appropriation; public schools; trees

SB1408 - appropriation; public schools; trees

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Denise “Mitzi” Epstein, Eva Diaz, Rosanna Gabaldón, Sally Ann Gonzales, Lauren Kuby, Catherine Miranda, Analise Ortiz, Mariana Sandoval
Last action: 2026-01-27
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact reporting requirements and consequences of non-compliance, if any, are not specified in the bill.

Money for Trees in Public Schools

This bill gives $400,000 to plant trees at public schools where many students get free or reduced-price lunches.

What This Bill Does

Gives the Department of Education $400,000 from state money for fiscal year 2026-2027.
The money is used to help public schools plant low-biogenic volatile organic compound-emitting trees on their campuses.
Schools must apply first-come, first-served until December 31, 2026, and only those with at least 75% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches can get the money before then.
After December 31, 2026, any leftover money goes to other public schools on a first-come, first-served basis.
Schools that receive money may be required to report how they use it.

Who It Names or Affects

Public schools in Arizona
Students at these schools who get free or reduced-price lunches

Terms To Know

Department of Education (ADE): The state agency that oversees public education.
Low-biogenic volatile organic compound-emitting trees: Trees that do not release harmful chemicals into the air.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how many schools will be able to use this money.
The bill does not specify if reports are mandatory or optional for schools receiving funds.

Bill History

2026-01-27 Senate
Senate second read
2026-01-26 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-01-26 Senate
Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: None
2026-01-26 Senate
Senate Education: None
2026-01-26 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1408 - appropriation; public schools; trees

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored 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.