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HB2409 - 572R - H Ver
House Engrossed
artificial
intelligence; statewide education program
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HOUSE BILL 2409
AN
ACT
amending title 15, chapter 2, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-249.20; relating to the
department of education.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-249.20, to read:
START_STATUTE
15-249.20.
Arizona artificial intelligence education program; curriculum;
academic credit
A. The Arizona Artificial
Intelligence Education Program is established within the Department of
Education. The department shall administer the program and offer an
artificial intelligence education course each summer in various locations
throughout this state.� The course that is offered pursuant to this subsection
is open to any resident of this state and must include at least the following:
1. 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.� The 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 used by technology platforms 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 artificial
intelligence.
(
e
) General
critical thinking skills.
2. An artificial Intelligence for
Small Business and Entrepreneurship curriculum that includes practical,
hands-on training on how to start or grow a small business.� The curriculum
must include:
(
a
) An overview
of the Artificial Intelligence tools that are currently available for small
businesses.
(
b
) Instruction
on how to use Artificial Intelligence for marketing and customer outreach,
including personalized advertising and customer relationship management.
(
c
) Instruction
on how to use Artificial Intelligence to improve operational efficiency,
including automating tasks, managing inventory and analyzing sales data.
(
d
) An
introduction to the ethical considerations of using Artificial Intelligence in
a business context.
B. The office of economic opportunity
shall:
1. Develop the curriculum required by
subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section.
2. 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.
3. Identify facilities in various
locations throughout this state that the department may use to provide the
course that is offered pursuant to subsection A of this section.
C. A state agency, city, town,
county, university, community college, public school, private school or other
governmental budget unit of this state may allow uncompensated use of the
agency's, city's, town's, county's, university's, community college's, public
school's, private school's or budget unit's facilities by the department of
education to provide the course that is offered pursuant to subsection A of
this section.
D. A public school, a university
under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college
as defined in section 15-1401 may award academic credit to any individual
who completes the course that is offered pursuant to subsection A of this
section.
END_STATUTE
Sec. 2.
Legislative findings and intent
A. The legislature finds
that:
1. The rapid advancement of
artificial intelligence presents both unprecedented opportunities for economic
growth and significant challenges to individual liberty and the integrity of
our democratic processes.
2. Large technology
platforms use sophisticated tools that are driven by artificial intelligence
and that can shape the information environment and influence public opinion, a
phenomenon documented by nonpartisan researchers.
3. Providing Arizona
citizens with the knowledge to recognize and resist digital manipulation is
essential to preserving a free and fair society.
4. Equipping Arizona's
small business owners with the skills to use artificial intelligence will
foster innovation, create jobs and ensure the long-term prosperity of our
state.
B. The legislature intends
to establish a voluntary, statewide summer education program to empower all
residents of this state with the principles of digital hygiene and the
practical skills to use artificial intelligence for economic success.
Sec. 3.
Severability
If a provision of this act or its
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does
not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of
this act are severable.
Sec. 4.
Short title
This act may be cited as the
"Getting Arizona Ready for AI Act".