appropriation; public schools; trees

Plain English Breakdown

The official source confirms all specific dollar amounts, dates, eligibility percentages, and reporting requirements found in the candidate explanation.

Funding for Public School Tree Planting

This bill gives $400,000 from the state budget to public schools so they can plant specific types of trees on their campuses.

What This Bill Does

• Sets aside $400,000 for the Department of Education in fiscal year 2026-2027.
• Requires funds to be used only for planting low-biogenic volatile organic compound-emitting trees that fit each school's climate.
• Prioritizes schools where at least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches until December 31, 2026.
• Allows any remaining money after the deadline to go to other public schools on a first-come basis.
• Lets the Department ask receiving schools to report how they spent the money.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public schools in Arizona that apply for and receive funding.
• The Arizona Department of Education, which manages and distributes the funds.
• Nonprofit organizations that may partner with schools to plant trees.

Terms To Know

Appropriation

An official act by the government setting aside money for a specific purpose.

Low-biogenic volatile organic compound-emitting trees

Trees that release very little natural gas or vapor into the air, which helps keep outdoor air quality better.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not state when it officially becomes law.
• It is unclear how many schools will apply for the money before December 31, 2026.
• The text does not specify exactly what details must be included in the school reports.

Official Summary Text

SB1408 - appropriation; public schools; trees

Current Bill Text

SB1408 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; public schools; trees

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1408

Introduced by

Senators
Epstein: Diaz, Gabald�n, Gonzales, Kuby, Miranda, Ortiz;� Representative
Sandoval

AN
ACT

appropriating monies 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.
Appropriation;
department of education; schools; trees; report; exemption

A. The sum of $400,000 is
appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the
department of education to distribute to public schools to plant low-biogenic
volatile organic compound-emitting trees on school campuses that are
appropriate to each school's respective climate.

B. Until December 31, 2026,
the department shall distribute the monies appropriated pursuant to this
section on a first-come, first-served basis only to public schools in
this state at which seventy-five percent or more of the students are eligible
for free or reduced-price lunches under the national school lunch and
child nutrition acts (42 United States Code sections 1751 through 1793).� If
any monies remain undistributed from and after December 31, 2026, the
department shall distribute the remaining monies on a first-come, first-served
basis to public schools in this state.

C. The department may
require each public school that receives monies pursuant to this section to
issue a report regarding the school's use of monies received.� A public school
that receives monies pursuant to this section may partner with nonprofit
organizations to plant the trees on the school's campus.

D. The appropriation made
in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section
35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.