HB 2629
Initials JL/MB Page 1 Transmitted
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: JUD DP 6-3-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 33-26-0-0-1
Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 16-13-1-0-0
HB 2629: schools; instruction; victims of communism
Sponsor: Representative Toma, LD 27
Transmitted to the Governor
Overview
Establishes November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day and requires the State
Board of Education (SBE) to create a list of recommended resources for mandatory
instruction on the topic in certain public school courses.
History
Current statute establishes certain days as non-legal holidays, including Sandra Day
O'Connor Civics Celebration Day (A.R.S. § 1-319) and 9/11 Education Day (A.R.S. § 1-321).
On each of these days, public schools in Arizona are required to dedicate a certain portion of
the school day to education on prescribed subjects (A.R.S. §§ 15-710.01, 15-710.02). Moreover,
SBE is required to develop a list of recommended resources for civics education on each of
these subjects and establish a process for public schools to recommend additional resources
(A.R.S. § 15-203).
Provisions
1. Establishes November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day (a non-legal holiday).
(Sec. 1)
2. Mandates that Victims of Communism Day will be observed by schools the preceding or
following day if it falls on a day when school is not in session. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires SBE to develop a list of recommended resources for instruction about the history
of communist regimes that align with academic standards prescribed in A.R.S § 15-
701.01, and to establish a process for public schools to recommend additional resources.
(Sec. 2)
4. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, mandates that any American government course
required for graduation from high school include at least 45 minutes of instruction about
the history of communist regimes around the world, which may include:
a) Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution;
b) Joseph Stalin and the Soviet system;
c) Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution;
d) Vladimir Lenin and the Russian Revolution;
e) Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge;
f) Nicolas Maduro and the Chavismo movement. (Sec. 3)
5. Makes a technical change. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note