We had a massive win tonight (4/23/25)!!

Rep Willoughby, Rep Gutierrez and the governors office hashed out the DDD funding bill this evening and they held a floor vote at 7 PM and it passed with bipartisan support!! 

We still need the Senate to pass it so we are asking everyone to participate in one last call to action for this movement!!! 

Please email all senators this evening and ask them to SUPPORT HB2945 as amended in the House on 4/23/2025 at 7:30 PM. We did this, let’s get one last big push!!

Sample Email: 

Dear Senator [Last Name],

As a constituent and [insert: parent / caregiver / concerned citizen], I respectfully ask for your YES vote on HB2945 as amended on the House floor on the evening of 4/23. This critical bill provides DDD gap funding and has guardrails the community supports!!

HB2945 as amended ensures greater accountability, sustainability, and fairness through:
• Responsible Medicaid funding through the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund
• Practical billing limits that reflect caregiving realities
• Improved assessments to match services with real needs
• Legislative oversight on expensive waiver amendments
• A special audit comparing PPCG to national best practices

This bill as amended protects vulnerable Arizonans and the families who care for them while ensuring taxpayer accountability. Please vote to support this bill as amended so we can secure DDD gap funding before May 1, 2025. 

Thank you for your leadership.
Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Senator Emails:
lalston@azleg.gov; hangius@azleg.gov; sbolick@azleg.gov; fbravo@azleg.gov; fcarroll@azleg.gov; eva.diaz@azleg.gov; tdunn@azleg.gov; mepstein@azleg.gov; dfarnsworth@azleg.gov; bfernandez@azleg.gov; mfinchem@azleg.gov; rgabaldon@azleg.gov; sgonzales@azleg.gov; dgowan@azleg.gov; thatathlie@azleg.gov; jake.hoffman@azleg.gov; jkavanagh@azleg.gov; lkuby@azleg.gov; vleach@azleg.gov; jmesnard@azleg.gov; cmiranda@azleg.gov; analise.ortiz@azleg.gov; kpayne@azleg.gov; wpetersen@azleg.gov; wrogers@azleg.gov; ksears@azleg.gov; jshamp@azleg.gov; tshope@azleg.gov; psundareshan@azleg.gov; cwerner@azleg.gov 

Personalize and send an email to YOUR Arizona Legislators. 

If you need help finding your legislator see the "finding Legislators" tab above. There is a list of emails at the bottom of this sample email if you already know their names and just need to grab the email addresses. 

The ACTION: 

Please contact your district legislators and ask them to amend HB2945 and SB1734 with reasonable guardrails that preserve access to care while strengthening oversight. 

Personal emails are more impactful than mass messages. If you’re able, take a moment to customize your outreach.

Share this with others in the community—every voice counts!

TO: Legislator emails are at the bottom of this sample email. If you don't know who your legislator is, go here or see the "find legislators" tab above. 

Subject: Support for Responsible Oversight and Long-Term Stability in the DDD Supplemental

SAMPLE EMAIL: 

Dear [Legislator’s Name],

As an Arizona voter and engaged community member, I’m writing to urge you to support a balanced, sustainable approach to the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) supplemental funding package—one that ensures long-term program integrity while protecting access to essential services for families across our state.

While I am not personally part of the DDD system, I care deeply about protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring taxpayer-supported programs are effective, accountable, and stable. I’ve been following the conversations around the Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) program and believe the compromise proposal outlined below represents a reasonable, fiscally responsible, and compassionate path forward.

The following recommendations were developed by the DDD community in collaboration with bipartisan legislators. I believe they strike the right balance between accountability, cost control, and family stability:

• Oversight & Transparency
  • Require AHCCCS to notify the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) of any proposed changes to the 1115 Medicaid waiver. This ensures the Legislature has visibility into program changes and can act when necessary.
  • Require a new HCBS assessment that ensures every Attendant Care and Habilitation hour authorized for members meets the standard of extraordinary care. 

• 40-Hour Cap for PPCG
  • Limit PPCG providers to a 40-hour weekly cap per child, effective July 1, 2025.
    Total hours must remain based on the child’s assessed needs and cannot exceed the authorized care plan.

• Data & Reporting Requirements
  • Require quarterly reports from AHCCCS and DDD beginning July 1, 2025, including:
    • Number of PPCG participants
    • Authorized vs. utilized hours
    • EVV data on delivery by provider type (PPCG vs. non-PPCG)
    • Require annual reports on vendor call fulfillment, hospitalization rates, and incident reporting across the DDD system.

• Responsible Funding Source
  • The supplemental should not draw from other vulnerable groups or critical services. The proposed use of the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund and general fund authority is a responsible approach that avoids further harm.

This is a chance for Arizona to show what it means to govern with both accountability and compassion. I respectfully urge you to support these reasonable reforms that protect both the program’s integrity and the families who depend on it.

Thank you for your leadership and your continued service to our state.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]
[Optional: Your Legislative District]

Also send the email to Governor Hobbs through her website: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs

 This is a list of all Arizona Legislators:

LAUSTIN@azleg.gov, LALSTON@azleg.gov, HANGIUS@azleg.gov, aabeytia@azleg.gov, caguilar@azleg.gov, jake.hoffman@azleg.gov, WBLACKMAN@azleg.gov, SBLATTMAN@azleg.gov, lbiasiucci@azleg.gov, sbliss@azleg.gov, sbolick@azleg.gov, fbravo@azleg.gov, eburch@azleg.gov, mcarbone@azleg.gov, ncarter@azleg.gov, pcarter@azleg.gov, jcavero@azleg.gov, jchaplik@azleg.gov, jconnolly@azleg.gov, lcontreras@azleg.gov, pcontreras@azleg.gov, qcrews@azleg.gov, fcarroll@azleg.gov, LDIAZ@azleg.gov, odelossantos@azleg.gov, tdunn@azleg.gov, MEPSTEIN@azleg.gov, BFERNANDEZ@azleg.gov, MFINCHEM@azleg.gov, DFARNSWORTH@azleg.gov, lfink@azleg.gov, NGUTIERREZ@azleg.gov, MGRESS@azleg.gov, bgarcia@azleg.gov, jgillette@azleg.gov, ggriffin@azleg.gov, rgabaldon@azleg.gov, sgonzales@azleg.gov, dgowan@azleg.gov, rheap@azleg.gov, lhendrix@azleg.gov, ahernandez@azleg.gov, chernandez@azleg.gov, lhernandez@azleg.gov, thatathlie@azleg.gov, LKUBY@azleg.gov, JKAVANAGH@azleg.gov, rkeshel@azleg.gov, akolodin@azleg.gov, nkupper@azleg.gov, CLOPEZ@azleg.gov, DLIVINGSTON@azleg.gov, VLEACH@azleg.gov, sliguori@azleg.gov, eluna-Najera@azleg.gov, vleach@azleg.gov, amarquez@azleg.gov, dmarshall@azleg.gov, tmartinez@azleg.gov, cmathis@azleg.gov, smontenegro@azleg.gov, jmesnard@azleg.gov, cmiranda@azleg.gov, QNGUYEN@azleg.gov, analise.ortiz@azleg.gov, JOLSON@azleg.gov, mpena@azleg.gov, mpeshlakai@azleg.gov, bpingerelli@azleg.gov, kpowell@azleg.gov, kpayne@azleg.gov, wpetersen@azleg.gov, TRIVERO@azleg.gov, wrogers@azleg.gov, MSANDOVAL@azleg.gov, SStahlhamilton@azleg.gov, ssimacek@azleg.gov, jshamp@azleg.gov, tshope@azleg.gov, psundareshan@azleg.gov, STRAVERS@azleg.gov, jtaylor@azleg.gov, mtsosie@azleg.gov, KVOLK@azleg.gov, bvillegas@azleg.gov, eva.diaz@azleg.gov, MWAY@azleg.gov, JWENINGER@azleg.gov, JWILLOUGHBY@azleg.gov

 Weigh  in on bills from the comfort of your couch! Arizona’s Request to Speak  (RTS) is an online tool that lets everyday citizens give Arizona state  lawmakers our feedback on bills. It’s an easy way to get involved in  state politics, stay informed on the bills that directly affect us, and  make sure our elected officials honor the wishes of us, their  constituents. 

What you enter on the RTS is submitted as documentation on the bill. It is a very powerful way to have your position heard and documented on record. 

This does take patience - There are literal people at the capitol who will take your application and get your registered, so this can take some time. Create your account immediately as we only have hours left. There is no guarantee that there is enough time to get your account, but it's worth trying, so please do. 

https://www.cebv.us/rts.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawJk-OlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHg3FkDhu5VMNN-YuvhWgl9b66NqEX7EdyuSKACXtG5pwlqZUMwYBu50C3A7a_aem_N23_RAHVUqvrF3pApYbB2Q

Once you have your account: 

1) Log in

2) On the homepage click "New Request" 

3) Go to COMMITTEE click "select a committee" and in the dropdown select "Appropriations" 

4) Enter HB2945 and click SEARCH (when finished come back and search for SB1734)

5) Check to make sure it brought up the correct bill and click the "ADD REQUEST" 

6) The first question asks for your "Position on the Bill" as a thumbs up, thumbs down, or neutral. If you oppose the bill you would click "thumbs down," if you have a different position you would enter that here. 

7) Next "Do you wish to speak" -  It's fine to click "no."

8) Under comments, write why you feel the way you do about the bill. 

9) Click Submit and repeat these steps for SB1734

Hand write or type a physical letter and mail to your Legislator with a picture of your family. 

Include personal details about your story and details regarding how the job instability of DDD providers and employees is affecting your DDD member and family.

CAPITAL ADDRESS:
[Senator, Representative or Governor's Name]

1700 W Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007 

Send the same letter to Governor Hobbs via mail or her website: https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/form/contact-governor-hobbs

SAMPLE LETTER:

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]

[YOUR EMAIL]

SUBJECT: DDD Gap Funding - Appropriation Needed Now

Dear [Legislator or Governor’s Name],  

I’m writing as a concerned Arizona resident and family member of someone who relies on DDD services to live safely at home. If the Legislature doesn’t pass gap funding immediately, tens of thousands of vulnerable Arizonans will lose access to essential care. Families like mine are already seeing therapists and caregivers leave, and agencies are warning they may shut down without reimbursement for May and June.

Please pass a clean supplemental funding bill now. Our loved ones can’t wait. This is not about politics—it’s about protecting lives and keeping families together.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, Zip Code]