By Reagan Priest | State Affairs
Gov. Katie Hobbs signed another Department of Child Safety reform bill Thursday, while also approving a criminal justice measure many of her fellow Democrats opposed.
Hobbs signed five bills Thursday, including Senate Bill 1126 (DCS caseworkers; schools; required disclosures), which requires school officials to comply with information and interview requests from DCS caseworkers regarding investigations into abuse or neglect allegations. The measure grew out of a joint legislative oversight committee formed to explore gaps in the state’s child welfare system after the deaths of three young girls in 2025.
“After the heartbreaking deaths of children known to the Arizona Department of Child Safety, we asked ourselves and each other tough questions, identified systemic factors, and got to work,” Hobbs said in a statement. “SB 1126 implements critical reforms that will improve DCS’s ability to investigate child abuse and neglect. It strengthens communication between caseworkers and schools, creating access to vital information that enables the department to effectively carry out its duties.”
