Arizona Republicans Send 2 School-Choice Amendments to November Ballot as 100,000 Use ESA Scholarships
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 18
Arizona Republicans Send 2 School-Choice Amendments to November Ballot as 100,000 Use ESA Scholarships
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 18
Summary
Two Arizona constitutional amendments advanced to the November ballot in the session’s final hours, one shielding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and another barring the state payroll system from collecting teachers union dues.
House Concurrent Resolution 2048 passed the Senate 16-13 and House 31-22, protecting ESA funds for military families and voiding any conflicting law or ballot measure if voters approve it.
More than 100,000 students use ESA scholarships now, and Republicans cast the measures as a response to the Arizona Education Association’s Protect Education Act, which would add restrictions and low income caps to the program.
A Senate-floor compromise failed narrowly after union representatives reportedly offered to halt their signature drive in exchange for new ESA limits, suggesting concern about qualifying the initiative or surviving legal challenges.
Because both measures are legislative referrals, they bypass Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and set up a November vote over school choice and union access to taxpayer-backed collection tools.