SB1825 Summary

• Establishes the Agricultural Workforce Development Program through the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension to provide reimbursement incentives for food-producing agricultural organizations that hire apprentices, with preference for historically underserved farmers and ranchers.

• Creates the Arizona Promise Program to provide financial assistance to eligible Arizona high school graduates with a 2.5+ GPA pursuing baccalaureate degrees at Arizona Board of Regents universities, covering tuition and fees after other aid is applied.

• Prohibits Arizona Board of Regents universities and community colleges from requiring COVID-19 vaccination, proof of vaccination, testing, or face coverings for student attendance, except for clinical settings at health care institutions and with departmental approval during significant outbreaks.

• Authorizes universities to provide pro bono legal assistance to small landowners in water rights adjudication proceedings through cooperative extension programs until the evidentiary hearing stage.

• Establishes a Return to Work Program providing community college scholarship reimbursement for workers who received unemployment benefits as of May 15, 2021, maintaining employment of at least 20 hours per week while enrolled for up to two years.