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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
House: APPROP DP 15-1-2-0 | Third Read 45-12-3-0-0
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HB 4161: higher education; 2026-2027
Sponsor: Representative Livingston, LD 28
Signed by the Governor
Overview
Contains provisions relating to higher education needed to implement the FY 2027 budget.
History
The Arizona Legislature adopts a budget for each fiscal year (FY) that contains general appropriations. Article IV, Section 20, Part 2 of the Constitution of Arizona requires the General Appropriations Act (feed bill) to contain only appropriations for the different state departments, state institutions, public schools and interest on public debt. Statutory changes necessary to reconcile the appropriations made in the feed bill and other changes are drafted into separate budget bills. These bills are prepared according to subject area.
Provisions
Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) (Permanent Law)
1. Allows ABOR to retain monies from the public universities to supplement its operating budget. (Sec. 1)
2. Limits the total amount of monies that ABOR retains from the public universities at $5,000,000 in any fiscal year, except as expressly authorized by the Legislature. (Sec. 1)
Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Program (Veterinary Loan Program) (Permanent Law)
3. Adds that a person must satisfactorily pass the licensing examination required for a veterinary license issued by the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board to apply to ABOR to participate in the Veterinary Loan Program. (Sec. 2)
4. Deletes the requirement for ABOR to determine, at the conclusion of a veterinarian's four-year commitment, whether the veterinarian satisfied the terms of the Veterinary Loan Program agreement. (Sec. 2)
5. Requires ABOR to award a veterinarian an amount as prescribed if ABOR determines the veterinarian is an eligible applicant and the veterinarian signs a Veterinary Loan Program agreement. (Sec. 2)
6. Instructs ABOR to award to a veterinarian from the Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Fund an amount equal to the lesser of the amount of the veterinarian's outstanding veterinary college educational loan balance or $200,000, rather than $100,000. (Sec. 2)
7. Directs ABOR to distribute to a veterinarian, after each year that the veterinarian works in Arizona pursuant to a Veterinary Loan Program agreement, 1/4 of the total amount ABOR has awarded to the veterinarian. (Sec. 2)
Miscellaneous
8. As session law for FY 2027, continues to allow each dollar raised by the surcharge on student registration fees assessed pursuant to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust Fund to be matched by less than $2 appropriated by the Legislature. (Sec. 3)
9. As session law for FY 2027, continues to declare the following for community college districts are as specified in the General Appropriations Act:
a. state aid for science, technology, engineering and mathematics and workforce programs; and
b. operating state aid. (Sec. 4, 5)
10. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1, 2)
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14. Initials CH HB 4161
15. 6/19/2026 Page 0 Signed by the Governor
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