th and 8th graders not proficient in math (69% → 74%)
• Children living in households with a high housing cost burden (28% → 29%)
• Low birth-weight babies (7.4% → 7.9%)
• Children ages 10-17 who are overweight or obese (27% → 31%)

One bright spot: Arizona saw its "family and community" score improve between 2019 and 2024 more than any other state.

• The report attributed it mostly to reductions in teen pregnancies and the share of children living in high-poverty areas.

The bottom line: There's a "direct correlation" between "how states invest in children and how kids are doing," says Leslie Boissiere, Annie E. Casey Foundation vice president of external affairs.

⛺ Phoenix's Office of Homeless Solutions wants to extend the permit for its shaded outdoor campground near downtown, which provides shelter for hundreds, for another four years. (AZcentral)

🛣️ A four-year, $613 million project to extend Loop 303 south in Goodyear begins today. (Arizona's Family)

🛍️ Walmart will begin drone delivery service in Phoenix and six other cities in 2027. (KJZZ)

⚾ ASU's Landon Hairston was named Baseball America's College Player of the Year. (Arizona Sports)

Welcome to another edition of "Where in the Valley?"

How it works: We show you something cool. You tell us where it is.

• The first reader who names the spot gets a shoutout in the newsletter.

You tell us: Where in the Valley can you find this stone structure?

Catch up quick: Congratulations to Scott Sweebe, the first reader to give us the correct location for last week's "Where in the Valley?" photo.

• The bird is on Camelback Road near 20th Street, at the Town & Country shopping center .