Legislative Update
It was a busy week especially in the House with the various bills that were advocating for and against (mostly for). Here’s a run down on this week’s action and a forecast for next week.
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Bills that have passed one chamber and received a do pass committee recommendation in the sister chamber:
HB 2125 Child Care Subsidies (Udall) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed House 46-13. Passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee 7-0-1. Rules Committee Next.
HB 2488 Veteran Suicide Annual Report (Lawrence) AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed House 60-0. Passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee 7-0-1. Rules Committee Next.
SB 1165 Texting and Driving Prohibition (Brophy McGee) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed Senate 20-10. Passed the House Transportation Committee 5-1-1. Rules Committee Next.
SB 1088 Dental Care During Pregnancy (Carter) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed the Senate 27-3. Passed the House Health & Human Services Committee 8-1. House Appropriations Committee Next.
SB 1211 Intermediate Care Facilities (Carter) AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed the Senate 30-0. Passed the House Health & Human Services Committee 9-0.
SB 1089Telemedicine Insurance Coverage (Carter) – AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed Senate 30-0. Passed the House Health & Human Services Committee 9-0.
SB 1174 Tribal Area Health Education Center – AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed Senate 30-0. Passed the Senate Education Committee 13-0. Rules Committee Next.
SB 1085 Association Health Plans- AzPHA Position- Opposed
Passed the Senate 24-6. Passed the House Health and Human Services Committee 6-2-1. Rules Committee Next.
SB 1109 Short Term Limited Health Plans- extension – AzPHA Position: Opposed
This bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the Governor. It authorizes the sale of short- term limited health plans in Arizona for terms up to 3 years. The previous limit was 1 year. These plans don’t cover pre-existing conditions and have limited consumer protection because they aren’t required to cover the essential health services under the ACA and can drop enrollees. We urged a not vote because of the poor consumer protections.
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On this Week’s Agenda:
SB 1040 Maternal Mortality Report (Brophy-McGee) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed the Senate 30-0. Bill will be heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday at 9am in HHR4.
SB 1247 Residential Care Institutions (Brophy McGee) AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed the Senate 30-0. Bill will be heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday at 9am in HHR4.
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Bills that passed one chamber and have been assigned to a committee but have not yet been put on an agenda yet include:
SB 1355 Native American Dental Care – AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed Senate 25-5. Assigned to House Health & Human Services Committee.
SB 1456 Vision Screening- AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed Senate 29-0. Assigned to Senate Education Committee.
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Several other bills have passed one chamber but have not yet been assigned to a committee in the alternate chamber include:
SB 1354 Graduate Medical Information & Student Loan Repayment (Carter) AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed Senate 28-2. Not assigned to a House Committee yet.
SB 1245 Vital Records- Death Certificates (Brophy McGee) AzPHA Position: Yes
Passed the Senate 30-0. Assigned to House Health and Human Services Committee.
SB 1009 Electronic Cigarettes, Tobacco Sales (Carter) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed the Senate 30-0. Not assigned to a House Committee yet.
SB 1060 (Strike-all Amendment) Electronic Cigarettes. Smoke Free Arizona Act (Carter) – AzPHA Position: YES
Passed the Senate 28-0. Not assigned to a House Committee yet.
