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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
school districts; elections; term limits
Purpose
Prescribes term limits for the office of school district governing board (governing board) member for school districts with a student count of at least 250.
Background
A regular governing board election is held at the time and place, and in the manner, of general elections. The term of office for each governing board member is four years. A person is eligible for election to the office of governing board member if the person: 1) is registered to vote in Arizona; 2) has been a resident of the school district for at least one year immediately preceding the day of election; and 3) is not subject to registration as a sex offender in Arizona or in any other jurisdiction (A.R.S. §§ 15-421 and 15-424).
A county school superintendent must appoint a governing board member to fill a vacancy, or, if deemed the best interest of the community, call a special election to fill the vacancy. Within 30 days after the notification of a vacancy, a governing board may submit up to three names to the county school superintendent for consideration of an appointment, but the county school superintendent is not required to appoint a governing board member from the list of submitted names. The term of a governing board member who is appointed or elected through a special election is until the next regular governing board election (A.R.S. § 15-302).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Deems a person ineligible to be a candidate for nomination or election to the office of governing board member for a school district that has a student count of at least 250 if:
a) the person will have served at least two consecutive four-year terms of office as a governing board member for the school district on the first day of the term of office for which the person seeks election;
b) both completed terms of office began after November 2026; and
c) fewer than four years have passed since the last day of the person's most recent term of office as a governing board member for the school district.
2. Determines that a person who is ineligible to be a candidate for a nomination or election to the office of governing board member due to the prescribed term limit is eligible for appointment to fill a vacancy on the governing board as statutorily prescribed.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Clarifies that the prescribed term limits only apply to a person who will have served at least two consecutive four-year terms of office that both began after November 2026.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/3/26 DP 6-5-0-1 ED 3/11/26 DPA 4-3-0
3rd Read 2/24/26 33-23-4
Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2026
MH/KP/hk