State Rep. Steve Montenegro | Arizona Legislature
State Rep. Steve Montenegro | Arizona Legislature
Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro announced that the House is taking action to prevent a shutdown of services for Arizonans with developmental disabilities. The House introduced supplemental legislation to fund the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) through the fiscal year.
Representative David Livingston, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced HB2945 on behalf of House Republicans. This measure addresses a $122 million shortfall in DDD, which serves nearly 60,000 individuals across Arizona with conditions such as autism and cerebral palsy. The shortfall is attributed to Governor Katie Hobbs' decision to expand programs without legislative approval.
"This crisis didn’t happen overnight," said Montenegro. "The Hobbs administration expanded programs in DDD without legislative approval and delayed or ignored key program limitations. They now want taxpayers to bail them out—without a plan to fix it. Republicans won’t do that. What we’re doing today is stepping up with a responsible, fully funded solution that protects families, restores order, and keeps this from happening again."
The legislation includes reforms to ensure long-term sustainability of the program and reallocates unused funds under Governor Hobbs’ control:
- $38 million from the Housing Trust Fund.
- $10 million from the Arizona Commerce Authority Competes Fund.
- $74 million from the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund.
Key policy reforms include requiring full legislative approval for Medicaid waiver submissions and reporting on federal fund usage by state agencies. It also codifies a 40-hour weekly cap for Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG), effective July 1, 2025, and directs submission of a new waiver by October 1, 2025, for a reduced 20-hour cap.
The House will act swiftly on this legislation. Montenegro urges Democratic colleagues and the Governor to support this plan.
Steve Montenegro is the Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 29.
Information from this article can be found here.
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