Kinship Caregiver Support, Child Care Grants, and more
Friday, March 27th is the last day for most bills to be heard in committee this legislative session. Children’s Action Alliance has three priority bills that are important to strengthening children and families in Arizona. Additionally, there are two bills that bring concerns to the health of children and youth, and we urge you to weigh in and share your feedback with legislators.
Legislation That Needs Your Voice Now
CAA Supports These Bills – Share Your Voice
SB1602: Kinship foster care stipend; increase Sponsor: Sen. Lela Alston (D, LD5)
Committee: House Health and Human Services, Monday, March 23rd at 9 AM
Summary: Increases the monthly stipend for kinship caregivers to at least $400 in 2027, $500 in 2028, and $600 in 2029 for each child they are caring for.
Support: Kinship care is proven to be one of the most stable, supportive, and effective placements to live and grow for children who cannot remain with their parents. Increasing the support for kinship foster care parents is crucial to allow more families to meet the needs of children in their care. This helps to keep children out of congregate care and in family settings, which often leads to better outcomes.
HB2041: Child neglect; financial resources; exception Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Fink (R, LD27)
Committee: Senate Federalism and Family Law, Monday, March 23rd at 1:30 PM
Summary: Prohibits considering a parent, guardian or custodian to have abused or neglected a child solely because a lack of financial resources prevents the caregiver from providing supervision, food, clothing, shelter or medical care due only to.
Support: If a family is experiencing financial crisis or daily struggles to make ends meet, they are still capable of caring for their children with the right support. When a child is safe in their home, distinguishing poverty from neglect, as HB2041 does, can help prevent unnecessary family separations based solely on an inability to afford basic necessities.
HB2239: Child care; grant; program; fund Sponsor: Rep. Walt Blackman (R, LD7)
Committee: Senate Federalism and Family Law, Monday, March 23rd at 1:30 PM
Summary: Establishes a Child Care Grant Program to award infrastructure grants to expand early learning and child care services in underserved, low-income, rural, and tribal communities for care of infants, toddlers, children with disabilities, and during nonstandard work hours.
Support: Arizona currently faces a significant child care gap- the difference between the number of licensed child care slots available and the number of children under age five whose parents are working. In many rural communities, this gap exceeds 60%, meaning the majority of working families simply do not have access to reliable child care regardless of their ability to pay. This bill is a significant step in closing the gap by providing start-up and infrastructure funding for opening or expanding child care facilities.
Sign Into RTS to Support and Make Your Voice Heard
CAA Opposes These Bills – Share Your Voice
HCR2056: Medical mandates; right to refuse Sponsor: Rep. Nick Kupper (R, LD25)
Committee: Senate Government,
Wednesday, March 25th at 7 AM
Summary: Proposes a ballot measure to create an individual state constitutional right to refuse medical mandates (including vaccines), even eroding the ability of employers to protect their workplaces as they deem necessary and schools from protecting the health of children. HCR2056 also prohibits government entities from mandating, requiring, coercing or compelling any individual to accept, receive or administer a medical product or treatment.
Oppose: This resolution creates broad public health concerns. It would prohibit public schools from requiring vaccines and from protecting unvaccinated and immune compromised children. Unlike regular proposed bills, this resolution cannot be vetoed by the Governor as it goes directly to the 2026 Arizona ballot, if passed by the Legislature.
HB2093: Mental health instruction requirement; repeal Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Fink (R, LD27)
Committee: Senate Education, Wednesday, March 25th at 1:30 PM
Summary: Repeals a bipartisan law from 2021 that required mental health education as part of school health education. Amended to take effect in 2036.
Oppose: Even though it was amended to have a delayed repeal, this bill continues to devalue the importance of youth mental health as a critical part of a student’s overall health and wellbeing. As youth mental health challenges impact children in all zip codes, promoting student mental health and well-being is important supporting youth overall and their classroom behavior, school engagement, and peer relationships.
