appropriation; department of gaming; telehealth

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date, only the last legislative action and fiscal years for funding.

Funding for a Problem Gambling Telehealth Pilot Program

This bill provides $2 million from the state lottery fund in each of fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 to create a mobile app that helps Arizona residents with gambling problems.

What This Bill Does

• Sets aside $2,000,000 from the state lottery fund for each of fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 to support a problem gambling telehealth pilot program.
• Requires the Department of Gaming to partner with a digital health organization to build a mobile app that prioritizes immediate, no-cost access without traditional insurance billing at the time of use.
• Directs the app to include self-guided clinical activities and behavioral tracking tools.
• Mandates real-time urge monitoring and peer-support community features in the application.
• Requires educational content on gambling addiction developed by experts.
• Includes specific interfaces for family members and support networks of those struggling with gambling addiction.
• Allows integration with existing state-funded treatment assistance programs.
• Requires annual reports from December 31, 2026 through December 31, 2029 detailing the program's effectiveness, user numbers, engagement metrics, and self-reported recovery outcomes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Arizona residents who struggle with gambling problems
• Family members and support networks of people with gambling issues
• The Arizona Department of Gaming

Terms To Know

Appropriation

Money set aside by the government for a specific purpose.

Telehealth

Health care services provided through digital devices like mobile apps instead of in-person visits.

Digital front door model

A system that lets users access health tools immediately without needing insurance paperwork first.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not name the specific digital health company or app provider.
• It is unclear if the program will continue after fiscal year 2027-2028 since funding only covers two years.
• The text does not specify how many users must join for the pilot to be considered successful.

Official Summary Text

SB1251 - appropriation; department of gaming; telehealth

Current Bill Text

SB1251 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; department of gaming; telehealth

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1251

Introduced by

Senator
Shope

AN
ACT

APPROPRIATING MONIES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
GAMING.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Appropriation;
department of gaming; problem gambling telehealth pilot program; annual report

A. The sum of $2,000,000 is
appropriated from the state lottery fund established by section 5-571, Arizona
Revised Statutes, in each of fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 to the
department of gaming for problem gambling telehealth pilot program.� This
amount consists of monies remaining in the state lottery fund that would
otherwise be deposited in the state general fund pursuant to section 5-572,
subsection G, Arizona Revised Statutes.

B. The department of gaming
shall use the monies appropriated in subsection A of this section to enter into
a public-private partnership with a digital health organization to provide a
mobile-based telehealth application prioritizing a vendor that offers a digital
front door model, providing immediate, no-cost access to users without the
requirement of traditional insurance billing at the point-of-service. The
application shall provide the following services to residents of this state:

1. Self-guided clinical
activities and behavioral tracking tools.

2. Real-time urge
monitoring and peer-support community features.

3. Educational content
developed by experts in gambling addiction.

4. Specific interfaces for
the support networks and family members of those struggling with gambling
addiction.

5. Integration capabilities
with existing state-funded treatment assistance programs.

C. On or before December
31, 2026 and each year thereafter through December 31, 2029, the department of
gaming shall submit a report regarding the pilot program's efficacy, including
the number of active users, engagement metrics and self-reported recovery
outcomes to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the
house of representatives.