public schools; civics instruction requirement

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What Changed

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• Mar 31, 2026
  DP

  Houseinformal-passage
• Jun 10, 2026
  Transmit to Senate

  House
• Jun 10, 2026
  PASSED

  Housepassagereading-3
• Jun 11, 2026
  Transmit to Governor

  Office of the Governorexecutive-receipt
• Jun 18, 2026
  Vetoed by Governor

  Office of the Governorexecutive-veto

Roll-Call Votes

• do pass

  committee-passagefail

  Senate · Feb 25, 2026

  0 yes0 no0 other0 absent0 excused0 not voting

• Passed

  passagepass

  Senate · Feb 25, 2026

  16 yes12 no0 other0 absent0 excused2 not voting

• do pass

  committee-passagefail

  House · Mar 31, 2026

  0 yes0 no0 other0 absent0 excused0 not voting

• Passed

  passagepass

  House · Jun 10, 2026

  31 yes23 no0 other0 absent0 excused6 not voting

Documents

• HOUSE SUMMARY: 03/06/2026 Education

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• HOUSE SUMMARY: 03/12/2026 Caucus & COW

  HTML →

• HOUSE SUMMARY: 04/01/2026 House Engrossed

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• SENATE FACT SHEET: 02/16/2026 ED

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Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 7, article 1, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-710.03, to read:
15-710.03. Celebrate freedom week; instruction requirements;
policies and rules; definition
A. EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL OBSERVE CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK, DURING
WHICH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SHALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IN EACH SOCIAL
STUDIES COURSE:
1. FOR EACH OF GRADES ONE THROUGH TWELVE, INSTRUCTION ON THE
ORIGINAL INTENT, MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUNDING
DOCUMENTS AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF EACH DOCUMENT:
(a) THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
(b) THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, INCLUDING THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
2. FOR EACH OF GRADES ONE THROUGH TWELVE, INSTRUCTION ON THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE IDEAS THAT ARE EXPRESSED IN THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE AND EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES:
(a) THE RICH DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AS A NATION OF
IMMIGRANTS.
(b) THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
(c) THE CREATION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.
(d) THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT, INCLUDING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT AND THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND THE
WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT.
3. FOR EACH OF GRADES THREE THROUGH TWELVE, A RECITATION BY
STUDENTS OF THE PASSAGE OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THAT IS
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 15-203, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 26. A STUDENT IS NOT
REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RECITATION REQUIRED BY THIS PARAGRAPH IF
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING APPLIES:
(a) THE STUDENT'S PARENT REQUESTS IN WRITING THAT THE STUDENT BE
EXCUSED.
(b) THE SCHOOL DETERMINES THAT THE STUDENT HAS A CONSCIENTIOUS
OBJECTION TO THE RECITATION.
(c) THE STUDENT'S PARENT IS A REPRESENTATIVE OF A FOREIGN
GOVERNMENT TO WHOM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT EXTENDS DIPLOMATIC
IMMUNITY.
B. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION:
1. MAY ADOPT RULES AND POLICIES TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.
2. SHALL ENSURE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS DO NOT CENSOR THE FOUNDING
DOCUMENTS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPH 1 OF THIS SECTION TO
EXCLUDE RELIGIOUS REFERENCES.
C. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "CELEBRATE FREEDOM WEEK" MEANS
EITHER:
1. THE INSTRUCTIONAL WEEK THAT INCLUDES SEPTEMBER 17.
2. AN INSTRUCTIONAL WEEK DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL.
Sec. 2. Short title
Section 15-710.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act,
may be cited as the "Return to Civics Instruction Act".