A short week with slow movement at the Arizona Legislature.
The AzHHA Quality Awards.
Registration for the 2026 AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference.
Short week, slow movement
The Arizona Legislature was in session for only part of the week and is now off until Monday.
As these breaks become more frequent, they may signal that budget conversations are taking shape, but nothing definitive yet.
Session hits triple digits: A quick look at where things stand:
Days of session: 102
Bills posted: 1,966
Bills passed: 109
Bills vetoed: 45
Bills signed: 64
There’s still no clear end in sight.
The next real marker is the start of Arizona’s fiscal year in July. In the meantime, bills will continue to move slowly, with final votes largely on hold under the Governor’s moratorium.
If you have questions, the policy and advocacy team is available — reach out anytime.
Looking ahead: Election season is closer than it feels; yes, it’s only April, but the calendar moves fast. Here are the key dates:
Primary Election – July 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026: Military and overseas ballots mailed
Monday, June 22, 2026: Voter registration deadline
Wednesday, June 24, 2026: Early voting begins
Friday, July 10, 2026: Last day to request a replacement ballot by mail
Tuesday, July 14, 2026: Last day to mail back your ballot
Tuesday, July 21, 2026: Election Day
General Election – November 2026
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026: Military and overseas ballots mailed
Monday, Oct. 5, 2026: Voter registration deadline
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026: Early voting begins
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026: Last day to request a replacement ballot by mail
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026: Last day to mail back your ballot
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Election Day
🏆Your name here ________
The Fourth Annual AzHHA Quality Awards are open for submissions from outstanding applicants from member hospitals and health systems wanting to highlight a recent project, within the last 12 months, in:
Outstanding Patient/Community Impact
Workforce Engagement
A Top Overall Excellence Award will also be presented.
Why it matters: These awards celebrate and recognize Arizona’s leaders committed to advancing healthcare with exceptional quality performance, community engagement and a culture of continuous improvement.
The big picture: Apply by 5 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, and get ready to stand when you hear, “And the award goes to…”
This year’s AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference will be held June 9-10 at the Desert Willow Conference Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
The 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.
A recent OB emergency simulation at Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center.
OB emergency simulations conducted in hospitals across Arizona are strengthening frontline readiness to manage high-risk obstetric events, particularly in settings where specialty resources may be limited or unavailable.
Why it matters: By delivering hands-on, multidisciplinary simulation training directly within obstetric and emergency departments, this initiative enhances clinical confidence, team communication and coordinated rapid response during maternal emergencies.
Addressing critical scenarios such as postpartum hemorrhage, maternal hypertension and maternal cardiac arrest, these simulations help close gaps in emergency obstetric care, support alignment with national safety standards and promote equitable access to timely, high-quality care for pregnant and postpartum patients, including those in rural and tribal communities.
From stabilizing bill rates to evolving labor laws, the healthcare workforce continues to change — and staying ahead of the curve is more important than ever.
National and regional bill rate trends across all major clinical disciplines.
A focused workforce briefing on labor activity, policy developments, regulatory signals and rural market shifts.
Strategic context to support budgeting, sourcing and broader workforce planning decisions.
Why it matters: Whether you’re navigating contract labor challenges today or planning for tomorrow, this report provides the insights you need to make informed decisions.
Participants needed: Free testing for heavy metals in the body
The Arizona State Public Health Laboratory (ASPHL), a division of the Department of Health Services, has partnered with public health organizations in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to conduct biomonitoring projects that will take place across the four states.
Biomonitoring is a tool that can be used to see the amounts and types of chemicals that may be in your body.
Why it matters: The purpose of this project is to support local communities by improving understanding of heavy metals, how heavy metals may impact health and how to limit exposure to them.
Friday, April 24, 2026 - AzPHA Convos & Coffee: Soundbites vs. Science: Spotting Logical Fallacies in Public Health Debates Join the Arizona Public Health Association (AzPHA) for a virtual discussion with Greg Loeben, Ph.D., MPH. Learn to recognize the logical fallacies and misleading tactics behind health misinformation so you’re ready to respond when it matters most. Register here.
Monday, April 27, 2026, Wednesday, April 29, 2026 and Thursday, April 30, 2026 - Getting started with AHCCCS Solutions Center webinar The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is launching a AHCCCS Solutions Center, a new, centralized platform designed to make it easier to connect with AHCCCS and submit requests on behalf of providers. This webinar will introduce this new platform and walk participants through the initial setup process. Register for one session: Monday, April 27; Wednesday, April 29 or Thursday, April 30.
Thursday, April 30, 2026 - AzAHQ 2026 Spring Virtual Conference: Quality’s Role in Organizational Culture Join the Association for Healthcare Quality of Arizona (AzAHQ) to explore the role of quality leadership in fostering a culture of safety and quality within organizations from the boardroom to frontline employees. This conference will explore the critical interrelationship between quality and financial outcomes, distinguish between traditional, siloed quality models and a true enterprise-wide culture of quality, understand quality’s role in healthcare violence prevention and staff safety, and action plan development. Register now.
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.
Friday, May 15, 2026 - West CMS QIN-QIO Region 7 Emergency Preparedness Webinar In 2023 and 2025, the Maui, Palisades and Eaton fires forced urgent evacuations that tested emergency preparedness plans across the healthcare system and challenged hospitals, nursing homes, public health agencies and emergency responders. The Health Services Advisory Group is hosting a webinar to bring together firsthand insights on what worked, where challenges emerged and how lessons learned can strengthen emergency preparedness across all provider types. Register today.
June 9-10, 2026 - 2026 AzCHER Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Conference This year’s theme is “Many voices, one mission: Advancing healthcare preparedness together.” The 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 and registration information will be shared in the coming months. Questions may be directed to communications@azhha.org.
