On Feb. 19, 2026, Representative Walt Blackman, Chairman of the Arizona House Committee on Government, and Representative Lisa Fink, Vice Chairman, will convene a special hearing focused on oversight of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and legislation aimed at strengthening accountability, child safety, and placement stability. The hearing will take place in House Hearing Room 5 at the State Capitol in Phoenix.
The session is set to address reforms related to kinship placement, standards in group settings, DCS response to credible abuse and neglect reports, independent oversight, and related legal authorities. Members of the public and media are invited to attend in person or watch live online.
“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,” according to Chairman Walt Blackman. Vice Chairman Lisa Fink said, “Families and taxpayers deserve a child welfare agency that acts with urgency, follows the law, and does the basics right every time. This committee is taking a hard look at how DCS responds, how placements are chosen and supervised, and why preventable failures keep reoccurring. We are advancing reforms that strengthen kinship care, raise standards in group settings, and require action when credible abuse is reported.”
The committee will consider several reform measures during the hearing. These include HB 2035 (Fink), which expands eligibility for kinship placement; HB 2041 (Fink), clarifying that lack of financial resources alone does not constitute neglect; HB 2611 (Blackman), establishing stronger safety requirements for congregate care; HB 2860 (Blackman), creating an independent oversight committee for DCS performance review; HB 4004 (Keshel), requiring DCS response to credible abuse or neglect reports; and HB 4049 (Fink), allowing DCS to employ legal counsel outside the Attorney General’s office.
Representative Walt Blackman serves Legislative District 7 as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives. Lisa Fink represents Legislative District 27 as a Republican member.
