Senate Republicans Advance Accountability Package to Stop Waste, Fraud, Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 26, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— As Arizona families stretch every dollar, Senate Republicans are moving a package of bills aimed at stopping waste, fraud, and abuse in state government and protecting taxpayer money. The accountability package focuses on tightening oversight, closing loopholes, and making sure public assistance programs work the way they are intended — for people who truly need them.
Under Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, fraud and abuse in taxpayer-funded programs have continued, with little to no action taken to address it. This package is about stepping in where the executive branch has failed and restoring accountability.
"Across the country, we're seeing what can happen when government loses control of its own programs," said Senate President Warren Petersen. "Just look at the massive Medicaid fraud scandal in Minnesota, and here in Arizona we've uncovered as much as $2.5 billion in improper claims tied to AHCCCS and sober living schemes that never delivered real care, with only a fraction recovered so far. That's money that should've gone to people who genuinely qualify for help. This package is about fixing that, protecting the integrity of these programs, and making sure able-bodied adults and con artists can't take advantage of the system."
Health Care and Medicaid Oversight
SB 1051, sponsored by Senator Wendy Rogers, requires hospitals to report anonymized data on patient immigration status to better understand costs of uncompensated care. SB 1236, sponsored by Senator John Kavanagh, strengthens AHCCCS eligibility verification by limiting self-attestation and improving data matching to prevent improper payments. SB 1316, sponsored by Senator Hildy Angius, adds legislative oversight before federal rural health transformation funds are spent.
Public Assistance Accountability and SNAP Reforms
SB 1368, sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, seeks federal approval to ensure SNAP benefits are used for nutritious food and not junk items. SB 1331, sponsored by Senator Kavanagh, requires able-bodied adults receiving SNAP to participate in work or job training. SB 1333, also sponsored by Senator Kavanagh, sets targets to reduce SNAP payment error rates and requires audits and corrective action if benchmarks are missed. Additionally, Senator Kavanagh's SB 1334 prevents agencies from waiving SNAP work requirements without clear approval in state law.
Unemployment Benefits Oversight
SB 1036, sponsored by Senator Mark Finchem, tightens unemployment eligibility requirements and closes loopholes that allow benefits to be paid when suitable work is available.
State Operations and Government Efficiency
SB 1056, also sponsored by Senator Finchem, requires agencies to report and eliminate long-vacant positions to improve transparency and efficiency.
Protecting Arizona from Foreign Adversary Fraud
SB 1308, sponsored by President Petersen, establishes a Foreign Adversary Fraud Office within the Attorney General's Office to pursue consumer fraud involving foreign adversary technology and protect critical infrastructure.
Several of the bills related to health care oversight and SNAP accountability will be considered in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on Tuesday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m. Other bills will be heard in the coming weeks. Taken together, the package reflects a broader push to be better stewards of taxpayer dollars and restore accountability in government programs.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus