Senate committee advances $20M border-support fund after split testimony

House Bill 24-16, which would appropriate $20 million from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027 to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for ‘‘local border support,’’ cleared the Senate Military Affairs and Border Security Committee on a 4–3 vote after more than an hour of testimony and member debate.

The bill’s presenter described the appropriation as funding capital equipment, local law enforcement officer positions for drug interdiction and grants to cities and counties for prosecution and detention costs. Jen Morrison, testifying for the Arizona Sheriffs Association, told the committee that ‘‘every single penny that is allocated for local border support every year is spent every year’’ and said most of the dollars are used for drug interdiction, citing canine units and task forces. Morrison also relayed data reported by her association, saying Navajo County seized ‘‘2,000,000 fentanyl pills’’ last year.

Opponents in public comment urged the committee to reject the bill or at least add strict usage controls. Joanna Ornelas said the $20 million ‘‘could be going into health care, into funding our schools’’ and warned that funding police ‘‘means more money is going to be going into a system that has murdered people, carried out violent raids in our communities and torn families apart.’’ Other speakers — including a high-school student and veterans — recommended investing in prevention, education and legal services instead of enlarging law-enforcement budgets.

Members divided on the measure’s purpose and language. Several senators emphasized drug interdiction and victim protections, while others pointed to repeated references to ‘‘illegal immigration’’ in the bill text and expressed concern the funding could be used in ways that harm immigrants or trigger federal enforcement activity. One committee member clarified that the proposal is intended to bring the program baseline to a total of $20 million rather than being an entirely new $20 million appropriation.

After senators explained their votes — including concerns about existing baselines (one member noted a current baseline of about $13.2 million plus other related funds) and about the bill’s immigration-enforcement language — the committee recorded 4 ayes and 3 noes and issued a due-pass recommendation. The bill will move on to further consideration in the Senate.

Next steps: HB 24-16 advances with the committee recommendation; members signaled potential floor debate on funding baselines and language that references immigration enforcement.