Arizona teachers could face a $5,000 penalty if they allow classroom discussions on controversial topics such as racism or fail to give equal weight to divisive topics, under provisions of a last-minute amendment that flew through the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The changes to Senate Bill 1532 are intended to ensure students aren't taught that their race, ethnicity or sex determines their character, Rep. Michelle Udall R-Mesa, said of the amendment she introduced.

But Democrats denounced it as an overreach into the classroom and said it was a thinly veiled attempt to stir up public discord about critical race theory and further deepen partisan divides in Arizona.