Senate panel approves $50 million border-enforcement appropriation after heated public testimony

The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee advanced House Bill 2606 on a due-pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony and debate over a $50,000,000 FY2026 appropriation to the Department of Public Safety for officer positions, capital equipment, and grants to local governments for prosecution and detention costs tied to border-related crimes.

Jody Leggett, speaking on behalf of Living United for Change in Arizona, told the committee, “this bill appropriates 50,000,000 taxpayer dollars to fund what in our view is unjust and inhumane immigration enforcement.” Leggett warned the funding would “perpetuate the deeply flawed immigration enforcement system” and urged senators to vote no.

Jen Morrison of the Arizona Sheriffs Association said the language and funding are longstanding, dating back to earlier border strike-force appropriations, and that local law enforcement has used similar language since 2015. Morrison said the sheriff’s request and the higher dollar figure reflected recent voter action on Proposition 3 14 and an increased perceived need; she told the committee the appropriation is not a new policy, but an increase in resources for ongoing programs.

Pablo Correa, who identified himself as the executive director of "bridal Arizona action" and testified in opposition, raised concerns about family separation and potential litigation for local agencies that would shoulder operations tied to federal immigration enforcement.

Sponsor remarks stressed the appropriation is intended to fund law-enforcement capacity to deter and apprehend people charged with offenses listed in the bill text (including drug trafficking, human smuggling and other border-related crimes). Committee members split on the amount. During explanation of vote, one senator asked, “Think of what we could do for affordable housing… $50,000,000,” as a reason to oppose the scale of the increase, while others described the funds as necessary to interdict drugs and protect public safety.

Committee records and roll-call discussion recorded the measure as passing the committee (tallies as spoken during the hearing: 5 ayes, 2 nays, 3 not voting; the transcript contains an inconsistent roll-call accounting but reports that the committee “passed house bill 2606”). The committee’s action gives HB2606 a due-pass recommendation to proceed in the legislative process.

Next steps: HB2606 will be reported out of the Appropriations Committee with a due-pass recommendation and will advance according to Senate rules for consideration by the full chamber or subsequent committee assignment.