Overview
- Serious, closed-door talks took place Thursday as House Republicans discussed calling a special legislative session to try to revive a previously negotiated deal with the Arizona Education Association on changes to the Empowerment Scholarship Account program.
- A compromise bill introduced in mid-June failed in the Senate when two Republicans joined Democrats to kill it, after which lawmakers pushed a late-session constitutional referral, HCR 2048, as a backup plan.
- HCR 2048 contains language that Democrats and critics say would effectively block future ESA reforms and Save Our Schools Arizona has filed a lawsuit arguing the referral violates the state constitution.
- Under the earlier deal the AEA would drop its Protect Education petition in exchange for legislative ESA changes and tabling of anti-union ballot measures, and Gov. Katie Hobbs said she would call a special session if enough votes can be secured.
- Time is urgent because petition signatures for the Protect Education initiative are due July 2 and any special session would likely need to occur by July 1, a schedule that could decide whether reforms reach voters in November and shape campaign dynamics.