SB 1345: health facilities; anonymous complaints; prohibition - Arizona

Senate Engrossed Version (02/25/2026) → Chaptered Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into law (Chaptered Version) after being passed by the Senate, converting the text from a 'Senate Engrossed' draft to a 'House Engrossed' version approved by the Governor. The substantive legal text remains largely consistent, with the primary change being the reorganization of the bill's title and the amendment of Arizona Revised Statutes to update standards for health care institutions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on regulating health care institutions in Arizona, including hospitals, infirmaries, and residential care facilities. No new entities were added or removed from the scope of regulation.

TECHNICAL

The document title and header were updated from 'Senate Engrossed' to 'House Engrossed' and 'Chapter 171', reflecting the bill's final passage and approval by the Governor on June 19, 2026.

The summary description of the bill's purpose was slightly rephrased to reflect the final chaptered status, though the core intent regarding health care institutions remains the same.

REQUIREMENT

The final version explicitly details the Director's authority to adopt rules for constructing, modifying, and licensing health care institutions, including specific requirements for physician presence during surgery and outpatient center operations.

FISCAL

The final version clarifies that 90% of collected licensing fees go to the health services licensing fund and 10% to the state general fund.

ENFORCEMENT

The final version establishes a model for on-site monitoring of non-compliant facilities and sets specific timelines for license issuance and inspection reviews.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version (04/27/2026) · 7 edits · Jun 9, 2026

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally shifts Arizona's approach to health facility regulation by removing a prohibition on anonymous complaints and replacing it with a new system of on-site monitoring for non-compliant facilities. It also introduces new fee structures for licensing and training, establishes a model for integrating outpatient and behavioral health services, and adds specific protections for critical access hospitals and rural general hospitals. These changes aim to increase regulatory oversight and flexibility while maintaining public safety standards.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of regulatory authority by allowing anonymous complaints (previously prohibited) and adding specific provisions for critical access hospitals and rural general hospitals that were not explicitly detailed in the original version.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the prohibition on accepting or investigating anonymous complaints against health care institutions.

Added provisions to facilitate the colocation and integration of outpatient treatment centers with behavioral health services.

Added a provision allowing rural general hospitals to provide intensive care services.

Added a requirement for the department to notify owners and lessees of agricultural land within one-fourth mile of a new health care institution.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for the director to establish on-site monitoring fees and processes for facilities found not in substantial compliance with licensure requirements.

FISCAL

Established nonrefundable fees for applications, initial inspections, and licensing, with 90% deposited in the health services licensing fund and 10% in the state general fund.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified inspection requirements for critical access hospitals, exempting them from certain modifications if they terminate their designation and maintain prior licensed capacity.

House Engrossed Version (04/27/2026) → Senate Engrossed Version (02/25/2026) · 3 edits · Jun 9, 2026

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from a House version to a Senate version, shifting its focus from amending existing sections to adding a new section. The most significant policy change is the introduction of a new prohibition on the Department of Health Services accepting or investigating anonymous complaints, with exceptions only for the subject of the allegation or a witness. Additionally, the bill clarifies the legal authority and scope of the amendments to the Arizona Revised Statutes.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from amending two existing sections (36-405 and 36-425) to adding a new section (36-420.06) while retaining the amendments to the existing sections.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section (36-420.06) that prohibits the Department of Health Services from accepting or investigating anonymous complaints against health care institutions, unless the complainant is the subject of the allegation or a witness to the conduct.

TECHNICAL

Changed the legislative text from 'House Engrossed' to 'Senate Engrossed' and updated the description of the bill's purpose to reflect the addition of a new section rather than just amending existing ones.

Revised the description of the statutory amendments to specify that the bill adds section 36-420.06 to Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, in addition to the existing amendments.

health facilities; anonymous complaints; prohibition

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