02-05-2025
Capitol Roundup: Republicans eye school choice protections in Prop. 123 renewal
Republican lawmakers plan to include school choice protections in a proposal to renew Proposition 123 when the expiring K-12 funding measure goes to the ballot next year.
The big picture: Lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs are trying to renew Prop. 123, which expires at the end of June.
Rather than put the several hundred million dollars it generates annually toward general school funding, GOP lawmakers want to focus exclusively on teacher pay.
Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, is working on an amendment to add protections for Arizona's array of school choice programs in the state constitution.
Zoom in: Mesnard told Axios the amendment hasn't been finalized but that it would protect charter schools, homeschooling, open enrollment, tuition tax credits and the controversial voucher-style Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.
Mesnard said the provision would protect "what we believe is the fundamental right to direct the educational upbringing of their kids"
Mesnard noted the original Prop. 123 very narrowly passed in 2016, and he said he believes the school choice provision would increase voter support.
The intrigue: Lawmakers have been at odds over whether the new Prop. 123 would only increase pay for teachers, as Republicans have proposed, or include non-teaching support staff, which Democrats support.
Hobbs pitched a new plan in March that raises only teacher salaries, while Senate Democrats unsuccessfully backed a proposal to renew Prop. 123 in its current form.
Adding school choice to the mix would likely ensure opposition from Democrats, who are largely hostile to the ESA program.
Democrats and public education advocates began sounding the alarms Thursday after the Arizona Education Agenda first reported that Prop. 123 renewal would include ESA protections.
Yes, but: Republicans don't need Hobbs or Democratic votes to refer measures to the ballot.
The other side: Arizona Education Association president Marisol Garcia told Axios she would prefer Prop. 123 to be renewed in its current form so school districts have flexibility in how they spend the money.
She questioned why protecting an ESA system she described as "fraught with abuse" and lacking guardrails and transparency should be a priority.
Hobbs spokesperson Christian Slater told Axios that Prop. 123 renewal has a greater chance of passage if it's bipartisan and has a broad coalition of support.
What's next: Mesnard said the House and Senate could vote on an amended Prop. 123 plan as early as next week.
In other Capitol news this week:
👋 Hobbs accepted the resignations of Carmen Heredia, who leads the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, and Jennie Cunico, the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, on Wednesday, saying it became clear Senate Republicans wouldn't confirm them.
₿ The Senate sent Hobbs a bill Tuesday that would allow the state to invest up to 10% of state funds in cryptocurrency.
