appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

HB2685 - appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

Budget Education Healthcare Technology

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Alma Hernandez, Lorena Austin, Leo Biasiucci, Patty Contreras, Nancy Gutierrez, Consuelo Hernandez, Lydia Hernandez, Elda Luna-Nájera, Sally Ann Gonzales
Last action: 2026-01-21
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Mental Health Telehealth Grants for K-12 Students

This bill provides $5 million in grants from the consumer remediation subaccount to the attorney general for telehealth mental health services for K-12 students, with specific requirements and prioritization criteria.

What This Bill Does

Allocates $5 million for three-year grants to K-12 mental health providers who offer telehealth services.
Requires grant recipients to provide comprehensive mental health care including assessments, short-term therapy, crisis intervention, and evidence-based treatments.
Prioritizes applicants that can serve diverse school districts, from urban centers to rural areas.
Ensures grants are used for free services regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
Exempts the grant funding from lapsing until June 30, 2029.

Who It Names or Affects

K-12 mental health providers offering telehealth services
Students and families in K-12 schools

Terms To Know

Telehealth: Healthcare provided remotely through technology, such as video calls or online platforms.
Consumer remediation subaccount: A fund used to compensate consumers who have been harmed by unfair business practices.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the $5 million will be distributed among grant recipients.
It is unclear if there are enough eligible providers to fully utilize the allocated funds.

Bill History

2026-01-21 House
House second read
2026-01-20 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-20 House
House Appropriations: None
2026-01-20 House
House Education: None
2026-01-20 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2685 - appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2685 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2685

Introduced by

Representatives
Hernandez A: Austin, Biasiucci, Contreras P, Gutierrez, Hernandez C,
Hernandez L, Luna-N�jera;� Senator Gonzales

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies to the attorney
general.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Appropriation;
attorney general; K-12 mental health; telehealth provider grants; grant
prioritization; exemption

A. The sum of $5,000,000 is
appropriated from
the consumer remediation subaccount
of the consumer restitution and remediation revolving fund established by
section 44-1531.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, in fiscal year 2026-2027 to
the attorney general for grants for K-12 mental health providers
who
offer telehealth services. This amount consists of monies deposited
in the subaccount pursuant to opioid claims-related litigation or
settlement. The monies appropriated in this subsection shall be
distributed as three-year grants for up to three telehealth providers that:

1. Provide a comprehensive
mental health platform that includes clinical assessments, short-term therapy
using telehealth services and crisis intervention specifically tailored for the
K-12 environment.

2. Demonstrate the ability
to coordinate care with existing school nurses, counselors and administrative
staff to ensure a whole child approach.

3. Offer services at no
cost to families, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

4. Have the capacity to
serve students on campus during school hours.

5. Provide evidence-based
treatment for common pediatric conditions, including anxiety, depression and
grief.

6. Have not received an
award or contract from this state for similar K-12 telehealth services before
the effective date of this section.

B. The attorney general
shall prioritize the grants distributed pursuant to subsection A of this
section to applicants who demonstrate an enterprise-wide implementation
model that is capable of serving diverse school districts, ranging from large
urban centers to rural and tribal communities.

C. 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, until June 30, 2029.