03/31/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee · March 31, 2026

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HB 26‑15 (DCS independent oversight) — sponsor presentation, public testimony, motion and vote

PresentationPublic Comment

1:07 → 29:32(28m 25s)

Staff introduced a Farnsworth 'strike everything' amendment to House Bill 26‑15 to create an Independent Oversight Committee (IOC) for the Department of Child Safety (DCS), fund it with $2,200,000 FY2027, and give it investigatory powers. Representative Blackmon (sponsor) framed the bill as protecting children and described meetings with DCS and the ombudsman office. Several caregivers and advocates testified for independent oversight, citing repeated failures to follow laws and delays in services. Senators questioned placement of the IOC in the Ombudsman’s office and whether the Auditor or a

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Actions:hb-2615-motion-vote

Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee heard and acted on dozens of bills on DCS oversight, veterans shelter grants, transportation and consumer-protection measures; several bills received due-pass recommendations while an independent-oversight bill for the Department of Child Safety failed on a tie vote.

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Transcript

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