Committee advances Blackman bill to fund emergency shelter grants for veterans

The Appropriations Committee adopted a Blackman amendment and returned House Bill 26‑20 with a due pass recommendation, sending the measure to the next stage of consideration. The bill would appropriate $300,000 from the State General Fund in each of the next five fiscal years to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services to distribute as grants to emergency shelters that assist veterans.

Representative Blackman framed the funding as modest but meaningful given the larger state budget; he asked the committee to think about veterans they see in their districts. Supporters including shelter representatives and the CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services described resource gaps and urged action to improve triage and connection to services. Witnesses cited estimates of about 1,000 veterans experiencing homelessness statewide and argued targeted grants could help reduce that number.

The committee adopted the Blackman amendment (which removed an age and congregate‑setting restriction) and embraced reporting and accountability language discussed in committee. The roll call vote returned the bill with a due pass recommendation (17 yes, 1 not voting).