Assigned to ED AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2724
patriotic youth groups; school access
Purpose
Authorizes a public school principal (principal) to allow representatives from a recognized
patriotic youth group to address students during regular school hours in the first quarter of an
academic school year. Allows a principal to accept materials provided by the patriotic youth group
for distribution to students and prohibits a public school from discriminating against, or denying
access to, any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting.
Background
U.S. Code designates various federally chartered corporations as Patriotic and National
Organizations, including: 1) Big Brothers—Big Sisters of America; 2) Boy Scouts of America;
3) Boys & Girls Clubs of America; 4) Civil Air Patrol; 5) Future Farmers of America; 6) Girls
Scouts of the United States of America; 7) Little League Baseball; 8) Marine Corps League; and
9) Naval Sea Cadet Corps (36 U.S.C., Subtitle II, Part B).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Authorizes, in the first quarter of each academic school year, a principal to allow
representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students during regular school hours
about how the patriotic youth group supports educational interests and civic involvement, as
determined by the principal.
2. Requires a representative of the patriotic youth group that seeks to address students at a public
school to submit a verbal or written request to the principal during the first two weeks of an
academic school year.
3. Allows a principal, after receiving a request, to provide the patriotic youth group with verbal
or written approval that includes the date and time that the patriotic youth group's
representatives may address students.
4. Allows a principal to accept materials that a patriotic youth group or the patriotic youth group's
representatives provide for distribution to students.
5. Specifies that, if a principal accepts provided materials, the principal must ensure that the
materials are distributed directly to students on school property. FACT SHEET – Amended
H.B. 2724
Page 2
6. Specifies that a principal may request prior access to the provided materials for approval and
determine the method of distribution directly to students.
7. Prohibits a public school from discriminating against or denying equal access or a fair
opportunity to meet to any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting within a
designated open forum or limited public forum.
8. Includes, in the prohibition on public schools, discriminating or denying access or opportunity
to patriotic youth group for reasons based on the patriotic youth group's membership,
leadership criteria or oath of allegiance to God and country.
9. Defines patriotic youth group as any group or organization that:
a) serves individuals who are younger than 21 years old;
b) has an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic involvement; and
c) is one of the following patriotic organizations, or the state affiliate of the patriotic
organization:
i. Big Brothers—Big Sisters of America;
ii. Boy Scouts of America;
iii. Boys & Girls Clubs of America;
iv. Civil Air Patrol;
v. Future Farmers of America;
vi. Girl Scouts of the United States of America;
vii. Little League Baseball;
viii. Marine Corps League; or
ix. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
10. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes the specification that a principal must distribute provided materials throughout the
school year.
2. Redefines patriotic youth group to include that the group or organization must serve
individuals who are under 21 years old, have an educational purpose as specified and be an
outlined patriotic organization, or the state affiliate of an outlined patriotic organization.
House Action Senate Action
ED 2/11/25 DP 8-4-0-0 ED 3/6/25 DPA 6-0-1
3
rd
Read 2/25/25 60-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 27, 2025
MH/SDR/ci