The Fifty-seventh Legislature’s First Regular Session is officially underway, marking the start of an essential chapter for Arizona’s legislative agenda.
On Monday afternoon, the session started with the State of the State address. Notably, all attendees remained present and engaged, with everyone facing Governor Hobbs as she outlined her vision for the year ahead.
Key topics in her address included:
- Healthcare access and affordability
- Maternal and reproductive health
- The fentanyl crisis and public health
- Addressing social determinants of health
Why it matters: These priorities underscore the pressing need to improve Arizona’s healthcare landscape and address systemic challenges impacting residents statewide.
As of midday Wednesday, 325 bills had already been filed, a number expected to rise substantially by the end of the week.
- After this week, the House will enforce its seven-bill limit per member, but for now, legislators enjoy an unrestricted range for introductions.
- The Senate, however, has a few weeks before its bill limit begins, ensuring an even busier legislative period ahead.
The House and Senate Health and Human Services committees, critical in shaping healthcare legislation, did not convene this week. Moving forward:
- The House Health and Human Services Committee will meet on Monday afternoons starting at 2 p.m.
- The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will meet on Wednesday mornings at 9 a.m.
AzHHA has identified two key offensive priorities for this session:
- Reducing the strain of wait times for interfacility transportation
- Increasing health insurer accountability
These initiatives aim to relieve the pressure on Arizona’s healthcare infrastructure and foster a more equitable healthcare environment. While some bills addressing these priorities have already been introduced, we will share a complete lineup with links to their language in next week’s update.
What’s next: Don’t forget that the weekly AzHHA member legislative updates begin this Friday afternoon.
- If you are a member and haven’t received an invitation, please contact Damien Johnson to ensure you’re included.
- Stay tuned for more updates as the session progresses, and thank you for your continued support in advocating for Arizona’s healthcare system.
