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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
artificial intelligence; statewide education program
Purpose
Establishes the Arizona Artificial Intelligence Program (Program) in the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to offer an Artificial Intelligence Education Course (AI Course) each summer to Arizona residents throughout the state. Outlines administrative requirements for the Program, including requirements on the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) to develop curriculum for the AI Course as specified. Designates this legislation as the Getting Arizona Ready for AI Act.
Background
The OEO Director's statutory duties include: 1) monitoring Arizona's tax and regulatory competitiveness by benchmarking it against competitor states and municipalities; 2) serving as Arizona's workforce planning coordinator, providing stewardship of the state's workforce data evaluation system and providing economic and demographic research and analysis; 3) developing data-informed policy and regulatory reform recommendations; and 4) providing analytical support to the Arizona Commerce Authority in its business recruitment, growth and retention strategies (A.R.S. § 41-5303).
Artificial
intelligence (AI) means a machine-based system that can, for a given set of
human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations or decisions
influencing real or virtual environments. AI systems use machine and
human-based inputs to: 1) perceive real and virtual environments; 2) abstract
such perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and 3)
use model inference to formulate options for information or action (15
U.S.C.
§ 9401).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Program within ADE.
2. Directs ADE to administer the Program and offer an AI Course each summer in various locations across Arizona that is open to any Arizona resident.
3. Requires the AI course to include:
a) a digital hygiene and civic integrity curriculum that is designed to teach students how to navigate the digital world safely and with a critical eye; and
b) an
AI for small businesses and entrepreneurship curriculum that includes
practical,
hands-on training on how to start or grow a small business.
4. Specifies that the digital hygiene and civic integrity curriculum must include instruction on:
a) the principles of digital hygiene based on the monograph Preventing the Misuse of Digital Influence: The Development of Systems for Preserving and Analyzing Potentially Harmful Online Content, and Why Such Systems are Essential for Democracy;
b) the nature of algorithmic bias and the methods technology platforms use to influence user behavior, including the search engine manipulation effect;
c) best practices for protecting personal data and limiting online tracking by third parties;
d) media literacy skills to identify misinformation and content that is generated by AI; and
e) general critical thinking skills.
5. Specifies that the AI for small business and entrepreneurship curriculum must include:
a) an overview of the AI tools that are currently available for small businesses;
b) instruction on how to use AI for marketing and customer outreach, including personalized advertising and customer relationship management;
c) instruction on how to use AI to improve operational efficiency, including automating tasks, managing inventory and analyzing sales data; and
d) an introduction to the ethical considerations of using AI in a business context.
6. Requires the OEO to:
a) develop the AI for small businesses and entrepreneurship curriculum for the Program;
b) identify qualified volunteer instructors for the Program from a diverse range of backgrounds, including successful business leaders, entrepreneurs from the technology and start-up sectors and experienced educators; and
c) identify facilities in various locations throughout Arizona that ADE may use to provide the AI Course.
7. Allows an agency, city, town, county, public university, community college, public school, private school or other governmental budget unit of Arizona to allow uncompensated use of its facilities by ADE to provide the AI Course.
8. Allows a public school, public university or a community college to award academic credit to any individual who completes the AI course.
9. Contains a statement of legislative findings and intent.
10. Contains a severability clause.
11. Designates this legislation as the Getting Arizona Ready for AI Act.
12. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
AII 2/12/26 DP 4-3-0-0
3rd Read 2/23/26 32-25-3
Prepared by Senate Research
February 27, 2026
MH/SM/ci