Lawmakers back bill to fund and expand veterans treatment courts across Arizona

The Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 29‑60 and returned the bill with a due pass recommendation. The bill establishes a veterans specialty court grant program and a dedicated fund (administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts under the Travers amendment) to provide administrative grants and support expansion of veterans treatment court programs across the state.

Representative Travers, sponsor of the bill, said the measure responds to demonstrated success in existing veterans courts — including a Lake Havasu program he described as a national model — and would fund program start‑up and standardization. Judge Mitch Kolawi of Lake Havasu City and graduate Ray Perez testified about low recidivism rates and personal recovery stories tied to veterans courts. The committee voted to advance the bill; sponsor and supporters emphasized data collection and program expansion in rural areas.

The committee returned the bill with a due pass recommendation after voice and roll‑call actions and encouraged ongoing monitoring of program outcomes.