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HB2620 • 2026

appropriation; homeless veterans; shelter services

HB2620 - appropriation; homeless veterans; shelter services

Budget
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
2026-03-17
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how many veterans will be helped or what happens after June 30, 2031.

Money for Homeless Veterans' Shelters

HB2620 provides $300,000 each year from fiscal years 2027 to 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) to distribute as grants to emergency shelters that help homeless veterans.

What This Bill Does

  • Appropriates $300,000 annually from the state General Fund for five fiscal years starting in FY 2027 to ADVS to give out as grants to eligible emergency shelters.
  • Requires these shelters to provide low-barrier single adult emergency shelter services with at least 100 beds and not require pre-scheduled intake appointments.
  • Directs each grant recipient organization to inquire about additional federal services for veterans from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and share this information with ADVS.
  • Requires ADVS to report annually on how the money is used, including expenditures, success metrics, and military discharge status of served veterans until June 30, 2031.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeless veterans in Arizona
  • Shelters that help homeless people
  • The Department of Veterans' Services

Terms To Know

Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS)
A state agency that helps veterans and their families get benefits and services.
Grant
Money given by the government to help with a specific project or need.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens after June 30, 2031.
  • It is unclear how many veterans will be helped by this money.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2620 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; department of veterans' services; 2 emergency shelters; fiscal years 2026-2027, 3 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031; 4 exemption 5 A.
  • The sum of $300,000 is appropriated from the state general fund 6 in each of fiscal years 2026-2027, 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 7 2030-2031 to the department of veterans' services to distribute as grants 8 to emergency shelters.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Appropriations Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2620 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2620 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; department of veterans' services; 2 emergency shelters; fiscal years 2026-2027, 3 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031; 4 exemption 5 A.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2620 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; department of veterans' services; 2 emergency shelters; fiscal years 2026-2027, 3 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031; 4 exemption 5 A.
  • The sum of $300,000 is appropriated from the state general fund 6 in each of fiscal years 2026-2027, 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 7 2030-2031 to the department of veterans' services to distribute as grants 8 to emergency shelters.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Government Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Government Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2620 PROPOSED HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2620 (Reference to printed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Appropriation; department of veterans' services; 2 emergency shelters; fiscal years 2026-2027, 3 2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031; 4 exemption 5 A.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: DUNCAN S.

  • DUNCAN S.
  • 3/5/2026 (602) 926-3848 ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff HB 2620: appropriation; homeless veterans; shelter services LIVINGSTON FLOOR AMENDMENT 1.
  • Requires an annual report by the Department of Veterans Services to the Governor, Senate, House, and Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee detailing a summary of expenditures to aid homeless veterans, metrics, and the discharge status of veterans aided by the funding.
  • 2.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: DP

  4. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate Military Affairs and Border Security: DP

  5. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Senate first read

  6. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  7. 2026-03-10 House

    House third read passed

  8. 2026-03-05 House

    House committee of the whole

  9. 2026-03-03 House

    House minority caucus

  10. 2026-03-03 House

    House majority caucus

  11. 2026-01-21 House

    House second read

  12. 2026-01-20 House

    House Rules: C&P

  13. 2026-01-20 House

    House Appropriations: DPA

  14. 2026-01-20 House

    House Government: DPA

  15. 2026-01-20 House

    House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections: W/D

  16. 2026-01-20 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2620 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
MABS
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2620

appropriation;
homeless veterans; shelter services

Purpose

Appropriates
$300,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
and 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services (ADVS) to distribute
grants to eligible emergency shelters that provide aid to homeless veterans and
prescribes related reporting requirements.

Background

����������� ADVS's
duties include: 1) assisting veterans, family members of veterans and
dependents of veterans in presenting, providing and establishing claims,
privileges, rights and benefits provided under federal, state or local law; 2)
cooperating with all government and private agencies receiving services for or
benefits to veterans, family members of veterans and dependents of veterans; 3)
entering into agreements with veterans' organizations in Arizona that hold a
charter granted by the U.S. Congress for the beneficial interest of veterans;
4) evaluating programs offered by educational institutions and training
establishments pursuant to federal and state law, so that veterans and
dependents of veterans may draw the educational allowance provided by federal
law while pursuing approved programs; and 5) establishing an application
process for the Arizona Gold Star Military Medal, verifying the eligibility of
recipients and, if funding is available, awarding the Medal to an eligible
individual (
A.R.S.
� 41-603
).

����������� H.B. 2620 appropriates
$300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 to ADVS.

Provisions

1.

Appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FYs 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030
and 2031 to ADVS to distribute as grants to emergency shelters.

2.

Requires grant monies be distributed to emergency shelters that do not
require a pre-scheduled intake appointment and that provide:

a)

low-barrier,
single adult, emergency shelter;

b)

100
or more beds; and

c)

aid
for homeless veterans in Arizona.

3.

Directs each organization that is a grant recipient to:

a)

inquire
with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs if additional federal services are
available for a veteran; and

b)

provide
that information to ADVS.

4.

Requires ADVS to submit, by June 30, 2026, and each year thereafter, a
report to the Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Chairperson and

Vice-chairperson of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) containing the
following information for each organization that is a grant recipient:

a)

all
expenditures of granted monies to aid homeless veterans in Arizona;

b)

the
metrics used to analyze the success of those expenditures; and

c)

the
military discharge status of each veteran served by the organization.

5.

Requires ADVS to submit, by June 30, 2031, a final report to the
Governor, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
the Chairperson and

Vice-chairperson of JLAC that contains:

a)

activities
funded by the appropriation and associated expenditures by each grant recipient
organization;

b)

outcomes
of all expenditures from the appropriation;

c)

the
total number of persons aggregated by military discharge status who were served
by a grant funded by the appropriation by each grant recipient organization;
and

d)

any
recommendations by each grant recipient organization.

6.

Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.

7.

Repeals the appropriation and all related requirements on January 1,
2032.

8.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

FMAE������������ 2/12/26����� W/D�����

GOV�������������� 2/18/26����� DPA���� 7-0-0-0

APPROP�������� 2/23/26����� DPA���� 17-0-0-1

3
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Read��������� 3/10/26������������������� 51-4-4-0-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 18, 2026

KJA/ci

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2620 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

appropriation;
homeless veterans; shelter services

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2620

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies 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.
Appropriation; department of veterans'
services; emergency shelters; fiscal years 2026-2027, 2027-2028,
2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031; reports; exemption;
delayed repeal

A. The sum of $300,000 is
appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2026-2027,
2027-2028, 2028-2029, 2029-2030 and 2030-2031 to the department of
veterans' services to distribute as grants to emergency shelters.

B.
Grant monies shall be distributed to emergency shelters that
do not require a pre-scheduled intake appointment and that provide the
following:

1. Low-barrier, single
adult, emergency shelter.

2. One hundred or more
beds.

3. Aid for homeless
veterans in this state.

C. On or before June 30,
2026 and each year thereafter, the department of veterans' services shall
submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of
the house of representatives and the chairperson and the vice chairperson of
the joint legislative audit committee of all of the following information for
each organization that is a grant recipient pursuant to subsection A of this
section:

1. All expenditures of
monies granted to aid homeless veterans in this state.

2. The metrics used to
analyze the success of each expenditure of monies pursuant to paragraph 1 of
this subsection.

3. The military discharge
status of each veteran who is served by the organization. Each
organization shall inquire with the United States department of veterans
affairs if additional federal services are available for the veteran and shall
provide that information to the department of veterans' services.

D. On or before June 30,
2031, the department of veterans' services shall submit a final report to the
governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of
representatives and the chairperson and vice chairperson of the joint legislative
audit committee that contains all of the following information:

1. Activities funded by the
appropriation made pursuant to subsection A of this section and associated
expenditures by each grant recipient organization.

2. Outcomes of all
expenditures from the appropriation made pursuant to subsection A of this
section.

3. The total number of
persons aggregated by military discharge status who were served by a grant
funded by the appropriation made pursuant to subsection A of this section by
each grant recipient organization.

4. Any
recommendations by each grant recipient organization.

E.
The appropriation made in subsection A of this
section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised
Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

F. This section is repealed
from and after December 31, 2031.