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HB4040 • 2026

public schools; universities; AI policies

HB4040 - public schools; universities; AI policies

Education Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Nick Kupper
Last action
Official status
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

AI Policies for Schools and Universities

This bill requires public schools, charter schools, and universities in Arizona to create policies against unauthorized use of artificial intelligence by students, including training staff and submitting annual reports.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires school districts and charter schools to adopt policies that prevent the misuse of AI by students for coursework.
  • Schools must provide training to teachers and staff on how to detect and handle AI misuse in assignments.
  • Universities under Arizona's Board of Regents must also create similar policies against unauthorized use of AI by students.
  • Both public schools and charter schools, as well as universities, need to submit annual reports about their efforts to comply with these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public school districts, charter schools, and universities in Arizona
  • Teachers and staff at these educational institutions

Terms To Know

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
A machine-based system that can make predictions or decisions, but does not include simple tools like spell checkers.
Coursework
Assignments, exams, papers, projects, and other work submitted by students for evaluation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact penalties for violating AI policies.
  • It is unclear how much funding will be provided to support these new requirements.

Bill History

No action history is stored for this bill yet.

Official Summary Text

HB4040 - public schools; universities; AI policies

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB4040 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
public schools; universities; AI policies

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 4040

Introduced by

Representative
Kupper

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 1, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-120.08; amending title 15,
chapter 13, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1626.02;
relating to artificial intelligence.

(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.

Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence; policies and
procedures; school employee training; annual report; definitions

A. On or before July 1, 2027, each
school district governing board and charter school governing body shall adopt
policies and procedures relating to artificial intelligence that include the
following:

1. Policies and procedures that are
designed to detect and prevent the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence
by students to complete coursework, including at least one of the following:

(
a
) A system to
review assignments that are submitted by students to determine whether each
submission was generated by artificial intelligence.� A system adopted pursuant
to this subdivision must include all of the following:

(
i
) A natural
person who reviews each assignment that the system identifies as content
generated by artificial intelligence.

(
ii
) An appeals
process for any student who submits an assignment that is identified as content
generated by artificial intelligence in violation of the school district's or
charter school's policies.

(
iii
) Bias
mitigation measures that comply with antidiscrimination laws.

(
iv
) A maximum
percentage of content that may be generated by artificial intelligence, as
determined by the governing board or governing body.

(
v
) Safeguards
to protect student privacy and comply with the requirements prescribed by
chapter 1, article 4 of this title and the family educational and privacy
rights act of 1974 (20 United States Code section 1232
g
).

(
b
) Modifications
to the coursework and assignments to minimize or eliminate the unauthorized use
of artificial intelligence, including in-classroom assessments, oral
presentations, assignments that depend on personal experiences or assignments
that require collaboration among students in real time.

2. Guidelines on the authorized and
unauthorized use of artificial intelligence by students, including the
consequences for unauthorized use in violation of the school district's or
charter school's policies.

3. At the discretion of the governing
board or governing body:

(
a
) Either
uniform guidelines or guidelines for each grade level, subject area or school
site.

(
b
) Policies
and procedures relating to the use of specific technological tools and
educational practices.

B. Each school district and charter
school shall provide training to all teachers and school personnel who are
responsible for implementing the requirements prescribed by this section or
enforcing the policies adopted by the school district governing board or
charter school governing body.� The training required by this subsection must
include training on:

1. The limitations of the policies
and procedures, detection system and modifications to the coursework and
assignments prescribed by subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section.

2. Guidelines and recommendations for
responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into existing curricula.

C. On or before October 15 of each
year, each school district and charter school shall submit a report to the
department of education on the implementation of this section. The
department may issue guidance, develop resources or, if sufficient monies are
available, award grants to school districts and charter schools in response to
reports that are submitted pursuant to this subsection.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Artificial
intelligence":

(
a
) Means a
machine-based system that is able to make predictions, recommendations or
decisions.

(
b
) Includes
generative systems that produce content in response to prompts.

(
c
) Does not
include programs that check spelling or perform mathematical calculations
without generating substantive content.

2. "Coursework" means an
assignment, examination, paper, project or other work product that is submitted
by a student for evaluation or academic credit.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 13, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1626.02, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-1626.02.

Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence; policies and
procedures; faculty training; annual report; definitions

A. On or before July 1, 2027, the
Arizona board of regents shall require each university under the jurisdiction
of the Arizona board of regents to adopt policies and procedures relating to
artificial intelligence that include the following:

1. Policies and procedures that are
designed to detect and prevent the unauthorized use of artificial intelligence
by students to complete coursework, including at least one of the following:

(
a
) A system to
review assignments that are submitted by students to determine whether each
submission was generated by artificial intelligence.� A system adopted pursuant
to this subdivision must include all of the following:

(
i
) A natural
person who reviews each assignment that the system identifies as content
generated by artificial intelligence.

(
ii
) An appeals
process for any student who submits an assignment that is identified as content
generated by artificial intelligence in violation of the university's policies.

(
iii
) Bias
mitigation measures that comply with antidiscrimination laws.

(
iv
) A maximum
percentage of content that may be generated by artificial intelligence, as
determined by the university.

(
v
) Safeguards
to protect student privacy and comply with the requirements prescribed by this
title and the family educational and privacy rights act of 1974 (20 United
States Code section 1232
g
).

(
b
) Modifications
to the coursework and assignments to minimize or eliminate the unauthorized use
of artificial intelligence, including in-classroom assessments, oral
presentations, assignments that depend on personal experiences or assignments
that require collaboration among students in real time.

2. Guidelines on the authorized and
unauthorized use of artificial intelligence by students, including the
consequences for unauthorized use in violation of the university's policies.

3. At the discretion of the
university:

(
a
) Either
uniform guidelines or guidelines for each department, course or program.

(
b
) Policies
and procedures relating to the use of specific technological tools and
educational practices.

B. Each university under the
jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents shall provide training to all
faculty and university employees who are responsible for implementing the requirements
prescribed by this section or enforcing the policies adopted by the
university.� The training required by this subsection must include training on:

1. The limitations of the policies
and procedures, detection system and modifications to the coursework and
assignments prescribed by subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section.

2. Guidelines and recommendations for
responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into existing curricula and
respecting academic freedom.

C. On or before October 15 of each
year, each university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents
shall submit a report to the board on the implementation of this
section. The board may issue guidance, develop resources or, if
sufficient monies are available, award grants to universities in response to
reports that are submitted pursuant to this subsection.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Artificial
intelligence":

(
a
) Means a
machine-based system that is able to make predictions, recommendations or
decisions.

(
b
) Includes
generative systems that produce content in response to prompts.

(
c
) Does not
include programs that check spelling or perform mathematical calculations
without generating substantive content.

2. "Coursework" means an
assignment, examination, paper, project or other work product that is submitted
by a student for evaluation or academic credit.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.
Legislative findings

The legislature finds that:

1. Artificial intelligence
tools are increasingly being used by students to complete coursework and are
potentially stunting students' educational growth by serving as a crutch rather
than a supplement to learning.

2. Public schools and
universities have a responsibility to ensure that students are actively
engaging in learning and are developing critical skills.

3. Requiring policies and
procedures that make a good faith effort to detect the unauthorized use of
artificial intelligence by students to complete coursework will promote genuine
academic achievement and prepare students for real world challenges.

4. No artificial
intelligence detection system is perfect, and public schools and universities
should make efforts in good faith and include safeguards to address errors and
bias and to protect privacy interests, including human oversight, an appeals
process and compliance with laws on privacy, nondiscrimination and student
rights.