Bill Comments
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Child Welfare
HB2041 – Child Neglect; Financial Resources; Exception
SB1126 – DCS Caseworkers; Schools; Required Disclosures
SB1174 – DCS; Intake Hotline; Case History
SB1602 – Kinship Foster Care Stipend; Increase
SB1603 – Temporary Assistance; Child-Only Case
SB1631 – DCS; Sexual Abuse Allegations; Interviews
Early Learning & Education
HB2093 – Mental health instruction requirement; repeal
HB2239 – Child Care; Grant Program; Fund
HB2579 – Appropriation; Free School Meals; ADE
HB2648 – Appropriations; Child Care Assistance
HB4032 – Alternative Nicotine; Vapor Products; Tax
Economic Well-Being
HB2206 & SB1333 – SNAP; Error Rate; Forensic Audit
HB2683 – SNAP; Temporary Funding; Federal Government
Health
HB2051 – AHCCCS; Lactation Care; Breastfeeding
HB2689 & SB1051 – Hospitals; Patient Immigration Status; Reporting
HB2796 & SB1236 – AHCCCS; Enrollment Verification; Presumptive Eligibility
HB2958 – AHCCCS; Dental Care; Pregnant Women
HCR2056 – Medical Mandates; Right to Refuse
SB1372 – Medicaid; Dental Benefit Study Committee (pre-striker)
SB1398 – AHCCCS; Redeterminations; Eligibility Verification; Report
Bill Notes
Child Welfare
HB2041 – Child Neglect; Financial Resources; Exception
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Fink (R, LD27)
Bill Summary: Prohibits considering a parent or caregiver to have neglected a child solely due to a lack of financial resources preventing them from providing supervision, food, clothing, shelter or medical care.
CAA Position: SUPPORT to ensure a child will not be removed from their family or caregiver due to poverty. This allows for prevention efforts by ensuring that poverty does not lead to family separation.
Final Status: Signed by Governor.
SB1126 – DCS Caseworkers; Schools; Required Disclosures
Sponsor: Sen. Carine Werner (R, LD4)
Bill Summary: Requires a school to provide DCS information on student enrollment, school transfers, and other requested information or records relating to the student.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as it provides tools for DCS to locate children to ensure their safety from neglect and abuse.
Final Status: Signed by Governor.
SB1174 – DCS; Intake Hotline; Case History
Sponsor: Sen. Carine Werner (R, LD4)
Bill Summary: Requires the DCS intake hotline to access the entire history of a child and siblings who have been the subject of prior DCS calls or investigations and to review information from calls within the previous 90 days.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as it provides additional information on the history of parents or caregivers to assist DCS in determining the need for an investigation to protect children.
Final Status: Signed by Governor.
SB1602 – Kinship Foster Care Stipend; Increase
Sponsor: Senate Minority Caucus Chair Lela Alston (D, LD5)
Bill Summary: Requires the DCS intake hotline to access the entire history of a child and siblings who have been the subject of prior DCS calls or investigations and to review information from calls within the previous 90 days.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as kinship care stabilizes children and reduces costly institutional placements. Increase in stipends aligns monthly payments with licensed foster homes and strengthens family-based options.
Final Status: Passed Senate; Passed House Health and Human Services Committee; Held in House Rules.
SB1603 – Temporary Assistance; Child-Only Case
Sponsor: Senate Minority Caucus Chair Lela Alston (D, LD5)
Bill Summary: Provide financial support for a child who is not in the foster care system but is being raised by non-parent kin.
CAA Position: SUPPORT to enhance economic support for children living with kinship caregivers, which is consistent with the goal of reducing child poverty and keeping children safely with kinship caregivers, which research shows is better for children.
Final Status: Passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee; Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
SB1631 – DCS; Sexual Abuse Allegations; Interviews
Sponsor: Sen. Carine Werner (R, LD4)
Bill Summary: Requires a trained forensic interviewer to conduct forensic interviews within 72 hours of receiving a sexual abuse allegation.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as it expedites interviews of children in sexual abuse cases, which improves child safety.
Final Status: Signed by Governor.
Early Learning & Education
HB2093 – Mental Health Instruction Requirement; Repeal
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Fink (R, LD27)
Bill Summary: Repeals the statutory requirement for public schools to provide instruction in mental health by January 1, 2037. Removes the requirement that mental health instruction include social and emotional learning.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as it repeals a bipartisan law passed in 2021 (SB1376) that CAA and partners advocated to support the requirement that school health education include mental health components. Although the bill delayed the repeal until 2037, repealing this law will remove important support for Arizona students as youth mental health challenges are rising.
Final Status: Vetoed by Governor.
HB2239 – Child Care; Grant Program; Fund
Sponsor: Rep. Walt Blackman (R, LD7)
Bill Summary: Establishes a Child Care Infrastructure Fund within DES to award grants to eligible applicants to expand early learning and child care services in rural and underserved communities.
CAA Position: SUPPORT to increase the number of quality child care and early learning facilities in rural and underserved communities by investing in child care construction and renovation projects. The creation of more child care and early learning slots in rural and underserved communities would help parents find safe, accessible child care and early learning opportunities for their children so parents can work, attend a job training program or attend school.
Final Status: Passed House; Passed Senate Federalism and Family Law Committee; Held in Senate Appropriations Committee.
HB2579 – Appropriation; Free School Meals; ADE
Sponsor: House Assistant Minority Leader Nancy Gutierrez (D, LD18)
Bill Summary: Appropriates $1.6M from the state General Fund in FY27 to provide free school lunches for eligible children.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as the appropriation is a significant step to ensure eligible children have access to nutritious meals during the school day, which support their health, academic performance, and overall well-being.
Final Status: Passed House Education Committee; Passed House Appropriations Committee; Funded in the budget.
HB2648 – Appropriations; Child Care Assistance
Sponsor: Rep. Sarah Liguori (D, LD5)
Bill Summary: Appropriates $160 million from the state General Fund in FY27 to the child care assistance program.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as it helps expand quality child care options for eligible families by making child care more affordable. Access to affordable child care helps children enter kindergarten ready to succeed and grows the economy.
Final Status: Bill did not receive a hearing.
HB4032 – Alternative Nicotine; Vapor Products; Tax
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Volk (D, LD17)
Bill Summary: Imposes a tax on nicotine and vapor products to fund Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Fund/First Things First, 9th Grade On-Track Grant Program, the Smoke-Free Arizona Fund, Out-Of-School Time Program, and Arizona Early Intervention Support Fund.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as First Things First is Arizona’s only public funding source dedicated exclusively to early childhood, and they fund quality early childhood development and health programs for children (0-5). First Things First is funded primarily through tobacco products, and declining revenue is limiting evidence-based programs and assistance to children and families.
Final Status: Bill did not receive a hearing.
Economic Well-Being
HB2206 & SB1333 – SNAP; Error Rate; Forensic Audit
Sponsor: Rep. Nick Kupper (R, LD25) & Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R, LD3)
Bill Summary: Requires DES to reduce the SNAP payment error rate to 3% or less and requires forensic audits and reporting requirements.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as it creates costly and unneeded administrative hurdles which are more stringent than the federal requirement. As a result of H.R. 1, DES has struggled with SNAP implementation, which has left 400,000 fewer Arizonans – many of whom are still eligible – without access to SNAP benefits, including almost 200,000 children.
Final Status: Vetoed by Governor.
HB2683 – SNAP; Temporary Funding; Federal Government
Sponsor: Rep. Alma Hernandez (D, LD20)
Bill Summary: Establishes an emergency fund to provide funding for SNAP during a federal government shutdown.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as it ensures people continue to receive needed SNAP benefits during federal government shutdowns as families across the state experience rising costs with housing, groceries, and more.
Final Status: Passed House Health and Human Services Committee; Held in House Appropriations Committee.
Health
HB2051 – AHCCCS; Lactation Care; Breastfeeding
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Fink (R, LD27)
Bill Summary: Adds breastfeeding and lactation care services to the list of medically necessary services that AHCCCS contractors must cover.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as research demonstrates breastfeeding improves the health of infants and provides support for postpartum mothers.
Final Status: Passed House; Passed Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency Committee; Passed Senate Appropriations Committee; Held pending Senate Rules.
HB2689 & SB1051 – Hospitals; Patient Immigration Status; Reporting
Sponsor: Sen. Wendy Rogers (R, LD7) & Rep. Ralph Heap (R, LD10)
Bill Summary: Requires hospitals to request information on citizenship status on patient admission forms, with reporting to ADHS.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as it would interfere with the hospital’s ability to provide needed health care and a risk to the health and safety of children and families due to delay in seeking timely medical attention.
Final Status: Vetoed by Governor.
HB2796 & SB1236 – AHCCCS; Enrollment Verification; Presumptive Eligibility
Sponsor: House Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R, LD25) & Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh (R, LD3)
Bill Summary: Requires expanded verification of income eligibility for enrollment in AHCCCS and eliminates hospital presumptive eligibility.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as the imposition of new, unnecessary, and burdensome income verification and enrollment requirements cause children and families to lose the health care coverage they are eligible to receive.
Final Status: Vetoed By Governor.
HB2958 – AHCCCS; Dental Care; Pregnant Women
Sponsor: Rep. Consuelo Hernandez (D, LD21)
Bill Summary: Expands AHCCCS coverage to include comprehensive dental care for pregnant women. Includes $500k GF.
CAA Position: SUPPORT as oral health problems in pregnant women can cause preterm births, low birth weights, preeclampsia, and other health concerns.
Final Status: Passed House Health and Humans Services Committee; Held in House Appropriations Committee.
HCR2056 – Medical Mandates; Right to Refuse
Sponsor: Rep. Nick Kupper (R, LD25)
Bill Summary: Proposes constitutional amendment to prohibit government mandates for medical treatment.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as it threatens public health by prohibiting school mandated vaccines, food safety inspections, and disease outbreak responses, which negatively impact the well-being of children and families.
Final Status: Passed House; Passed Senate Government Committee; Held in Senate Rules.
SB1372 – Medicaid; Dental Benefit Study Committee (pre-striker)
Sponsor: Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope (R, LD16)
Bill Summary: Expands AHCCCS coverage to include comprehensive dental care for adults, instead of only emergency dental care and extractions.
CAA Position: SUPPORT since oral health prevention and treatment reduces oral health disease, which can lead to preterm births and low birthweights.
Final Status: Amended in House to an unrelated bill. (Scores on original version in Senate only.)
SB1398 – AHCCCS; Redeterminations; Eligibility Verification; Report
Sponsor: Sen. Janae Shamp (R, LD29)
Bill Summary: Requires AHCCCS to determine the continued eligibility of adults at least once every six months.
CAA Position: OPPOSE as it increases administrative costs and risks people who are eligible for health care benefits losing their coverage due to increased administrative hurdles.
Final Status: Passed Senate; Held in House Appropriations Committee.