veterans; mobile service units

HB2603 - veterans; mobile service units

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Walt Blackman
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact frequency or content of quarterly reports beyond December 31, 2027.

Veterans; Mobile Service Units

This bill creates mobile service units to provide health and support services for veterans living in rural or tribal areas of Arizona.

What This Bill Does

Creates mobile veteran service units that travel to different communities to help veterans who live far from healthcare centers.
Requires these units to offer monthly visits, telehealth access, behavioral health care, claims assistance, mental health referrals, and other needed services.
Sets guidelines for which rural or tribal veterans can use the mobile service units.
Specifies that the mobile service units must serve eligible veterans in six counties: Navajo, Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Yavapai, and Gila.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans living in rural areas of Arizona, especially those who have trouble traveling long distances for healthcare.
The Department of Veterans' Services which will run the mobile service units.

Terms To Know

Rural veteran: A veteran who lives far from cities and has limited access to health services.
Tribal veteran: A veteran who lives on a federally recognized Native American reservation in Arizona.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the mobile service units will be funded.
It only lists six counties where these services must be provided, but it doesn't say what happens if other rural or tribal areas need help too.

Bill History

2026-01-26 House
House second read
2026-01-22 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-22 House
House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections: None
2026-01-22 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2603 - veterans; mobile service units

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2603 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
veterans; mobile service units

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2603

Introduced by

Representative
Blackman

AN
ACT

Amending title 41, chapter 3, article 7,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-610.03; relating to the
Department of veterans' services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 3, article 7,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-610.03, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-610.03.

Mobile veteran service units; rural and tribal veterans;
quarterly reports; definitions

A. The department shall provide
mobile care services and telehealth services through mobile veteran service
units to rural veterans and tribal veterans in this state who are unable to
travel or who would need to travel long distances for basic health services.

B. The department may employ staff to
operate the mobile veteran service units that provide mobile care services

and telehealth services. mobile veteran service units shall
provide all of the following:

1. Monthly service visits to rural
and tribal communities on a schedule published by the department.

2. Access to telehealth for veterans
with disabilities.

3. Behavioral health services.

4. Veterans claims assistance.

5. Mental health referrals.

6. Any other care services that rural
or tribal veterans require.

C. Mobile veteran service units shall
be compliant with the Americans with disabilities act and have accessible
entrances and service equipment.

D. The department shall set
guidelines for determining the eligibility for rural veterans and tribal
veterans in this state to qualify for any care services provided by the mobile
veteran service units.

E. The mobile veteran service units
shall serve eligible veterans in all of the following:

1. Navajo county.

2. Apache county.

3. Coconino county.

4. Mohave county.

5. Yavapai county.

6. Gila county.

F. On or before December 31, 2027 and
quarterly thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the governor, the
president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives
regarding all of the following:

1. The number of veterans who
received aid.

2. The type of aid the veterans
received.

3. The number of claims filed for
veterans.

4. Any suggestions on how to improve
aid to rural veterans and tribal veterans in this state.

G. For
the purposes of this section:

1. "Americans
with disabilities act" means 42 United States Code sections 12101 through
12213, 47 United States Code sections 225 and 611 and the ADA amendments act of
2008 (P.L. 110-325; 122 Stat. 3553; 42 United States Code sections 13103
and 12205
a
).

2. "Rural veteran" means a
veteran residing in a rural or frontier and remote area as determined by the
United States department of agriculture, economic research service with limited
access to department services.

3. "Tribal veteran" means a
veteran residing on a federally recognized tribal nation in this state.

END_STATUTE