HB 2257 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

DCS; vaccinations; child placement

HB 2257 prohibits Arizona's Department of Child Safety (DCS) from refusing to place a child in a licensed foster home solely based on the child's or other children's vaccination status. It amends foster care placement rules to ensure vaccination records cannot be used as a barrier to placement, directly affecting foster parents, children, and DCS. The bill also includes standard provisions for medical information disclosure, placement preferences (prioritizing kinship care), and requirements for age-appropriate abuse education for children over eight. The bill passed the Arizona legislature on April 15, 2025, but was vetoed by the Governor on April 18, 2025, so it did not become law.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Vetoed

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Vetoed Apr 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Apr 15, 2025

MODERATE

This bill amends Arizona's child welfare laws to prohibit foster care agencies from refusing placement based solely on vaccination status. It also establishes new requirements for kinship foster care services, including financial benefits and support for relatives caring for children removed from their homes.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of Arizona Revised Statutes sections 8-514 and 8-514.03 to include explicit protections against vaccine-based placement denials and adds comprehensive provisions for kinship foster care programs.

REQUIREMENT

Added a prohibition preventing the Department of Child Safety from refusing to place a child in a licensed foster home based solely on the vaccination status of the child or other children in the home.

Added a similar prohibition preventing denial of placement for kinship foster care parents based solely on vaccination status when the home is qualified for placement.

Added requirements for the department to provide nonfinancial services to kinship families including case management, parenting training, transportation, and respite services.

ELIGIBILITY

Established new kinship foster care services requiring the department to promote placement with relatives or persons with significant relationships to the child.

FISCAL

Created eligibility for kinship foster care parents to receive full foster care benefits, temporary cash assistance, and supplemental financial support.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title and formatting from introduced version to house engrossed version with updated reference information.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 18, 2025

Vetoed

Vetoed by Governor

executive

Apr 15, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor