[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6322806,"mediaKeyId","2346327-a09029889f601ba4fe3512b3ccb2b0e8","parentId",2346327,"title","Committee hears debate on SB 1473, a new state student funding formula targeting high‑need districts","audioSeconds",1280,"startMs",1932000,"endMs",652000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346327-a09029889f601ba4fe3512b3ccb2b0e8&start=1932&end=652","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2346327-a09029889f601ba4fe3512b3ccb2b0e8/thumbnail_1932000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6322806/Arizona/Committee-hears-debate-on-SB-1473-a-new-state-student-funding-formula-targeting-highneed-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322806-3d2cecc566694210cc840675898adcb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146953&Signature=hrIN3o9H5XJC92fzubI6MNw1ad1a4dKYubH-2p~RyJlGv4kpMrPCxTRGiCLqrDBuNDF9R0WUN9UirDkP-Y-LQ2v1YeAK1exnrR8KgzNmcHeoiKBfuhBJwblTJHTd-5Zm5PR8u~AP5ol9ncVuY5XQh2zM7bsr96EvW64pG6oRHN7LOnFJEMNy~5Ayucv-ceNt7B~yjbd8RwKRFzgVyaw6672KmvgEnOWJG1tprOyZrcOA47lpBh33rKsEDyS8muxY3L254d8ck118ElFLpU10QysaYFdDlHLxGhJ7TJoVmvzR7MR~s-75Y5sFEz5lj2KUsXVfQwW-ZdcOa8RKX85mig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona State Legislature","date","2025-02-17T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 14-73 would create a new state student funding formula that combines a base support level with additional state assistance targeted at certain students and programs. Mason Holler, the committee's education research analyst, summarized the bill’s mechanics for the committee and said the formula: (1) adds a base support level and state additional assistance amounts; (2) sets per‑student amounts for preschool programs for children with disabilities, kindergarten through grade 8, and high school grades; (3) requires the new formula be used to determine funding for charter schools and allows eligible school districts to adopt it; and (4) recalculates Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funding at 90% of the new formula rather than using the charter formula.

Holler said the bill restricts a district that elects the new formula from receiving School Facilities Oversight Board funding except for new facilities and from using property-tax generated funding for certain purposes (bonds, overrides, transportation revenue control limit). The bill also prescribes a tax-year 2024 qualifying tax rate and directs county school superintendents on levies for districts that use the new formula.

Sponsor and staff explained a 38‑page sponsor amendment that phases in eligibility by support-level ratio thresholds (90% in FY 2026, 80% in FY 2027, 70% in FY 2028, 60% in FY 2029 and 50% in FY 2030 or later). Several district superintendents and school board members testified in support, saying the bill addresses long-standing funding inequities in rural and high-growth districts where assessed valuation does not keep pace with enrollment growth. Testimony included elected officials, the Arizona Tax Research Association and district superintendents who urged support as a measured fix for inequities they argued otherwise could invite litigation or make overrides unworkable for districts with high student growth and low assessed valuation.

After testimony the committee adopted the amendment and returned the bill with a due‑pass recommendation, 6–1 in committee roll call.

Speakers who testified included: Mason Holler (Senate research analyst), Superintendent Rickert (Pima County, stated district-specific concerns), Rusty Taylor (Naco Elementary superintendent), Clint Colvin (school board president), and Kevin McCarthy (Arizona Tax Research Association). They described local fiscal stresses: low override passage rates, high assessed-valuation to support-level ratios, and limited local taxing capacity.

What it means: If enacted, the bill would give eligible school districts a route to higher state funding targeted to their student mix, reduce ESA funding relative to the new formula (calculated at 90%), and constrain some capital funding access for districts that elect the formula. The sponsor amendment phases in eligibility and thereby narrows the immediate fiscal exposure.

Provenance (transcript evidence): committee staff summary and sponsor amendment explanation (Mason Holler); public testimony from district leaders and Kevin McCarthy; committee roll call recorded at the end of the item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","02/17/2025 - Senate Finance","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 14-73 would create a new state student funding formula intended to target state assistance to districts with high need; the committee adopted a phased eligibility amendment and recommended the bill, 6–1.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":82,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":83,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":84,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6322811,"Votes at a glance: Arizona Senate Finance Committee advances multiple bills on Feb. 14, 2025",0,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2346327-a09029889f601ba4fe3512b3ccb2b0e8&start=1932&end=1932","/articles/6322811/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-Arizona-Senate-Finance-Committee-advances-multiple-bills-on-Feb-14-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6322811-9a3a43d1abee1ffdc87792540c70807b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146953&Signature=ftLUbO19OKeKtR2oru22OhJgmpVm26d78aYYbOKB3HYrHqs-QEZuOo0wz8BJLoLJwSJE0D4ms-Z9sOeZs8s0E3xAb-1JKjBdLNTYKVuQrQ36Bv21m-tZ-s1LbB9md1sKyHybEsRs3B~SmARHWLppygx-gTK8bdNglERLkkjCELQpRpZcbAAsfb~hVhsdYhG4isFhAgXnY1TAZBEIDANfrUxgYkC~ML7VX~NJ9~Gl91rBTI7dKTsDek~0a46nGwj-dQiYFE3WSCZ-wR9RjrHmSthSK~Z5ius4yPBZaKwFGiE9SV0vCZMA04ioWAOCyBomsvYIBG0JioXRvaw0kHZ8TQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arizona Senate Finance Committee took recorded committee votes on more than a dozen bills during its Feb. 14, 2025 hearing, returning most measures with a \"due pass\" recommendation to the full Senate. Key measures advanced included changes to school funding, property-tax treatment for religious housing, tax exemptions for aviation and clean-room facilities, pension and retirement tweaks, and several public-safety and workforce items.

The committee used roll-call votes for each measure. Several of the committee's recommendations were narrow: some measures passed by single‑digit margins, and others were returned as amended following stakeholder negotiations during the hearing. The committee recorded votes both for amendments and for final committee action on each bill.

The committee chair and vice chair repeatedly used the committee's rules to hold bills for a later floor vote or to adopt sponsor amendments. Multiple measures drew public testimony from agency staff, local officials and industry representatives before the committee voted.

Votes recorded in committee (motion, outcome and committee tally as recorded in the hearing transcript):

- Senate Bill 14-73 (state student funding formula): Passed, committee vote 6–1.
- Senate Bill 12-98 (property-tax exemption for religious-related housing and activities, as amended): Passed, committee vote 5–1 (due pass recommendation as amended).
- Senate Bill 15-51 (workers’ compensation fees schedule; dependent allowance increase): Passed, committee vote 6–1.
- Senate Bill 10-85 (expand aviation TPT deduction/exemption to general aviation repair/maintenance): Passed, committee vote 6–1 (held for floor timing; amendment adopted).
- Senate Bill 11-45 (construction payments / revitalization districts — strike-everything amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 5–2 as amended.
- Senate Bill 11-56 (increase burial-expense allowance from $5,000 to $10,000, retroactive for some first‑responder spouses): Passed, committee vote 6–1.
- Senate Bill 11-57 (remove remarriage disqualification for surviving spouse workers’ comp benefits, retroactive for some first‑responders): Passed, committee vote 5–1.
- Senate Bill 12-00 (reporting for proposed health plan cost‑sharing restrictions — amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 5–2 as amended.
- Senate Bill 13-71 (income-tax subtraction for certain retirement distributions/contributions, as amended): Passed, committee vote 4–3.
- Senate Bill 14-74 (ASRS members who are elected officials: retirement timing / alternate contributions — amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 6–1 as amended.
- Senate Bill 13-73 (digital asset strategic reserve fund): Passed, committee vote 5–2.
- Senate Bill 14-07 (classify qualifying greenhouses as agricultural personal property, amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 4–3 as amended.
- Senate Bill 12-63 (withholding state shared revenue due to municipal expenditure limit issue — Walton): Passed, committee vote 6–1 as amended.
- Senate Bill 15-39 (clean-room TPT exemption expansion; strike-everything amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 5–2 as amended.
- Senate Bill 16-02 (affordable-housing tax credit / valuation clarification, amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote recorded as a narrow margin (committee minutes show the measure returned with due pass as amended).
- Senate Bill 12-87 (allow certain part-time peace officers to continue accruing PSPRS service under conditions; amendment adopted): Passed, committee vote 6–1 as amended.
- Senate Bill 15-49 (conservation easement valuation clarification, amendment adopted): Passed, committee voice/roll call recorded as favorable (unanimous in the committee roll call record shown).
- Senate Bill 15-90 (remove benefit cap for behavioral therapy for eligible persons under age 17; update autism definition): Passed, committee vote 6–1.
- Senate Bill 17-00 (limit BOE decisions so they cannot exceed the assessor’s noticed valuation): Returned with a due‑pass recommendation (narrow committee margin recorded).

Notes on procedure and next steps: Measures returned with a \"due pass\" recommendation will be scheduled for the full Senate agenda per Senate rules. Several bills were amended on the floor of committee; sponsors and stakeholders indicated they would continue negotiations to refine language before floor debate. A number of items were explicitly held for later floor votes or for additional stakeholder work, per committee announcements.

The committee transcript and roll-call entries are the official record of committee action; interested readers should consult the Arizona Senate daily minutes and the bill pages for final motions, amendment language and fiscal-note details.","The Senate Finance Committee recorded final committee recommendations on more than a dozen bills on Feb. 14, 2025, sending a mix of measures to the full Senate for further consideration. Several bills passed on party-line or narrow margins; others moved with bipartisan support.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears debate on SB 1473, a new state student funding formula targeting high‑need districts

Votes at a glance: Arizona Senate Finance Committee advances multiple bills on Feb. 14, 2025