SB1596 • 2026

appropriation; homeless shelter services fund

SB1596 - appropriation; homeless shelter services fund

Budget Housing

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Lela Alston, Janeen Connolly
Last action: 2026-02-04
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details on specific limits or types of programs that qualify for grants beyond what is stated in the official source material.

Homeless Shelter Services Fund

This bill creates a new Homeless Shelter and Services Fund to provide grants for programs that help homeless people in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Homeless Shelter and Services Fund managed by the Arizona Department of Housing.
Provides $50 million from the state's general fund to start the program.
Uses the money in the fund to give grants to local governments, tribes, and nonprofits for programs that help homeless people.
Money in the fund does not expire at the end of each year.

Who It Names or Affects

Homeless individuals who will receive services from funded programs.
Local governments, Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations that can apply for grants to help homeless people.
The Arizona Department of Housing which will oversee the fund.

Terms To Know

Appropriation: Money set aside by the government for a specific purpose.
Grant: A sum of money given by the government or another organization to support an activity or project.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much money will be added to the fund after the initial $50 million.
It is unclear if there are limits on how long grants can last or what types of programs qualify for funding.

Bill History

2026-02-04 Senate
Senate second read
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate Health and Human Services: None
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: None
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1596 - appropriation; homeless shelter services fund

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1596 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; homeless shelter services fund

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1596

Introduced by

Senator
Alston: Representative Connolly

AN
ACT

amending title 41, chapter 37, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-3958; appropriating monies;
relating to the Arizona department of housing.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 37, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-3958, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-3958.

Homeless shelter and services fund; exemption

A. The homeless shelter and services
fund is established. The department shall administer the
fund. The fund consists of legislative appropriations, other monies
directed to be deposited in the fund and investment earnings on monies in the
fund.� On notice from the department, the state treasurer shall invest and
divest monies in the fund as provided by section 35-313, and monies earned from
investment shall be credited to the fund.

B. Monies in the fund are
continuously appropriated. The department shall use the monies to
award grants pursuant to chapter 24 of this title to counties, cities, towns,
Indian tribes and nonprofit organizations for programs that provide shelter and
services to unsheltered persons who are experiencing homelessness.

C. Monies in the fund are exempt from
the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.
Appropriation; homeless shelter and services
fund

The sum of $50,000,000 is appropriated
from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the homeless shelter
and services fund established by section 41-3958, Arizona Revised
Statutes, as added by this act.