HB2329 makes a targeted appropriation to the Arizona Department of Health Services for the operation of the state’s health care directives registry. The registry is the system used to store and manage advance health care directives and related documents, and the bill directs $500,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to support its operation.
In addition to funding the registry, the bill requires the department to submit two status reports, due by December 31, 2025 and June 30, 2026, to the governor and legislative leaders, with copies to the secretary of state. Those reports must cover the registry’s operations and technology, account and upload totals, subscriber organizations, active users, participant searches, document processing times, and year-over-year growth. The reporting requirement is temporary and is repealed after December 31, 2026.
Impact
The bill does not create a new substantive health care directive program, but it does amend state law to impose short-term reporting obligations on the Department of Health Services and to provide a one-time general fund appropriation for registry operations. Its practical effect is to support continued administration of the health care directives registry while increasing legislative oversight through detailed performance and usage reporting. The bill affects the Department of Health Services, the governor, legislative leadership, the secretary of state, and individuals and organizations that use the registry to file or access advance directives.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broadly favorable support in committee and on the House floor, with strong vote margins at each stage and no recorded opposition in the Senate committee vote. The House Health & Human Services Committee advanced it with one dissenting vote, while the House Appropriations Committee, House Rules Committee, and Senate committees all reported it favorably. The overall pattern suggests the bill was viewed as a routine funding and oversight measure rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the use of $500,000 in state general fund dollars for registry operations, since appropriations bills can draw scrutiny over spending priorities. The reporting mandate may also reflect legislative concern about whether the registry is operating efficiently and growing as intended, given the bill’s detailed requirements on usage, processing time, and subscriber participation. However, the available vote history shows limited opposition, indicating that any disagreements were modest and likely centered on funding levels or administrative oversight rather than the registry itself.
Requires automatic registration with New Jersey Immunization Information System upon administration of vaccine for certain persons who consent to registration.
Requires automatic registration with New Jersey Immunization Information System upon administration of vaccine for certain persons who consent to registration.