Panel approves state fellowship bill modeled on Utah to expand service opportunities for young adults
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Summary
HB 4106 would create a One Arizona Service Fellowship administered by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family to match fellows to priority public service roles with stipends funded by a shared state‑partner contribution. Proponents said the program would build workforce skills and civic engagement; an amendment changed stipend formulas.
The Arizona House Education Committee advanced HB 4,106, a bill to create the One Arizona Service Fellowship, a state‑run pilot modeled on Utah’s program to place young adults in public and nonprofit service roles.
Representative Marquez, the bill sponsor, said the program blends mission with financial support and prepares young people for workforce opportunities while addressing local priorities such as education, military family support, conservation and homelessness. "The intent of this bill is to create a state based service program, for Arizona by Arizona," Marquez said, referencing Utah’s experience and the governor’s office as the intended administrator.
The Gress amendment revised stipend calculations to tie the state and partner contributions to a percentage of the state minimum wage rather than a fixed $5 per hour. Speakers from the Coalition for Military Families, Arizona Serve and other service organizations testified in support, saying the fellowship can expand capacity for veterans, military spouses and community nonprofits. Thomas Winkle of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families described the fellowship as a pathway to convert military skills into civilian employment and to expand community service capacity.
Some committee members asked whether the program should be locally led and whether the state should mandate or fund it; the sponsor and supporters said the measure creates a pilot with public–private partnerships and allows the governor’s office and an administrator to match fellows to qualified partners. The committee returned HB 4,106 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation (8 ayes, 2 nos, 1 present, 1 absent).
What’s next: The bill will be scheduled for floor consideration with the stipend amendment adopted in committee and further detail on appropriations to be determined in the budget process.