Arizona Republican lawmakers criticized after latest session fails to amend ESA voucher program

Arizona lawmakers adjourned their 2026 session without addressing the plagued private school voucher program in the way many hoped, and they received backlash because of it.

The session in the state house finished around 4:30 a.m. Saturday following a night of “last-minute dealmaking” on a number of November-ballot issues, according to The Arizona Republic’s Ray Stern and Stacey Barchenger.

House Republicans made a deal with the state’s largest teachers’ union hours before the session, proposing some changes to the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program. However, not a single Democrat voted in approval and two Republicans (Senate President Warren Petersen and Sen. Jake Hoffman) joined them.

Marisol Garcia, president of the Arizona Education Association, was critical of the lack of progress in safeguarding ESA from rampant fraud, waste and abuse.

“For the last four years, hard-working families have footed the bill for a fraud-ridden voucher program while public schools close and educators flee the classroom,” Garcia wrote in a statement. “Instead of investing in the 90% of Arizona children who attend public school, this year’s cowardly crop of Republican leaders attacked union educators, demonized vulnerable students and made a mockery of their own public service.”

Stern and Barchenger added that a GOP measure originally proposed on Friday — the state cannot take voucher money from children in military families — will now be on the November ballot and “would kill a potential initiative that adds tough restrictions on the (ESA) program.”

Prop 123 another contentious part of final 2026 session

Proposition 123, which was passed in 2016 and provides funding for the state’s K-12 public schools, went unrenewed during the latest legislative session.

Garcia was equally critical of Arizona Republicans not renewing this constitutional amendment, as it generates about $300 million annually for the public educational system.

Gov. Katie Hobbs and Republican lawmakers announced a deal for the state’s budget this coming fiscal year, and Prop 123 was a hinge point. It wasn’t included in the $18.29 billion deal, but Hobbs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce & Gaydos Friday other provisions were made.

“Prop 123 was critical. It is unfortunately a place where we weren’t able to overcome the partisan divide and the Republicans were more focused on their partisan agenda here. But what this budget does is make sure that those schools that relied on that funding are not going to see a shortfall,” Hobbs said. “It keeps them whole. And it adds funding for lower income schools. It continues the free school lunches, so kids have the nutrition they need to be able to learn and it invests a good amount of funds into school facilities.

“These were all important priorities. I’m not giving up on 123.”

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