appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

HB2685 - appropriation; K-12 mental health; telehealth

Budget Education 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

The effective date is listed as blank in the metadata, though the bill has passed both chambers.

HB2685: Funding for K-12 Mental Health Telehealth Grants

This bill gives $5 million to the Attorney General from opioid settlement funds to award three-year grants to up to three telehealth providers offering free mental health services to Arizona students.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the consumer remediation subaccount for fiscal year 2026-2027 using funds from opioid claims-related litigation or settlements.
Requires the Attorney General to award three-year grants to up to three telehealth providers serving K-12 students.
Mandates that funded services include clinical assessments, short-term therapy via telehealth, and crisis intervention at no cost to families regardless of insurance status.
Prioritizes grant applicants who can serve diverse areas including large urban centers, rural communities, and tribal lands.
Exempts this specific funding from rules requiring unspent money to be returned by the end of the fiscal year until June 30, 2029.

Who It Names or Affects

The Arizona Attorney General's office
K-12 mental health providers offering telehealth services that have not previously received similar state awards
Students in Arizona schools and their families

Terms To Know

Appropriation: An official act by the legislature that sets aside a specific amount of money for a certain purpose.
Telehealth: Health care services provided remotely using technology like video calls or phone lines instead of in-person visits.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify which school districts will receive the first grants.
It is unclear how many students can be served by each grant recipient within a year.
The text does not state what happens if fewer than three qualified providers apply for the 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.