Updates will be added to the bottom of this page.
You can read the history as it has unfolded starting at the top, or scroll down to find the most current information at the bottom.
In December 2024, the JLBC met and gave an unfavorable review of the DDD and AHCCCS budget spending. They discussed at length how funds were allocated and scrutinized the Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) program. On January 29, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee met to continue discussing the budget deficits and the Governor's budget recommendations for DDD and DES. During that meeting, Representative Livingston suggested that additional appropriations would not be given to DDD until the final budget was passed. He also explicitly stated that he wanted to see the DDD and DES budgets cut by 25% in order to balance the budget. When asked if he was suggesting cutting services for disabled individuals to balance the budget, he confirmed, "Yes!"
A recording of the January 29th Appropriations Committee Meeting:
https://www.azleg.gov/videoplayer/?clientID=6361162879&eventID=2025011093
Right now, there is a budget deficit, and funds will run out in May and June 2025 for all DDD programs and services if appropriation funding is not provided by our legislature before then. Next year’s budget (which begins July 1, 2025) offers potential room for negotiation within the legislature and governor's office. Cutting the Parents as Paid Caregivers program won’t change the bottom line.
In January 2025, DDD and AHCCCS circulated a slide deck explaining the complex reasons for their cost increases. These slides were attempted to be presented at the Appropriations Committee meeting on January 29, 2025, but only the first two slides were shown.
During the House Appropriations Committee meetings in January and February 2025, misinformation about the Parents as Paid Caregivers (PPCG) program led to false assumptions. The program was wrongly blamed for rising DDD service costs, and its inclusion in the 1115 waiver was questioned. In reality, Arizona’s low wages and inability to staff Direct Care Worker (DCW) positions left a critical gap—one that parents of minor DDD children stepped in to fill. With wages still far below the national average, there is no alternative workforce to take on these essential roles.
To see the text of the actual bill - click here bit.ly/4jmcSMX
Below is a Chat GPT worded interpretation of the bill using the prompt:
"Act as a government expert and legal expert and explain the bill HB2945. It should be fully accurate, nonpartisan, and written clearly and easy to understand. Include brief, non-partisan counter points."
NOTES: While ChatGPT is helpful - it can be incorrect. So please read the bill for yourself and consult whatever legal resources you have. Anything in parenthesis is personal input that I feel is important to note. The ChatGPT used for this interpretation has been prompted over time to look at how anything I've entered might also impact adults, as I care for an adult who receives DDD services. And as such this interpretation includes that perspective.
Also Note - This bill passed with important amendments which are listed in the above section under UPDATE.
The bill allows for the Supplemental/GAP funding of DDD with critical changes.
Summary of Key Provisions
2. Legislative Oversight of Medicaid Waivers
3. Federal Funds Oversight
4. Supplemental Appropriations for Disability Services
5. Emergency Clause
END OF BILL SUMMARY
Right now, Arizona’s Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) is facing a critical budget shortfall. If the legislature does not approve appropriation funding, all DDD programs and services will run out of money in May and June 2025.
In January 2025, DDD and AHCCCS created a slide deck explaining the complex reasons behind the cost increases. These slides were brought to the House Appropriations Committee on January 29, but only the first two slides were shown, cutting off crucial context.
During committee meetings in January, February, March and April, significant misinformation circulated regarding the PPCG program, including:
In reality, parents of minor DDD children fill a critical gap in the system. Without them, there is no replacement workforce.
What’s Next?
We need your help and action! Email and call your Arizona Legislators and explain that their treatment and hostage negotiation tactics surrounding the DDD community is abhorrent and unacceptable!
House Appropriations Chair David Livingston added three members — Reps. Bliss, Carbone, and Gillette — to the committee minutes before the committee was set to vote on amendments for HB2945. This last-minute move changed the outcome of the vote, blocking a bipartisan amendment from Republican Rep. Willoughby that had enough support to pass - and would have ended the DDD funding crisis almost immediately. Instead, Livingston’s last minute addition of three representatives killed the Willoughby Amendment and pushed his own through.
Arizona legislators passed both bills. HB2945 is carrying forward with the Livingston Amendment and SB1734 with the Kavanaugh Amendment.
What This Means:
Next Steps in the Legislative Process
(this is typically what happens, not sure if any of these steps are different in this case)
Advocacy Considerations:
Given the expressed concerns by some representatives, it's crucial for advocacy groups to engage with legislators, provide input, and suggest amendments that address specific issues. Active participation can influence the final content of the legislation and ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities are adequately represented.
YOUR VOICE STILL MATTERS!
Governor Katie Hobbs has announced a temporary moratorium on signing new legislation until the Arizona Legislature passes a bipartisan supplemental funding bill to address the budget shortfall in the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD).
Governor Hobbs stated that the DDD shortfall impacts nearly 60,000 Arizonans with disabilities, including individuals with autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, who rely on services to live independently. She characterized the current legislative proposal as inadequate and said she will not support it in its current form.
She confirmed her willingness to continue negotiations and named the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund as one potential source for funding. The governor also noted that she is encouraged by bipartisan opposition to the current proposals and reiterated that business as usual will not continue until a viable funding solution is in place for DDD and its service recipients.
Link to Gov Hobbs website and press release:
Recall Petitions have been filed against Montenegro, Carbone, Livingston & Gress
These recall filings were made by parents and voters, mostly conservative, who have been advocating for the disability community for months. The Governor has nothing to do with these petitions.
The petitions target the following elected officials:
This action was taken after repeated efforts to meet with lawmakers, attend hearings, and advocate for urgent funding solutions went unanswered or ignored.
Parents, caregivers, organizations, and advocates have shown up consistently for over three months — testifying, calling, emailing, and submitting more than 500 RTS (Request to Speak) “against” positions on each version of the committee passed bills.
Despite that, the voices of families were sidelined.
During a critical Appropriations Committee hearing on April 15, 2025, a bipartisan amendment—introduced by another Republican—was expected to pass and offer a more balanced path forward for funding. But at the last moment, Chairman Livingston added three new Republican members to the committee, shifting the vote count and blocking the amendment from advancing.
What Happens Next?
To trigger a recall election, each campaign must collect the required number of signatures by August 15, 2025:
If enough valid signatures are submitted and verified, the lawmaker has five days to either resign or face a recall election in August 2025.
The lives and futures of nearly 60,000 Arizonans with disabilities depend on stable, fully funded services — and families should never be put in this position again.
Source: AZcentral
Brandi Coon from Raising Voices Coalition submits a letter of compromise to legislators. This letter urges them to support a balanced, data-driven supplemental package that protects access to care, ensures program accountability, legislative oversight, and provides long-term stability for those who need it most.
Proposed Amendments to the Supplemental Bill:
These common sense solutions protect Medicaid long term and propose a reasonable solution to the caregiver shortage. For many families, the PPCG program is the only consistent care the child or family member receives. Without it, they would face hospitalization, institutionalization, or complete caregiver burnout. This program is working—and it can work better with the added oversight and structure proposed above.
HB2945 with serious amendments passes both house and senate and is officially signed by the Governor!
The amended bill fully funds DDD with these provisions moving forward:
1. The 20-hour weekly cap was removed from the PPCG program.
They will not reduce the allowed care hours to 20 per week per child. The previously approved 40-hour/week limit stands for now.
2. Parents may continue providing care, but with clearer boundaries:
• Must live in Arizona for at least 6 months to be eligible.
• May only be employed by one agency under PPCG.
Cannot bill for services when the child:
• Is not present (e.g., at school or in inpatient care),
• Or for “typical parenting tasks” like laundry, meal prep, or housekeeping.
3. Care must happen between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM, unless the child’s care plan specifically allows otherwise.
4. New oversight systems will be implemented:
• An electronic visit verification system will distinguish parent vs. non-parent providers.
• Quarterly usage reports will be required by DES and AHCCCS to monitor program integrity.
• A new standardized assessment tool must be implemented by October 1, 2025 to determine need for extraordinary care.
5. A full special audit is planned, with a report due by August 1, 2026, comparing Arizona’s PPCG program to best practices in other states.
⸻
Budget and Funding:
• The legislature approved $109.2 million from the Prescription Drug Rebate Fund (up from $61.2 million) for the Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Program.
• $403 million more in expenditure authority was granted for Medicaid DD services overall.
• An additional $13.1 million was allocated for a client services cost-effectiveness study.
Yesterday was a moment to celebrate!! It was huge victory for our incredible and determined community!
Since January, through our collective effort, we have shown Arizona’s politicians that we are organized, powerful, and unwavering. Because of your voices, your prayers, your persistence, yesterday’s bill signing secured two months of life saving funding and protected the Paid Parent Caregiver Program.
This victory is historic; and it belongs to each and every one of you who refused to give up.
And here’s the truth: We’re just getting started.
In the coming weeks, budget negotiations will begin for the new fiscal year. Some legislators have already made it clear to us they plan to come after our community again. But this time, they know exactly who they’re up against — and they know we are stronger than ever.
Aside from a few courageous individuals, many politicians still see our children as a line item to cut. We are here to show them differently.
Arizona values life over dollars.
Arizona defends its most vulnerable.
And Arizona families will not be silenced
We’re in this together, and together, we are unstoppable!! Thank you for standing strong. Thank you for making history. And despite what it has cost us on every level, thank you for being the hope our disabled children and adults deserve.
Updated calls to action will follow soon.
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