HB 2626 creates a state-funded scholarship program for child care workers in Arizona earning below 85% of the state median income. It directly affects teachers, educators, and support staff at department-contracted child care providers, preschools, kindergartens, and K-12 schools. The program provides $200 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026-2027, with scholarship money paid directly to child care providers (not individual workers) on a first-come, first-served basis. This aims to support workforce retention by covering costs for eligible providers.
HB 2529 requires Arizona prisons to provide free medical care to pregnant inmates, exempting them from fees for medical visits, prescriptions, and medical devices under Section 1(I)(5) of the bill. This directly affects pregnant individuals incarcerated in Arizona state facilities, ensuring they cannot be denied treatment or charged for care related to pregnancy. The bill also mandates that prisons honor a prisoner’s refusal of non-life-threatening treatment after documenting consequences (Section 31-202), while prohibiting denial of care due to inability to pay (Section 1(J)). These provisions specifically address pregnancy-related healthcare access and financial barriers within correctional medical services.
Arizona's HB 2801 allows individuals convicted of specific low-level marijuana offenses occurring before November 30, 2020, to petition courts for expungement of their records. It directly affects people arrested or convicted for possessing ≤2.5 ounces of marijuana, growing ≤6 plants at home for personal use, or possessing related paraphernalia. The bill requires courts to grant expungement unless prosecutors prove ineligibility with clear evidence, sealing records and restoring civil rights like firearm possession. Agencies must remove expunged records from public access and cannot use them in future cases. This policy change takes effect July 12, 2021, for eligible cases.
HB 2774 requires Arizona medical examiners to report deaths potentially linked to vaccine side effects to the Department of Health Services. Specifically, if a medical examiner or forensic pathologist determines a death was caused by a vaccine-related condition, they must submit a copy of the autopsy report to the health department. This adds a new reporting requirement to existing autopsy procedures, focusing on collecting data about possible vaccine-related fatalities. The bill does not change vaccine policies or requirements - it only establishes a formal process for reporting such cases to public health officials.
This bill prevents Arizona cities and towns from banning short-term rentals (like Airbnb properties). Instead, it allows local governments to regulate these rentals only for specific reasons: protecting public health/safety (e.g., fire codes), enforcing zoning rules equally applied to all housing, or preventing illegal activities. Key requirements include: owners must provide business license details and emergency contacts, obtain a permit with a $500 maximum fee, notify nearby neighbors before renting, and maintain $500,000 in liability insurance. The bill directly affects short-term rental property owners and local governments seeking to regulate them.
HB 2708 limits late fees landlords can charge to $50 or 5% of rent, whichever is greater, and bans rental agreements that prevent tenants from calling emergency services or penalize them for doing so. It also requires a 5-day waiting period after an eviction judgment before a landlord can enforce a writ of restitution. Landlords cannot force tenants to waive legal rights or pay excessive fees, and tenants may recover damages if landlords knowingly include prohibited lease terms. The bill applies directly to all residential rental agreements in Arizona, affecting both landlords and tenants in housing disputes.
HB 2627 creates new protections for workers during public health emergencies in Arizona. It prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who report health/safety concerns, wear higher-level personal protective equipment (like masks recommended by health agencies), or refuse forced confidentiality agreements about workplace hazards. Employers must post notices of these rights and face civil penalties of at least $100 per day for violations, with options for reinstatement or back pay if workers are fired for exercising these rights. The law applies to most employers and entities contracting with five or more independent contractors, enforced by the state Labor Department.
HB 2326 sets new qualifications and practice rules for dental assistants in Arizona who provide preventive care. To become an oral preventive assistant, a dental assistant must complete a 120-hour training program (including 90 hours of didactic instruction), hold CPR certification, and have specific dental certifications. The bill restricts their scope to removing plaque and tartar only on periodontally healthy patients or those with mild gingivitis using scalers or sonic devices - banning air polishing, treatment of periodontal disease, and services for medically compromised patients. They must inform patients they aren't seeing a licensed provider and prominently display their training certificate. Supervision is limited to one dental hygienist or three assistants per dentist.
HB 2604 establishes that private dispute resolution groups (like religious councils or community mediators) cannot override Arizona's civil courts or restrict access to them. It prohibits private tribunals from making binding decisions that discriminate based on sex, age, or other protected classes, and requires them to maintain transparency and documentation of voluntary participation. The bill specifically protects vulnerable individuals - such as children, abuse victims, or those under coercion - from having their legal rights waived or decisions enforced that violate due process. Civil courts retain full authority to review private tribunal decisions for fairness, voluntariness, and compliance with constitutional rights, while preserving religious freedom and nonbinding spiritual guidance.
HB 2542 adds "preventive dental care" to the list of covered services under Arizona's AHCCCS (Medicaid) program for enrollees aged 21 and older. The bill explicitly includes routine preventive dental services alongside existing emergency dental care and extractions, which remain capped at $1,000 annually per member. This change directly affects AHCCCS recipients aged 21+ by expanding their covered dental benefits to include preventive care like cleanings and check-ups. The bill does not alter existing coverage limits for other services or create new funding requirements.
HB 2569 allows terminally ill Arizona residents with capacity to obtain a prescription for medication to end their life under strict safeguards. It requires two witnesses (not related to the patient or entitled to their estate), counseling to confirm mental capacity and absence of depression, and detailed discussions about alternatives like hospice care. The bill mandates that physicians verify a terminal diagnosis (expected death within six months), ensure the patient's decision is voluntary, and document all steps before issuing a prescription. This law directly affects qualifying terminally ill adults in Arizona seeking end-of-life options, with no provision for physician administration of medication.
HB 2391 requires vloggers (parents or guardians creating compensated video content featuring minors) to set aside earnings for minor children when their name, likeness, or image appears in at least 30% of compensated videos meeting platform compensation thresholds or $0.10 per view. For single minors, 15% of the relevant earnings must be held in a trust; for multiple minors, 10% of the combined earnings is distributed equally. Minors can later request permanent deletion of their content from platforms upon reaching 18, with platforms required to comply. The bill applies to Arizona-based vloggers using minors' content for compensation, defining key terms like "minor child" (under 18 residing in Arizona) and "content percentage."
