The Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) declined to approve the new handbook for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program.
ASBE discussed the proposed 2025-2026 ESA Handbook during its meeting on Monday. Though it had the opportunity to approve the handbook during the meeting, a majority of the board indicated a desire to abstain from voting on the handbook until their upcoming April meeting.
Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Superintendent Tom Horne motioned for ASBE to take a vote on the handbook, but no other board member seconded his motion.
The ESA executive director, John Ward, said the new handbook was more user friendly, with information clarified and organized, redundancies reduced, hyperlinked statutes and rules, a clarified list of spending limits on items associated with risks of abuse, and a new chapter on enrollments.
A point of concern for ASBE board members related to ESA Program approvals of expenditures, namely of the sort opposed by Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Mayes’ Government Accountability Unit launched an investigation into the ESA Program over its expense authorizations last July. Mayes accused the ESA Program of approving supplementary materials without documentation of a curriculum nexus, approving certain curriculum materials without curriculum documentation, and approving textbook expenses without documentation demonstrating a qualified school or eligible postsecondary institution requires it.
During Monday’s meeting, Ward clarified there were certain “common” educational items for which the ESA Program didn’t require curriculum in order to not burden families, such as pencils and paper. Ward said the attorney general’s letter prompted them to split the supplemental materials listings into two: those that will always require a curriculum nexus and those that are general educational items which, pending the ongoing court case’s outcome on the matter, may never require a curriculum nexus.
There were over 87,600 students reported within the ESA program as of Tuesday.
The ESA Program continues to be a source of conflict between statewide officials.
Governor Katie Hobbs targeted the ESA Program during her State of the State address in January. Hobbs’ criticisms prompted a rebuttal from Horne; he said the governor was ignorant to the administration of the program.
In his explanation of the new ESA Program Handbook earlier this month, Horne dismissed one major opposing claim: that the program needs to reimburse parents without question of the expenses.
Horne said the ADE’s oversight of expenditures successfully prevented abusive charges, such as a $5,000 Rolex watch and a $24,000 golf simulator.
“[These are] abuse of things that are not really for the educational benefit of the child. It’s obvious there has to be some limitations,” said Horne.
Unlike his predecessor, Horne has repeatedly stepped up to defend the ESA Program.
“Parents should have the choice to be sure their child is in a school that meets the needs of that child,” said Horne. “The ESAs are really not really a challenge to the public schools; they supplement them and make sure that all students are in an environment where needs are being met.”
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The Arizona State Legislature is advancing a measure to urge the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to prioritize affordable and reliable energy sources over intermittent renewable energy alternatives such as solar and wind.
House Concurrent Memorial 2014 (HCM 2014), introduced by State Representative Justin Olson, calls on the ACC to prevent regulated utilities from shutting down dispatchable energy sources, including natural gas and coal, in pursuit of Net Zero goals.
The legislation, which does not carry the force of law but serves as a formal request to the ACC, asks the Commission to ensure Arizona’s electrical grid remains powered by affordable and reliable energy sources; prevent regulated utilities from phasing out critical, dispatchable energy sources such as coal and natural gas in favor of renewable alternatives that may be costly and unreliable; and adopt a national model policy, “Only Pay for What You Get,” which requires utilities to recover costs only from the reliable portion of new energy generation sources.
The bill passed the Arizona House of Representatives on February 26, 2025, with a vote of 33-26-1, and was referred to the Senate’s Natural Resources Committee for further consideration.
HCM. 2014 comes amid a broader debate on the future of Arizona’s energy policies. The ACC, which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities, has faced increasing pressure from policymakers, industry groups, and environmental advocates over how to balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability in energy production.
Supporters of the measure argue that shifting too quickly to renewable energy sources without proper reliability safeguards could lead to increased costs for ratepayers and potential grid instability.
If approved by the Senate, copies of HCM 2014 will be transmitted to the Chairperson and each Commissioner of the ACC, urging them to align state energy policies with the resolution’s recommendations. While the ACC operates independently, legislative pressure could influence future regulatory decisions regarding Arizona’s energy transition.
As Arizona continues to navigate its energy future, the debate over affordability, reliability, and sustainability is expected to remain a contentious issue among lawmakers, utility providers, and consumers.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Earlier this month, the Arizona Senate advanced legislation that would impose “civil liability on health care professionals or physicians relating to gender transition or detransition procedures provided to minors.”
The bill, SB 1586, which was introduced by Arizona Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp, (R-LD-29) would bring about legal protections for children and teens who have been subjected to so-called ‘gender transition procedures’ and suffered serious consequences of the alleged ‘treatment’ later in life. It would also set grounds for medical malpractice lawsuits to follow.
SB 1586 was passed in the Senate on in early March along party lines. It was given its first and second reading in the House of Representatives on the 12th and 13th.
In a statement following the bill’s Senate passage, Sen. Shamp said, “We have heard many tragic stories about young boys and girls who have submitted to life-altering procedures to change their gender – only to experience severe repercussions later on when they mature.”
She continued, “While Arizona law is clear against these types of procedures, there is more we as lawmakers can do to deter physicians and providers from entertaining any of the illegal and immoral operations that are ravaging our young people. Republicans again have shown their willingness to do what is necessary to stop the harmful mutilation of our children’s bodies, and we will continue to fight on behalf of our precious sons and daughters until these inhumane and ungodly practices are abolished. If there is nothing wrong with these procedures, then this policy won’t apply.”
Shamp also highlighted the bill in a recent release with a vow to implement a “Make Arizona Healthy Again” agenda.
Sharing AZ Senate Republicans video of the bill’s passage, Shamp simply stated “Do no harm!,” citing the Hippocratic Oath taken by all doctors.
If enacted, the bill would set “the grounds for which a medical malpractice action may be brought forward,” adding that, “a health care professional or physician who provides or provided a minor with a gender transition procedure is strictly and personally liable for all costs associated with subsequent detransition procedures sought by the minor within 25 years after the commencement of a gender transition procedure.”
The bill would also allow victims and their families to bring a civil action lawsuit for, “a) declaratory or injunctive relief; b) compensatory damages, including pain and suffering, loss of reputation, loss of income and loss of consortium, including the loss of the expectation of sharing parenthood; c) punitive damages; d) attorney fees and costs; and e) any other appropriate relief.”
The Arizona Court of Appeals judge in the “alternate electors” case donated to Attorney General Mayes when she was campaigning on prosecuting President Donald Trump’s 2020 electors.
On Wednesday, the day after Attorney General Kris Mayes asked the court to reject the lower court’s ruling, the appeals court held oral arguments in the alternate electors case.
The appeals court judge on the case, Andrew Jacobs, was appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs in February 2023. Jacobs donated $500 to Mayes’ campaign for the office in 2022. At the time, Jacobs was an attorney with Snell and Wilmer.
Several days after Mayes promised publicly to investigate the 2020 electors, Jacobs submitted his first donation to her campaign.
“I would have immediately investigated the alternate electors as Attorney General,” said Mayes. “Arizona needs a #LawyerForthePeople.”
Another glaring example of Brnovich abdicating his duties. I would have immediately investigated the fake electors as Attorney General. There is no mystery about what happened here. The fake electors videotaped their crime for all to see. Arizona needs a #LawyerForThePeople. https://t.co/rH64dvM7BN
Jacobs submitted his second donation to Mayes’ campaign the day after an Arizona Republic article emerged highlighting the differences between her and then-opponent (now congressman) Abe Hamadeh.
Yes indeed. And I am looking forward to being your Attorney General as a #LawyerForThePeople — not Trump. Abe Hamadeh and Kris Mayes display stark differences in Arizona attorney general race https://t.co/gALqWJCtY1
A source that observed the emergency hearing described Jacobs as “hostile” to the electors. During oral arguments, the conflict of interest was raised, however, Jacbos still voted on an issue in the case, the decision to grant a stay.
Last month, Maricopa County Judge Sam Myers ruled the 2020 electors, 16 in total, provided sufficient evidence that Mayes’ case against them may be dismissable for violating Arizona’s Anti-SLAPP law.
Anti-SLAPP, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” imposes civil liability against any state actor that brings or maintains a legal action substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliation against, or prevent free speech and association.
Myers said the 2020 electors demonstrated their actions to comprise “at least in part some arguably lawful speech.” Myers cited Mayes’ remarks announcing the indictments as potential proof of a political motivation behind her prosecution.
Mayes disagreed with the ruling. The attorney general said the 2020 creation of an alternate elector slate didn’t constitute free speech and shouldn’t be afforded constitutional protections.
“It is not the lawful exercise of free speech to file forged slates of electors to deprive Arizona voters of their right to vote,” said Mayes.
In order to counter Myers’ ruling, Mayes had to prove in a brief due earlier this week that she wasn’t motivated by a desire to retaliate or deter the 2020 electors’ free speech rights.
The outcome of that motion to dismiss the case remains pending.
Myers did deny motions to dismiss Mayes’ case last week, however. The motions claimed Mayes lacked authority to bring the case to court and failed to allege crimes committed.
Last November, the first judge on the case, Bruce Cohen, recused himself after emails emerged in which he ordered his fellow judges to come to the defense of then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
The defendants in the case include former AZGOP Chair Dr. Kelli Ward, Dr. Michael Ward, former executive director of the AZGOP Greg Safsten, former Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern, former Senate Candidate Jim Lamon, former Cochise County Republican Committee chair Robert Montgomery, former Cochise County Republican Committee chair Samuel Moorhead, Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman, Turning Point USA COO Tyler Bowyer, and attorneys John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Christina Bobb, as well as President Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Campaign Aide Boris Epshteyn, and director of Election Day operations Mike Roman.
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During Tuesday’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Arizona Republican Congressman Eli Crane (CD-2) laid bare Democrats’ intent to use illegal immigration to increase “headcount” in their congressional districts to manipulate redistricting. As a part of his remarks, Crane played video footage of Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) outright confirming this practice.
During the committee hearing, Crane asked Lora Ries, Director, Border Security and Immigration Center for The Heritage Foundation, to “briefly explain what liberal states stand to gain from mass illegal immigration and unchecked parole.”
Ries answered, “Part of it is headcount.”
She explained, “They’re (illegal immigrants) counted in the census even though non-citizens can’t vote and are not supposed to vote. And then those numbers are used for redistricting in Congress and then in turn those same numbers are also used for the presidential electoral college votes.”
Crane followed up, “Would you agree ma’am that redistricting is a major political outcome for Democrats welcoming migrant caravans into their local communities?” To which Reis replied, “Yes, it gives them more headcount and therefore more districts.”
Rep. Crane then asked, “Would you agree illegal immigration for redistricting is not what the founders intended under Article 1, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution regarding congressional redistricting?” Reis agreed.
The congressman then played a twenty-second clip of New York Democrat and former Homeland Security Committee member, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, who said, “I’m from Brooklyn, New York. We have a diaspora that can absorb (laughs) a significant number of these migrants and I… that, you know… When I hear colleagues talk about uh, you know, the doors of the inn being closed… um ‘no room in the inn.’ I’m saying you know I… I need more people in my district but just for redistricting purposes and those members could clearly fit here.”
Crane noted, “That was Rep. Yvette Clark, a Democrat from New York, from January 8th 2024. Her words outlined Biden’s failed plans for illegal immigration to gain political influence.”
Speaking to Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the America Immigration Council and Democrats on the Committee, Crane concluded, “I find it interesting as I sit here and listen to you blame President Trump and attack President Trump, you know, for saying to the American people that he was going to protect the American people, he was going to put them first, and he was going to implement policies to fix the mess created by the Biden administration. And I just find it rich that you’re attacking President Trump for doing exactly what the American people wanted, not the individual who caused this problem. And sadly, if you guys don’t figure this issue out, you’re going to lose the next election as well.”
Sharing a video of the moment on X, Crane added in a post, “It’s actually really bad. Dems utilized the border crisis to pad their numbers ahead of redistricting. Listen for yourself:”
It’s actually really bad.
Dems utilized the border crisis to pad their numbers ahead of redistricting.
A bill to exempt retirement savings from the state income tax is being considered by the Arizona House of Representatives.
SB 1371, sponsored by Sen. JD Mesnard (LD-13), would exempt all retirement investment savings, including 401Ks, IRAs, Roth IRAs, and pensions from state income tax for distributions made after an individual is 59 and a half years old.
As explained by the Arizona Senate Republicans in a post to X, the bill “works to reduce financial burdens on Arizonans who are over the age of 59.5 by exempting retirement income from taxation.”
ICYMI: Senator @JDMesnard advances legislation that works to reduce financial burdens on Arizonans who are over the age of 59.5 by exempting retirement income from taxation.
SB 1371 passed out of the Finance Committee yesterday with all Democrats voting no. pic.twitter.com/DZhjqYaFPj
The bill passed the Arizona Senate on March 6th along party lines.
In a press release from the Arizona Senate Republicans, Senator Mesnard stated, “Arizonans deserve to keep more of what they earn so they can plan for retirement at an appropriate age. This bill allows retirees to enjoy their responsible savings while securing a comfortable and stable life in their golden years, free from unnecessary financial burdens.”
He continued, “In a world where the cost of living continues to rise, we need to prioritize the needs of our citizens, making sure they have what they need to succeed. I remain committed to fostering a pro-growth, taxpayer-friendly environment for all Arizonans and look forward to seeing this legislation advance to the governor.”
The bill had its second reading in the Arizona House of Representatives on March 17th and is pending reports from the Rules and Appropriations committees.
