This week at the Arizona Legislature featuring marathon committees and meaningful progress.
Registration opening for the 2026 AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference.
Being the voice for Arizona hospitals.
This week at the Arizona Legislature: Marathon committees and meaningful progress
The Arizona Legislature is in full sprint mode as we approach the deadline for bills to be heard in their chamber of origin.
Long days and packed agendas are the norm this week, and our team has been present every step of the way to keep hospital priorities front and center.
Session by the numbers:
Session days: 39
Bills posted: 1,966
Bills passed: 4
Bills vetoed: 2
Bills signed: 2
House Health and Human Services Committee: The committee convened Monday morning at 9 a.m., recessed for a floor session and returned in the afternoon, ultimately wrapping up around 7:30 p.m. Over the course of the day, members worked through an ambitious agenda of 23 bills.
AzHHA was actively engaged throughout the hearing.
One of our priority measures, HB2182, was heard and passed unanimously.
The bill strengthens insurer transparency by requiring annual reporting of claims and prior-authorization denial rates to the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
It also requires disclosure of the top denial categories, providing Arizona-specific, plan-level data that is currently unavailable in a meaningful way at the state level.
While much of this information is already reported federally in aggregate, HB2182 ensures transparency specific to Arizona-regulated plans.
The unanimous vote reflects strong bipartisan recognition of the need for clearer data and accountability in the system.
The House Health and Human Services Committee will meet again Thursday morning, with an agenda focused largely on regulatory issues and the re-adoption of state health boards. Our team will attend to monitor developments and engage as needed.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee: At the time of this update, the Senate committee has not yet met. Like the House, it is facing a marathon agenda of more than 20 bills.
Another AzHHA priority, SB1628, the mirror bill to HB2182, will be heard. Our team is prepared to deliver concise, focused testimony within the anticipated 60-second limit, addressing concerns raised earlier in the week and reinforcing the importance of plan-specific transparency.
The committee is also scheduled to reconvene on Thursday morning. We will continue our active presence to ensure hospital perspectives are clearly represented.
Members are encouraged to join us for our Friday AzHHA member call, where we will provide a full update on how the week concluded and what lies ahead.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback. We appreciate your continued engagement and partnership as we advance the interests of Arizona’s hospitals and health systems at the Capitol.
This year’s AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference will be held June 9-10 at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
This year’s theme is “Many voices, one mission: Advancing healthcare preparedness together.”
Why it matters: This year’s one-and-a-half-day conference features sessions shaped by member feedback and brings together experts across healthcare, public health and emergency management.
Topics include workplace violence, behavioral threat assessment, regulatory updates, lessons learned and coordinated response.
Day two offers in-depth workplace violence and active-shooter preparedness training, including targeted instruction and hands-on exercise development to strengthen prevention, response and recovery in healthcare settings.
The AzHHA Political Action Committee (PAC)aims to ensure that hospitals have a strong and coordinated presence in the policy decisions shaping our industry.
Why it matters: AzHHA PAC funding is essential to help us support those who align with our purpose and promote initiatives beneficial to healthcare in Arizona.
How your support drives impact
Protect access: Your support helps protect vital services in rural and underserved areas where stability is most fragile.
Shape policy: It provides hospitals with a unified voice in discussions that impact everything from payment models to emergency preparedness, licensure and oversight.
Strengthen communities: Hospitals play a crucial role in supporting Arizona's families, economy and workforce. A strong advocacy effort is essential to continue meeting the state’s needs.
The bottom line: Your contribution fuels the advocacy that keeps Arizona’s healthcare system strong and responsive.
Every dollar counts towards advancing health and healthcare in Arizona.
There are two ways to contribute:
A monthly contribution which provides consistent support throughout the year.
A one-time donation that allows you to give annually or make a single contribution.
Why it matters: It spotlights the urgent need for attainable housing for healthcare workers.
The big picture: As housing costs rise faster than wages, many employees cannot afford to live near where they work.
The white paper examines why healthcare systems in high-cost and fast-growing markets are increasingly treating attainable housing as a strategic lever.
It also outlines how health systems are partnering with experienced housing developers to address workforce housing needs without distracting leadership teams from their core mission.
Member spotlight: Cochise County hospital leadership meet with Governor Hobbs
On Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, Scott Avery, CEO of Canyon Vista Medical Center, hosted Governor Katie Hobbs.
Governor Hobbs toured the Canyon Vista Medical Center Labor & Delivery Unit, Acute Rehabilitation Unit and Emergency Department.
Following the tours, there was a roundtable discussion with hospital leadership from across Cochise County, including Bob Clegg, rural executive director of quality of TMC Health, Julia Strange, vice president of external affairs and brand of TMC Health, Robert Seamon, CEO of Copper Queen Community Hospital, and Canyon Vista Medical Center leadership.
Why it matters: The meeting discussed current challenges facing rural hospitals and healthcare delivery in the region, including Medicaid cuts, Rural Health Transformation Program funding, contract staffing pressures and service line expansion efforts (urology, OB/GYN, pulmonology and ENT).
The meeting also highlighted collaboration across Cochise County and collective efforts to build capability to keep care local.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, May 1, 2026 - From Crisis to Care: Improving Outcomes in Arizona’s Behavioral Health System The Arizona Public Health Association’s 98th Annual Conference will focus on strengthening Arizona’s behavioral health system and improving outcomes for people with mental and behavioral health needs. This year’s conference will highlight innovative strategies, evidence-based practices and policy approaches that move the system beyond crisis response and toward sustainable, person-centered care. Learn more and register.
June 9-10, 2026 - 2026 AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference This year’s theme is “Many voices, one mission: Advancing healthcare preparedness together.” This year’s one-and-a-half-day conference features sessions shaped by member feedback and brings together experts across healthcare, public health and emergency management. Register now.
Save the Date: 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference Mark your calendar for the AzHHA Foundation’s 2026 Arizona Hospital Leadership Conference, taking place Oct. 21–23 at the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort. This annual gathering brings together hospital and healthcare leaders from across the state for engaging discussions, networking and forward‑focused learning. Additional details, registration information and sponsorship opportunities will be shared in the coming months. Questions may be directed to communications@azhha.org.
