ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House: ED DP 6-5-0-1

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

HB 2312: patriotic youth groups; school access.

Sponsor: Representative Rivero, LD 27

House Engrossed

Overview

Permits a public school principal to allow a patriotic youth group representative to address students during regular school hours. Details request procedures and material distribution requirements.

History

Federal law defines a youth group as a group or organization intended to serve young people under the age of 21. A public school, local educational agency or state educational agency that receives funds through the U.S. Department of Education and that has a designated open or limited public forum may not deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other youth group listed in federal law as a patriotic society that wishes to conduct a meeting within the forum (20 U.S.C. § 7905).

Organizations that are patriotic societies include Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Civil Air Patrol, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts of America, Little League Baseball, Marine Corps League and Naval Sea Cadet Corps (36 U.S.C. Subtitle II, Part B).

Provisions

1.   Authorizes a public school principal to allow, during regular school hours of the first quarter of each academic school year and as determined by the principal, representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students about how the group supports educational interests and civic involvement.

2.   Requires a patriotic youth group representative who seeks to address public school students to submit a verbal or written request to the principal during the first two weeks of the academic school year.

3.   Allows a public school principal, after receiving the request, to provide the patriotic youth group with verbal or written approval that includes the date and time the representative may address students.

4.   Permits a public school principal to accept materials provided by a patriotic youth group or its representatives for distribution to students.

5.   Requires a public school principal who accepts materials from a patriotic youth group to ensure that the materials are distributed directly to students on school property.

6.   Authorizes a public school principal to request prior access to the materials for approval and to determine the method of distribution directly to students.

7.   Prohibits a public school from denying equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminating against, any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting within a designated open or limited public forum.

8.   Defines patriotic youth group.

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12.  Initials CH                       HB 2312

13.  2/24/2026  Page 0 House Engrossed

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