[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6077609,"mediaKeyId","2963953-59ea78f5cc9edf5f3dd3b76ef8338145","parentId",2963953,"title","Committee recommends confirmation of John F. Scott II to lead Arizona Department of Veterans Services","audioSeconds",3190,"startMs",3212000,"endMs",6402000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963953-59ea78f5cc9edf5f3dd3b76ef8338145&start=3212&end=6402","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963953-59ea78f5cc9edf5f3dd3b76ef8338145/thumbnail_3212000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077609/Arizona/Committee-recommends-confirmation-of-John-F-Scott-II-to-lead-Arizona-Department-of-Veterans-Services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077609-d8efdc9b6f88fa3ac35ef6240967ee6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770709939&Signature=bloqgQPpL5kFx8JryN6hSneEuyoSuVLOrw9cTCTnvCyWNG8f12iu1RIWv0qhMoG84VzbCMp3V935XXaadxOocMQ4kj6CIYlKgnPkbfhsIHx5QbdCkZpMJU5iw1LjrF3WytP8lO8stM5Xz1CHsg2pyJtp8Cr5WlUCvvOsJh28wMDgBefltot3mYPU7cLRuHKXfyBGkeDg7YvmKEUecM6sbUV4Xri5bXTXYiIkMDe4nO8tSlR24XuU6hoZBDaDWKC2IM4JYOYrp8r9Sp8l2RK1CTu994Z~Ui3YUKL6Cp8dYcZCXccHmbDItzygFcKnloolrWFDAKaA8gHzHh0bokTFXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Arizona Legislature","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Arizona Senate Committee on Director Nominations unanimously recommended that the full Senate confirm John Francis Scott II as director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services (ADVS) after a hearing on April 17 that included Scott’s opening statement, committee questions and multiple supportive public witnesses.

Scott outlined a decade of work with veterans’ programs in Arizona and earlier experience with U.S. Vets in California. He described operational work as ADVS deputy director and acting director, including construction and expansion of veterans cemeteries, the development of two new veterans homes, growth of veteran benefit counselors, work to reduce veteran homelessness, and management of budgets up to approximately $86.9 million.

Committee members asked Scott about priorities, hiring practices, outreach to rural veterans and use of technology. Scott said his primary near‑term goal is to increase census at the state veterans homes so they operate in the black and provide stable, five‑star care; he described workforce challenges, especially nursing shortages, as a key constraint on expanding census. Scott said ADVS has grown its veteran benefit counselor team and cited examples of retroactive benefits awarded to veterans’ families after ADVS appeals or assistance.

Scott described outreach efforts that include in‑community events and a program to deploy Starlink units to rural areas to enable veteran benefit counselors to assist claimants remotely, and said ADVS is exploring artificial intelligence tools to improve claims handling efficiency.

Public testimony was uniformly supportive. Veterans leaders and nonprofit directors—Thomas Winkle, Terry Grama (Arment), Vic Peterson, Ted Vogt and others—testified that Scott has shown consistent, hands‑on leadership and that he has strong working relationships with veteran service organizations and federal VA medical centers. Several speakers said Scott’s experience rebuilding programs for homeless veterans and expanding service capacity makes him qualified to lead ADVS.

After public testimony the committee voted to recommend confirmation. The roll call recorded five ayes, zero nays; the committee chair announced the recommendation to the full Senate.

Scott said his vision is to ensure no veteran spends a night without housing and to expand the department’s ability to address underlying causes of veteran housing instability by coordinating benefits, health care and employment services. He told the committee he considers himself a servant leader and emphasized succession planning within the department’s hiring process.

The committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full Senate for final confirmation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","04/10/2025 - Senate Director Nominations","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Director Nominations unanimously recommended John Francis Scott II for confirmation as director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services after testimony from veterans, service organizations and Scott’s opening statement.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Arizona, Arizona","taxId",78572,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6077614,"Senate committee rejects Barbara D. Richardson for Arizona insurance director after divided hearing",3055,156000,3211000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2963953-59ea78f5cc9edf5f3dd3b76ef8338145&start=156&end=3211","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2963953-59ea78f5cc9edf5f3dd3b76ef8338145/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6077614/Arizona/Senate-committee-rejects-Barbara-D-Richardson-for-Arizona-insurance-director-after-divided-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077614-7b3bfe76ef6b38d85ed7bb57bf4540ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770709939&Signature=Q3X6N-zsqNLlhJH4JUU7NH5l5~HsCPWXHOGjf0~wPoZVseYW4jjRhRLzM4UTYNnHce~KG63f2jCJwKwBWnQ8O~rC5iT5HJyaMZjoWvta-TUhpo2YbREdlZ5OMsc8a7VMIFcZ5NfFHb-ntQGVUT5yxtBukerEPIIxBqhlkXif~HCjItyK-a~rKmiU5xOEmYYjNVefpaslHPN1kraDa-68y0R5BVATnaHeoLASnDQI28Mqeq34VR~tRE7~F2eGfXY9vLiU0QaFp8QA2XmS2~m~bXIR51fiSRwKSEb-45w8Gi3-W7FJoN4IIpfKoGKIgmDCClOdAYQ-qKi3ME10w8inLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Arizona Senate Committee on Director Nominations on April 17 heard extended testimony for and against Barbara D. Richardson’s nomination to lead the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions and ultimately voted to recommend that the full Senate reject her confirmation.

Richardson, who served as acting director of DIFI, told the committee she had taken steps to address the panel’s earlier concerns, including publishing a draft bulletin and opening a comment period; pledging to use the bulletin process instead of the agency’s SURF messaging system for future substantive regulatory announcements; and withdrawing DIFI staff from recent National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) work streams described by critics as focused on “race and insurance” and climate resiliency.

The committee’s deliberations drew extensive public testimony. Industry executives including Elijah Norton and Joe Steenburgen said DIFI’s service levels and responsiveness have fallen under Richardson’s leadership and urged rejection. Several other speakers—mostly from conservative and industry groups—raised objections tied to Richardson’s past participation on NAIC efforts they characterized as related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Some witnesses said they feared possible aggressive enforcement or regulatory targeting if Richardson were confirmed; others warned comparisons to policy choices in California.

A smaller set of witnesses and trade groups testified in Richardson’s support. Kelsey Lundy of Compass Strategies and Chad Heinrich of Arizonans for Affordable Health Coverage told the committee they have worked with Richardson and experienced fair, professional interactions from the department. Lundy said DEI had not been raised in her dealings with the agency.

On formal action: following Richardson’s return to respond to committee feedback, Vice Chair (speaker not named in the record) moved that the committee recommend confirmation to the full Senate. The roll call on that motion produced two ayes and three nays, and the motion to recommend confirmation failed. The committee then voted on a motion to recommend rejection; the roll call on that motion produced three ayes and two nays and the committee recommended rejection to the full Senate.

Committee members who explained their votes cited two recurring concerns: delays and communication problems in DIFI’s licensing and filing services, and the department’s prior use of the SURF system to notify industry participants about potential noncompliance rather than issuing a substantive policy statement subject to gubernatorial review and public comment. In his explanation, one senator said the practice effectively bypassed the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council oversight process and limited public scrutiny.

Richardson told the committee she did not intend to use the regulator’s office to “socially engineer” industry practices, reiterated that Arizona statute forbids use of race in insurance rate‑making, and said she had not initiated DEI programs within DIFI. She also described staffing changes and reported that DIFI processed what she said was approximately 22,000 producer initial and renewal applications in fiscal year 2024—the highest annual total reported to the committee—and that the agency added a licensing position to reduce per‑staff workload. The department also published a draft bulletin that, according to Richardson, establishes a grace period through Jan. 1, 2027 during which the department will not take enforcement action on the two registration/permit issues described in the bulletin while it solicits stakeholder comment.

The committee record shows a mix of industry concern about enforcement and process and support from trade representatives who said Richardson acted professionally and deferred to statutory authority. The committee’s recommendation to reject will be transmitted to the full Senate for consideration.

Richardson appeared before the panel to respond to previously raised concerns and to summarize the department’s operational changes; several witnesses urged the Senate either to confirm or reject based on their experience with the department and the nominee.

Votes at a glance:
- Motion to recommend confirmation of Barbara D. Richardson to the full Senate — outcome: failed (2 ayes, 3 nays). Ayes recorded in debate: Senator Bravo; Senator Ortiz. Nays recorded: Senator Kavanaugh; Senator Joe Powell; Senator Hoffman (as recorded by the roll calls and subsequent explanation).
- Motion to recommend rejection of Barbara D. Richardson — outcome: passed (3 ayes, 2 nays). Ayes recorded: Senator Kavanaugh; Senator Schoep (recorded as \"Aye\"); Senator Hoffman (explained his vote). Nays recorded: Senator Bravo; Senator Ortiz.

The full Senate will receive the committee’s recommendation to reject Richardson’s nomination.","The Senate Committee on Director Nominations heard hours of testimony for and against Barbara D. Richardson’s nomination to lead the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI). After public testimony and committee debate, the panel voted to recommend rejection to the full Senate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee recommends confirmation of John F. Scott II to lead Arizona Department of Veterans Services

Senate committee rejects Barbara D. Richardson for Arizona insurance director after divided hearing