By Matthew Holloway |

Arizona House lawmakers advanced a package of Department of Child Safety (DCS) reform bills following a special oversight hearing led by House Committee on Government Chairman Walt Blackman (R-LD6) and Vice Chair Lisa Fink (R-LD27).

The Feb. 19 hearing focused on legislative oversight and proposed structural reforms to the state’s child welfare system. According to reporting from State Affairs, several of the measures discussed during the hearing have since advanced through committee and moved forward in the legislative process.

Blackman and Fink convened the hearing at 1:00 p.m., with lawmakers reviewing testimony and examining proposals addressing accountability, placement stability, child protection procedures, and oversight mechanisms within DCS.

In a news release, Blackman stated, “Arizona’s child safety system exists for one reason: to protect children. When the state takes custody, there is no room for excuses. This hearing is about accountability and enforceable change. We will put facts on the record, press for answers, and advance reforms that put child safety ahead of bureaucracy.”

Vice Chair Fink said lawmakers would examine how DCS responds to abuse reports, how placements are selected and monitored, and why “preventable failures keep reoccurring.” She added, “We are advancing reforms that strengthen kinship care, raise standards in group settings, and require action when credible abuse is reported.”

Reform Measures Advance

Six reform-related bills were advanced by the House committee amid continued scrutiny of foster care oversight.

• HB 2035 (Fink): Expands eligibility for kinship placement, requires timely identification and notice to relatives and significant connections, and increases transparency when kinship placement is denied.
• HB 2041 (Fink): Clarifies that a parent’s inability to provide basic necessities based solely on lack of financial resources should not be treated as neglect.
• HB 2611 (Blackman): Establishes enhanced safety requirements for group care settings, including employee screening and training standards, and protections focused on youth safety and continuity of care.
• HB 2860 (Blackman): Creates an independent oversight committee to review DCS performance and critical incidents, including reporting requirements and dedicated funding for oversight operations.
• HB 4004 (Keshel): Requires DCS to respond to credible abuse or neglect reports and prohibits screen-outs when an alleged abusive parent has parenting time or legal decision-making authority.
• HB 4049 (Fink): Adds DCS to the list of agencies exempt from restrictions on employing legal counsel outside the Attorney General’s Office.

The Arizona Department of Child Safety has faced sustained legislative scrutiny in recent years related to foster placements, case management workloads, and agency oversight following a series of tragic deaths, which led to a Senate investigation in August of 2025. The agency committed to a series of internal reforms during a September 2025 stakeholder meeting convened by State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4).

The reform bills now move forward in the legislative process for further consideration.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.