Update on AZ Bills LAMA Tracked

While we wait for the Arizona Legislature to complete the budget and confirm appropriations, we thought you might like to see what happened to all the bills LAMA has been monitoring this session. The 57th Arizona Legislature (2025–2026) is currently in its second regular session, which convened on January 12, 2026. Following a 2025 session marked by a bipartisan budget, the 2026 session focuses on affordability, tax conformity, and healthcare, with Governor Hobbs proposing middle-class tax cuts. All legislative seats are up for reelection this year.

Hunger

HB2579 — appropriation; free school meals; ADE
Passed House 2/23

Rep. Nancy Gutierrez. HB2579 makes the Reduced Price co-pays for school meals (70 cents a day for breakfast and lunch) an ongoing appropriation of $1.6 million, which means funding for a portion of school meals gets incorporated into the state’s budget each year. This is a BIG DEAL and has taken years of work by many partners to get to this point! 

Why support: Free school meals ensure children are fed, able to learn, and treated with dignity. No child should face hunger or stigma at school. This bill advances the common good and reflects our call to care for the vulnerable.

HB2683 — SNAP; temporary funding; federal government
House Health & Human Services passed with amendment (11 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0) 02/09/26

Rep. Alma Hernandez. Establishes an Emergency Food Assistance Fund administered by the Department of Economic Security (DES) to temporarily support the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) when the federal government is shut down or otherwise unable to provide funding. Authorizes DES to use fund monies to provide temporary food vouchers or assistance to ineligible households and to award grants to food banks, food pantries, and community-based hunger relief organizations. Appropriates $5 million from the state general fund in FY2026-27 to the Fund.

Why support: Temporary SNAP funding protects families from disruption during federal uncertainty. Food assistance must remain reliable. Lutheran values call us to safeguard access to nutrition and prevent gaps that harm children and seniors.

SB1598 — appropriation; schools; community gardens
Passed Senate; Referred to House Education and to House Appropriations 3/11; presumed dead

Sen. Lela Alston. Appropriates $500,000 from the state general fund in FY2026-27 to the Arizona Department of Education to award grants to school districts and charter schools to build community gardens.

Why support: Community gardens in schools support nutrition, education, and community resilience. This investment addresses food access while strengthening local capacity. Lutheran faith supports solutions that nourish both people and neighborhoods.

HB2224 — produce incentive program; annual appropriation
Passed House; Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology passed (9 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0) 3/17

Rep. Quang Nguyen. Appropriates $2 million from the state general fund in FY2026-27 and each year thereafter to the Department of Economic Security to implement the Produce Incentive Program.

Why support: HB2224 strengthens food access and reduces barriers for families facing hunger. Lutheran faith calls us to stand with the poor and protect human dignity. Public policy should ensure people can meet basic needs without stigma or unnecessary obstacles.

HB2442 / SB1331 — SNAP; mandatory employment and training
Vetoed by Gov. Hobbs 2/20

Sen. John Kavanagh. Requires the Department of Economic Security to require able-bodied adults under 60 who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to participate in a mandatory employment and training program. Exempts recipients who meet federal work registration requirements, care for an incapacitated person or a child under six, are bona fide students, participate in substance abuse treatment, work at least 30 hours per week or meet specified earnings thresholds, or are certain minors.

Why oppose: Mandatory SNAP employment and training adds paperwork barriers without addressing childcare, health, or transportation. Hunger should never be used as leverage. Lutheran faith calls us to protect food access and human dignity. Mandatory SNAP E&T requirements often increase hunger through case closures, not jobs. Without addressing root barriers, this approach harms families. Lutherans oppose using food access as a compliance tool.

HB2448 / SB1334 — SNAP; work requirement waivers; exemptions
Vetoed by Gov. Hobbs 2/20

Sen. John Kavanagh. Prohibits the Department of Economic Security (DES) from seeking, applying for, accepting or renewing federal work requirement waivers for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program unless required by federal law or authorized by state law. Prohibits DES from exercising discretionary exemptions from federal work requirements unless authorized by state law. Review SNAP’s New Work Rules Are Here: What’s Changing and Who’s Impacted.

Why oppose: This bill restricts Arizona’s ability to use federal SNAP flexibility during hardship. Limiting waivers increases hunger without improving outcomes. Restricting SNAP waivers reduces flexibility during economic stress and increases food insecurity. Hunger should never be used to force compliance. Our faith urges policies that protect life and dignity and rejects policies that punish poverty instead of meeting basic needs.

HB2797 / SB1002 — SNAP; TANF; public welfare; verification
Vetoed by Gov. Hobbs 2/20

Sen. John Kavanagh. Requires the Department of Economic Security (DES) to verify eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by cross-referencing state and federal data sources on a monthly or quarterly basis, including lottery or gambling winnings, employment status, incarceration, and residency. Directs DES to publicly post aggregate data on SNAP fraud investigations and recoveries. Requires the Department of Health Services to participate in eligibility reviews using federal data. Mandates DES investigation of SNAP recipients who make excessive out-of-state purchases and remove recipients found not to reside in Arizona.

Why oppose: Expanded verification increases administrative burden and wrongful loss of benefits for eligible families. Assistance should be accessible, not policed. Lutheran social teaching prioritizes dignity and meeting human needs over surveillance. SB1002 mirrors harmful verification expansions that create fear, delays, and benefit loss. Public assistance should stabilize families, not create new barriers. Our faith calls for compassion and justice in policy.

HB2206 / SB1333 — SNAP; error rate; forensic audit
Vetoed by Gov. Hobbs 2/20

Rep. Nick Kupper. Requires the Department of Economic Security (DES) to reduce the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rate to not more than 3 percent by December 30, 2030. Requires DES, beginning in FY2027-28 and each year thereafter, to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing progress, strategies, and barriers to reducing the payment error rate. Requires DES, if interim or final targets are not met, to submit a corrective action plan, pay 50 percent of any federal liabilities resulting from excess error rates, implement corrective actions under Auditor General oversight, and accept a 10 percent reduction in administrative funding for noncompliance. Requires the Auditor General to complete a forensic audit by December 30, 2031, and requires DES to implement audit recommendations within 12 months unless waived by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. Repeals these requirements on January 1, 2033.

Why oppose: Punitive audits and error penalties risk discouraging benefit access and delaying aid. Feeding people should be the priority. Lutheran values call for accountability that does not undermine hunger relief.

Healthcare

SB1372 — Medicaid Dental Study Committee / Now nurse anesthetist; insurance; reimbursement rates

Strike-Everything Amendment placed on House Committee of the Whole (COW) Calendar 4/07

Striker: Prohibits hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health care services organizations and disability insurers from reimbursing certified registered nurse anesthetists at a rate different from physicians for the same services in contracts or policies issued, amended or renewed on or after the effective date of this legislation. Allows insurers to establish variable reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures and exempts certified registered nurse anesthetists employed by private equity-owned practices.

SB1169 — Graduate Medical Education

Passed Senate; House First Reading 3/24; Referred to Referred to House Health & Human Services; presumed dead

Sen. Carine Werner. Expands access to behavioral and mental health services. Affirms that mental health is essential to whole-person care.

Why it matters: This bill protects equitable access to essential health services and strengthens the public systems that serve Arizona families. Health care should uphold dignity and reduce barriers, ensuring timely, compassionate care for those with limited resources.

HB2051 — Breastfeeding & Lactation Coverage

Passed House; Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology passed with amendment (9 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0) 3/24; presumed dead

Rep. Lisa Fink. Strengthens stability and continuity in health coverage. Ensures fewer Arizonans fall through administrative gaps.

Why it matters: Healthy beginnings require communal support. Families should not be left to navigate early care alone. This legislation provides practical, evidence-based support for parents and infants; Reduces health disparities in postpartum care; Embodies health as a shared endeavor, not an individual burden.

HB2958 — Dental Care for Pregnant Members

Passed House Health & Human Services 2/09; presumed dead

Rep. Consuelo Hernandez. Improves accountability and patient protections within the health system.

Promotes fairness and transparency.

Why it matters: Caring for pregnant people protects two lives at once and strengthens families and communities for the long term. This bill improves maternal and infant health outcomes and reduces preventable complications.

HB2177 — American Indian Waivers

Passed House COW 2/18; Passed Senate Third Reading (28 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 0)4/07

Rep. Julie Willoughby. Protects economically and medically vulnerable Arizonans. Addresses gaps that disproportionately harm low-income families.

Why it matters: This bill strengthens access to essential health services and reduces unnecessary barriers for those relying on public coverage. Policies should expand timely, equitable care—not delay or deny it.

Bill of concern & why we oppose it:

HCR2056 — “Right to Refuse” Constitutional Amendment

Passed House; Passed Senate Government (4 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0) 3/25

Rep. Nick Kupper. Would amend the Arizona Constitution to prohibit vaccine or treatment requirements across nearly all settings.

We oppose this proposed constitutional amendment because it would weaken proven public health protections and limit the state’s ability to safeguard vulnerable communities. Policies must balance individual rights with care for neighbors and the common good.

Voting

SB1568 — early ballots; registration signatures; curing
Passed Senate; Placed on House Caucus Calendar 3/24/26

Sponsor, Sen. Jake Hoffman. Allows mailing/verification of early ballots only if voter registration has a handwritten signature from the past 5 years; expands signature-cure notifications by requiring daily lists of voters with signature issues to be shared on request.

SB1569 — special election boards; voter registration
Placed On Senate Third Reading Calendar - 03/04/2026; presumed dead.

Sponsor, Sen. Jake Hoffman. Prohibits members of special election boards from collecting, processing, or otherwise facilitating voter registration while acting for or on behalf of the county recorder or other election officer.

SB1746 — elections; voting centers; polling places
Passed Senate; First House Reading 03/16/26; Referred to House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections; presumed dead

Sponsor, Sen. Jake Hoffman. Allows countywide voting centers; requires school districts to close schools on primary/general election days for paid in-service; requires public offices (incl. schools with gyms) to provide space for polling places when requested.

HCR2051 — ballot measures; circulators; revenue disclosure
Passed House; Senate Judiciary and Elections passed (4 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0) 03/25/26

Sponsor, Rep. Michael Carbone. Amendment: paid petition circulators must disclose name/state/paid status and wear a badge; signatures without disclosures are void; extends circulator rules to local measures; fiscal measures must name a revenue source in the petition summary.

HB4067 — voter registration status; inactive
Passed House; Placed On Senate Caucus Calendar 03/24/26

Sponsor, Rep. John Gillette. Requires counties to list inactive voters in pollbooks/rosters and let them vote upon affirming residence; adds standardized registration-status labels with explanations; reactivates inactive voters who vote after the election.

HCR2001 — citizenship; identification; election administration
Passed House; Senate Judiciary and Elections passed with amendment (4 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0) 03/18/26

Sponsor, Rep. Alexander Kolodin. Constitutional amendment: limits voting to U.S. citizens; bans foreign-funded election spending; requires government ID to vote; ends early voting 7 p.m. the Friday before Election Day; mail ballots only by request with proof of citizenship.

SB1038 — cast vote record; public record
Passed Senate; Placed On House Caucus Calendar 03/10/26; presumed dead.

Sponsor, Sen. Mark Finchem. Requires county recorder to publish, within 1 hour after polls close, each voter’s name, voter ID number, and party registration, and release cast vote records in a sortable format as public records.

SCR1001 — citizenship; identification; election administration
Passed Senate; House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections passed with amendment (4 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0) 03/18/26

Sponsor, Sen. Shawnna Bolick. Amendment: limits voting to U.S. citizens; bans foreign contributions; requires government ID to vote; ends early voting 7 p.m. Friday before Election Day; mail ballots only by request with proof of citizenship; on 2026 ballot if passed.

SB1470 — voter registration changes; text notices
Senate Judiciary and Election held 02/19/26; presumed dead

Sponsor, Sen. John Kavanagh. Requires county recorder to alert voters of changes to early voting list status, party preference, or address within 24 hours by text/email for subscribers, or by written notice within 10 days for non-subscribers.

SB1503 — public pensions; proxy voting first responders; state death benefit
Strike-Everything Amendment Adopted by House Committee on Appropriations on 04/01/26

Striker. Sponsor, Sen. David Gowan. Expands the definition of “first responder” for state death benefits to include pilots employed by law enforcement agencies. Applies retroactively to January 1, 2026. Because this statute is voter protected, this bill requires a 3/4 vote of the members of each house of the Legislature to pass. Emergency clause.

SB1634 — early voters; signature comparison; MVD
Passed Senate; House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections failed on reconsideration (1 - 6 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0) 03/25/26

Sponsor, Sen. John Kavanagh. Requires the Arizona Department of Transportation, when transmitting voter registration information for a driver license applicant, to submit to the county recorder a copy of the applicant’s handwritten signature for use in signature comparison.

Housing

HB2804 — rural affordable housing; tax credits
Passed House; Ready for Senate 02/23/26; presumed dead

Rep. Teresa Martinez. Establishes rural development and housing tax credits against insurance premium and individual and corporate income taxes for qualified low-income housing projects located in counties with populations under 800,000.

Why it matters: HB2804 addresses housing supply and affordability pressures that are contributing to record eviction rates, rising homelessness, and severe cost burdens across our state.