patriotic youth groups; school access.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included a broader definition of patriotic youth groups that is not supported by the official text.

Patriotic Youth Groups; School Access

This law allows public school principals to permit representatives from recognized patriotic youth groups to address students during regular hours in the first quarter of each academic year and distribute materials, while prohibiting schools from discriminating against these groups.

What This Bill Does

• Allows a principal to permit representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students about educational interests and civic involvement during regular school hours in the first quarter of an academic year.
• Requires representatives of patriotic youth groups seeking to address students at public schools to submit a verbal or written request to the principal within the first two weeks of each academic year.
• Permits principals to accept materials provided by these groups for distribution directly to students on school property, with prior approval if requested.
• Prohibits public schools from discriminating against or denying access to any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting in designated forums.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public school principals
• Representatives from recognized patriotic youth groups
• Students at public schools

Terms To Know

patriotic youth group

A group or organization that serves individuals under 21 years old, promotes patriotism and civic involvement, and is listed in specific sections of the U.S. Code.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify what happens if a principal denies access to a patriotic youth group.
• It is unclear how schools will enforce the prohibition on discrimination against these groups.

Official Summary Text

HB2312 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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ENACTED

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

ENACTED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2312/S.B. 1370

patriotic youth
groups; school access.

Purpose

Authorizes a
public school principal (principal) to allow representatives from a recognized
patriotic youth group to address students during regular school hours in the
first quarter of an academic school year. Allows a principal to accept
materials provided by the patriotic youth group for distribution to students
and prohibits a public school from discriminating against, or denying access
to, any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting.

Background

U.S. Code
designates various federally chartered corporations as Patriotic and National
Organizations, including: 1) Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America; 2) Boy Scouts
of America;

3) Boys & Girls Clubs of America; 4) Civil Air Patrol; 5) Future Farmers of
America; 6) Girls Scouts of the United States of America; 7) Little League
Baseball; 8) Marine Corps League; and 9) Naval Sea Cadet Corps (
36
U.S.C., Subtitle II, Part B
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

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

2.

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

3.

Allows a principal, after receiving a request, to provide the patriotic
youth group with verbal or written approval that includes the date and time
that the patriotic youth group's representatives may address students.

4.

Allows a principal to accept materials that a patriotic youth group or
the patriotic youth group's representatives provide for distribution to
students.

5.

Specifies that, if a principal accepts provided materials, the principal
must ensure that the materials are distributed directly to students on school
property.

6.

Specifies that a principal may request prior access to the provided
materials for approval and determine the method of distribution directly to
students.

7.

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

8.

Includes, in the prohibition on public schools, discriminating or
denying access or opportunity to patriotic youth group for reasons based on the
patriotic youth group's membership, leadership criteria or oath of allegiance
to God and country.�

9.

Defines

patriotic youth group
as any group or organization that:

a)

serves individuals who are younger than 21 years old;

b)

has an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic
involvement; and

c)

is one of the following patriotic organizations, or the state affiliate
of the patriotic organization:

i.

Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America;

ii.

Boy
Scouts of America;

iii.

Boys & Girls
Clubs of America;

iv.

Civil Air
Patrol;

v.

Future
Farmers of America;

vi.

Girl Scouts of
the United States of America;

vii.

Little League Baseball;

viii.

Marine Corps League;
or

ix.

Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

10.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

House Action
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Senate
Action

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3
rd

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rd

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(H.B. 2312 was substituted for
S.B. 1370 on 3
rd
Read)

Signed by the Governor on 3/12/26

Chapter 5

Prepared by Senate Research

March 17, 2026

MH/SM/hk

Current Bill Text

Chapter 0004 - 572R - H Ver of HB2312

House Engrossed

patriotic youth
groups; school access.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

CHAPTER 4

HOUSE BILL 2312

AN
ACT

Amending Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-120.08; relating to school access.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-120.08, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-120.08.

Patriotic youth groups; school access; discrimination prohibited;
definition

A. During the first quarter of each
academic school year, the principal of a public school may allow
representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students
, AS DETERMINED BY THE PRINCIPAL, during regular school hours about
how the patriotic youth group supports educational interests and civic
involvement. A representative of the patriotic youth group that
SEEKS to address students at a public school shall submit a verbal or
written request to the principal during the first two weeks of the academic
school year.� After receiving the request, the principal may provide the
patriotic youth group with verbal or written approval that includes the date
and time the representative of the patriotic youth group may address the
students.

B. The principal of a public school
MAY ACCEPT MATERIALS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY A PATRIOTIC YOUTH GROUP OR
ITS REPRESENTATIVES FOR DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS. iF THE PRINCIPAL
ACCEPTS MATERIALS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION, THE PRINCIPAL shall ensure that
THE materials are distributed directly to students on school
property. The principal may request prior access to the materials
for approval and may determine the method of distribution directly to students.

C. A public school may not deny equal
access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any patriotic
youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting within that designated open forum
or limited public forum, including denying such access or opportunity or
discriminating for reasons based on the patriotic youth group's membership or
leadership criteria or oath of allegiance to God and country.

D. For the purposes of this section,
"patriotic youth group" means any group or organization that
meets all of the following:

1. Serves individuals who are under
twenty-one years of age.

2. Has an educational purpose that
promotes patriotism and civic involvement.

3. Is
either:

(
a
) listed in
36 United States Code, subtitle II, part B
, chapter 301,
309, 311, 403, 709, 803, 1305, 1401 or 1541 on the effective date of this
section.

(
b
) The state
affiliate of a group or organization described in subdivision (
a
) of this paragraph.

END_STATUTE

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR MARCH 13, 2026.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE MARCH 13, 2026.