Healthcare

passed · Arizona · House Jun 10, 2026

HB 2251: midwives; medication administration; advisory committee

This bill expands the scope of practice for licensed midwives in Arizona by allowing them to administer specific medications related to pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care, provided they complete a required pharmacology course (8+ continuing education units). It details permitted medications (such as antibiotics for infections, antivirals for herpes, antifungals, and medications for postpartum hemorrhage) with strict conditions, including documentation, storage rules, and prohibitions on using certain drugs to induce labor. The bill also establishes an Arizona Midwifery Advisory Committee, composed of midwives, physicians, and consumers, to assist the health department with licensing and disciplinary matters. These changes directly affect licensed midwives and their patients, aiming to improve access to certain medical treatments during childbirth while maintaining safety standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands midwife scope to administer essential pregnancy/postpartum medications, improving maternal healthcare access and provider capabilities per bill details.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1240: probation success incentive payments; calculation

SB 1240 creates payments to Arizona counties based on reducing probation failures compared to historical rates. Counties earn funds equal to 50% of prison cost savings per probationer kept out of prison (excluding those convicted of dangerous crimes against children), while the state allocates 25% of savings for statewide recidivism programs. Funds must be used for evidence-based services like drug treatment, job training, and probation officer training - not to replace existing budgets. The state calculates annual probation success rates using 2007-2019 data to determine payments and requires reporting on program effectiveness.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds evidence-based rehab services (drug treatment, job training) to reduce recidivism and prison costs, directly advancing criminal justice reform through probation success incentives.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds drug treatment (mental health service) as evidence-based probation program component, advancing healthcare access within recidivism reduction.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Probation & Parole

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 1244: court-ordered treatment; continuation

Arizona Senate Bill 1244 amends mental health statutes to streamline court-ordered treatment continuity for individuals with serious mental health conditions. It requires mental health agencies to conduct annual reviews 90 days before treatment expiration to assess whether continued court-ordered treatment is appropriate (Section 36-543). The bill creates a new "conversion" process (Section 36-543.01) allowing patients to transition to ongoing court-ordered treatment without a full new petition, while strengthening notification requirements for guardians and patients about treatment renewals or discharges (Sections 36-504.01, 36-542). These changes directly affect patients under court-ordered mental health treatment, their guardians, and mental health treatment agencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStreamlines court-ordered mental health treatment continuity, reducing gaps that could lead to recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines mental health treatment continuity, prevents care gaps for serious conditions, and supports patient access to ongoing court-ordered care through annual reviews and conversion process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

Track

vetoed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1476: child neglect; prenatal substance exposure

SB 1476 modifies Arizona law to address child neglect cases involving prenatal substance exposure. It creates an affirmative defense for mothers who completed alcohol or drug treatment during pregnancy, preventing them from being charged with child neglect for that specific conduct. The bill specifies that child neglect related to untreated prenatal substance use remains a class 6 felony, but the defense applies if treatment was completed. This directly affects mothers facing neglect charges due to substance use during pregnancy who have accessed treatment services. The policy change shifts legal consequences for a defined subset of cases without altering general neglect definitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates affirmative defense for mothers completing treatment, reducing criminal charges for prenatal substance use and prioritizing rehabilitation over prosecution, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates legal incentive for prenatal substance treatment by removing neglect charges for mothers who completed care, encouraging healthcare access without restricting services.85% confidence

Track

passed · Arizona · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2833: mandatory reporting; violent threats; minors

HB 2833 requires certain professionals - including doctors, teachers, social workers, and child welfare staff - to report suspected abuse, violent threats, or neglect involving minors to child safety authorities or law enforcement. It expands mandatory reporting to cover threats of death or serious injury, physical injury not explained by medical history, and denial of necessary medical care, while exempting clergy from reporting confessions (but not personal observations of harm). Reports must be made immediately with details like the minor’s identity and incident specifics, and the law includes limited exemptions for consensual minor-on-minor interactions and accidental playground injuries. This bill directly affects minors at risk of harm and the professionals legally obligated to report such incidents.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reporting of denied medical care for minors, directly protecting access to healthcare services and preventing neglect of necessary treatment.85% confidence

Tags Children

Track

vetoed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1124: health boards; evaluations; notice

SB 1124 requires Arizona state health profession regulatory boards to provide health professionals with a 14-day written notice before voting to mandate a psychological, psychiatric, or physical evaluation. The notice must summarize the complaint or action prompting the evaluation, and the health professional can submit written responses or request a hearing to present their case. If the board proceeds with the evaluation and later takes no disciplinary or non-disciplinary action, the board must reimburse the health professional for the evaluation costs. This bill directly affects health professionals facing potential evaluation requirements and ensures procedural fairness before such actions are taken.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires 14-day notice and hearing rights for health professionals facing evaluations, protecting their due process rights within healthcare regulatory framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 1347: health insurance; fertility preservation; coverage

SB 1347 requires Arizona health insurance providers (including hospital service corporations, health care organizations, and disability insurers) to cover fertility preservation services for cancer patients of reproductive age whose medically necessary treatment may cause infertility, effective January 1, 2027. Insurers cannot require preauthorization for these services and must apply standard deductibles, copayments, and coverage limits. Religious employers may request exemptions if coverage conflicts with their beliefs, but must provide written notice to subscribers. The law does not prevent individuals from purchasing supplemental insurance for these services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for fertility preservation in cancer treatment, expanding patient access without preauthorization or excessive cost-sharing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 1122: AHCCCS; prior authorization; behavioral health

SB 1122 prohibits the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) from requiring prior authorization for behavioral health services for members enrolled in the American Indian Health Plan (AIHP) starting January 1, 2027. The exception allows prior authorization only if AHCCCS implements a corrective action plan after meeting with a provider and the provider fails to comply within 90 days. This law directly affects AIHP members and behavioral health providers by reducing administrative barriers to accessing mental health and substance use disorder care. The bill aims to streamline service access without altering coverage or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior authorization barriers for AIHP behavioral health services, improving patient access to mental health care without administrative delays.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2440: prisoners; transition program

HB 2440 establishes a 90-day community transition program for eligible Arizona inmates, requiring the Department of Corrections to partner with private or nonprofit entities to provide services like job placement, substance abuse treatment, and family reunification counseling. To qualify, inmates must meet specific criteria (e.g., no recent violent convictions or felony detainers) and agree to provide information for a department report, while victims must receive notice before release. The bill mandates annual reporting on recidivism rates, program participation, and service types, with special provisions allowing eligibility for some inmates convicted of certain drug offenses. It also allows a one-time 90-day extension for inmates needing additional support to address specific risk factors.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes rehabilitation-focused transition program with job placement and treatment services to reduce recidivism, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncludes substance abuse treatment as required service, supporting mental health access for inmates transitioning to community85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Substance Abuse

signed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1121: radiation protection systems; medical procedures

SB 1121 requires Arizona hospitals, outpatient surgical centers, and other health care facilities performing radiation procedures to install a radiation protection system in procedure rooms before they can stop requiring staff to wear lead aprons. The system must provide protection equivalent to a 0.25 millimeter lead apron and include real-time radiation exposure monitoring for health professionals. Staff may still choose to wear lead aprons voluntarily even when the system is installed. This law directly affects medical facilities and health professionals conducting procedures like X-rays or fluoroscopy using ionizing radiation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates radiation protection systems in healthcare facilities to protect medical professionals, advancing safety standards for healthcare workers during radiation procedures.95% confidence