The Arizona House and Senate Appropriation committees gave bills on appropriations for K-12 and higher education initial approval during their Tuesday meetings. On the higher education side, the three public universities — Arizona State Universities, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona — are expected to receive more than $746 million in one-time and ongoing funding from the state's general fund. This includes $500,000 to establish an Agricultural Workforce Development Program. The University of Arizona’s Health Sciences Center is also getting about $77 million. But Democratic Rep. Dr. Randy Friese had concerns with language in a higher education budget bill that would prohibit universities from requiring students, staff, faculty get a COVID-19 vaccine.