Arizona Disability Bill Tracker (2026)
HB2064 - Vulnerable pedestrians, Blackman, W. 2026-01-21 / Introduced To House Rules Committee
Causing physical injury to a vulnerable pedestrian while driving would be a class 1 misdemeanor with fines and other consequences.
Causing death or serious injury to a vulnerable pedestrian would be a class 4 felony with harsher penalties.
The bill would also require driver education materials to include information about vulnerable pedestrians.
Establish a “Save Our Children School Safety Program” to strengthen school safety through training, medical preparedness, and crisis-response capabilities.
It would set up a fund to reimburse schools and employees for eligible safety training/certification costs and allow schools to adopt policies authorizing certain trained employees to carry concealed firearms on campus if criteria are met.
Would prohibit governmental entities from requiring masks or face coverings on their premises, with limited exceptions for longstanding workplace safety measures.
Would prohibit government entities from requiring any resident to receive a vaccination for COVID-19 or its variants.
Would also prohibit businesses from requiring a person to wear a mask or receive a vaccination to enter or be employed, with limited workplace safety exceptions.
Would amend how Arizona determines eligibility for certain property tax exemptions for individuals with disabilities. Specifically, it expands the types of documentation accepted to prove total and permanent disability for property tax exemption purposes — for example by allowing written disability determinations from the U.S. Social Security Administration in addition to the current criteria.
Enhances penalties or establishing new sentencing provisions when offenses are motivated by hostility toward a victim’s identity group.
Requires health insurance plans in Arizona (health care services organizations) to provide full coverage for hearing aids and related services for enrollees under 18, or under 21 if still in high school, including fitting, dispensing, ear molds, and related services.
Would allocate $300,000 from the state general fund to the Arizona Department of Corrections to support and expand the state’s braille transcription program.
Creates an alternative trade-oriented diploma track in Arizona high schools, allowing students to earn a diploma focused on career and technical education rather than the current standard academic requirements.
Would revise Arizona election law to require that polling places provide accessible voting devices for voters with disabilities and ensure those devices are properly programmed so all ballot styles are available at every accessible machine in the jurisdiction.
Expands how and when actions involving alleged elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation must be reported to the Attorney General.
Directs the Attorney General to maintain a registry listing the person facing allegations, basic case information, and outcomes, with guidelines for updating or removing entries.
Would amend portions of the state’s AZ 529 education savings program, adjusting statutory provisions that govern the tax-advantaged savings accounts families use to save for qualified education expenses.
Would add a new statute that increases prison sentences and restricts release options for people convicted of certain felony offenses when the victim is a vulnerable adult, and prohibits suspension of sentence, probation, or pardon until the term is served or certain conditions are met.
HB2611 - Group homes; safety; training; rights, Blackman, W. 2026-02-11 / WITHDRAWN
Would amend Arizona statutes related to child welfare, updating rules about group homes, safety protocols, training requirements, and rights for children in foster care and related settings.
HB2621 - Public schools; special education; access, Gress, M. 2026-02-12 / Introduced To House Education Committee; hearing will be held on February 17th @ 2pm MST located in HHR1
Addresses how children with disabilities who live in unorganized territories (areas without an organized school district) receive child find screenings, special education evaluations, and access to a free appropriate public education under IDEA when parents seek services from an adjoining school district. It also includes provisions on transitioning early intervention services to school-age services and establishes related complaint investigation and reporting requirements.
Would create a voluntary blue envelope program to help improve communication between law enforcement and individuals with an autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops or other law enforcement interactions.
Would establish a temporary Technology Study Committee tasked with studying issues related to assistive technology (including “Technology First” initiatives), analyzing emerging technologies, identifying potential improvements, and making recommendations on how best to serve Arizonans who use assistive technologies.
Would add a new chapter in Arizona law establishing standards for the care of nonverbal patients and patients with special needs in licensed health care facilities (such as hospitals and urgent care centers). It would require things like enhanced diagnostic evaluation practices, appropriate communication and pain assessment tools, training for staff on caring for nonverbal/special-needs patients, and provision of patient advocates or social work services to support communication and care. It also requires documentation practices and annual reporting on compliance to the Department of Health Services.
Would authorize a state funding appropriation specifically for the Arizona State Hospital.
Would remove the scheduled repeal date for the existing Developmental Disabilities Group Home Monitoring Program and make the program ongoing rather than expiring. Under current law, the program was scheduled to sunset after operating as a pilot. SB 1179 would also remove the requirement that the program be subject to available appropriations.
Would amend Arizona statutes governing court-ordered mental health treatment — including provisions about when a court can order continued treatment, roles and rights of guardians or authorized representatives, and how individuals are notified and released from such orders.
Would amend Arizona statute section 15-235 to update how the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) handles parent complaints related to special education. It is intended to revise complaint procedures or requirements for processing and responding to complaints from parents about special education services or practices.