Rep. Selina Bliss

Maddy summaryHB 2316 allows Arizona middle schools (grades 6-8) to offer career technical education (CTE) courses that count toward both 8th-grade promotion and high school graduation. Schools must partner with approved CTE providers like community colleges or state-approved programs, and students must pass courses to earn credit. The bill requires schools to report course offerings and completions annually, with a final report due by 2029, and expires in 2037. It permits CTE districts to fund middle school CTE courses without raising property taxes but prohibits counting middle school students in district enrollment totals.

Maddy summaryHB 2362 requires owners of residential rental properties in Arizona, especially short-term rentals (less than 30 days), to register specific details with their county assessor. This includes owner contact information, property address, year built, and confirmation of short-term rental status. If owners fail to register, tenants can terminate leases and demand refunds of prepaid rent within 10 days, and cities/towns may impose daily fines of up to $150 for non-compliance. The bill directly affects rental property owners (including out-of-state owners who must designate a local agent) and tenants, with enforcement handled by county assessors and local governments.

Maddy summaryHB 2723 allows cities or towns with historically irrigated land in Arizona's Big Chino groundwater subbasin to withdraw and transport groundwater to the Prescott Active Management Area (AMA), subject to specific limits. The annual withdrawal amount is based on retired irrigated acres (1975-1990), calculated as three acre-feet per acre, with yearly limits capped at twice the annual allotment or ten times over a decade. Before withdrawal, entities must obtain a "certificate of adequate mitigation" proving no harm to base flow, water quality, or flood cycles, requiring annual monitoring at the Paulden stream gage and specific mitigation actions like recharging treated water or retiring irrigated land. The bill mandates ten-year certificate renewals and detailed annual reports on withdrawal impacts and mitigation efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 2724 creates a new "Search and Rescue Special Plate" program for Arizona license plates. To implement the program, an individual or organization must pay $32,000 upfront to the state, design the plate (subject to department approval), and may combine it with personalized plates. When purchasing these plates, owners pay a $25 annual fee, with $17 of that amount going directly to a new Search and Rescue Special Plate Fund. This fund, managed by the state, will support search and rescue organizations, while the remaining $8 covers administrative costs in the state highway fund. The bill affects plate buyers who choose this special plate option and the organizations receiving funds from the new program.

Maddy summaryHB 2363 amends Arizona law to define key terms for residential rental properties, including "managing agent" (a person or entity authorized to operate a property), "residential rental property" (property leased for living, including mobile home park spaces but excluding the mobile home if owned by the tenant), and "slum property" (rental property with specific health/safety hazards). The bill specifies that "slum property" includes conditions like structural damage, lack of potable water, hazardous electrical systems, or accumulation of dangerous materials. These definitions will directly guide housing regulations for landlords, property managers, and local enforcement agencies in applying safety standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2430 prevents Arizona cities from banning short-term rentals (like Airbnb) and limits local regulations to specific safety and zoning concerns. It requires cities to issue rental permits within 7 days for owners who provide basic contact info, property address, and proof of compliance with existing laws, with fees capped at $250. Key provisions include mandatory neighbor notification before renting, display of permit numbers in ads, $500,000 liability insurance (or equivalent coverage through platforms), and new residency rules for accessory dwelling units approved after September 2024. The bill directly affects rental property owners, online platforms, and city governments managing housing regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 2721) creates legal protections for individuals convicted of trafficking-related offenses who were themselves victims of sex trafficking. It prohibits prosecution if a defendant proves by "more likely than not" evidence they committed the acts due to being a trafficking victim (as defined in existing Arizona law for adult or child sex trafficking). It also allows courts to vacate or modify convictions for trafficking-related offenses (like recruiting or transporting victims) if the defendant shows they were a victim at the time and acted under force or coercion. The law applies to all ages and requires a three-fourths legislative vote to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2431 appropriates $15 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to build a consolidated elections facility in Yavapai County. The state funds are conditional: Yavapai County must provide a 50% matching contribution toward the facility's total capital costs. The appropriation is exempt from standard budget lapsing rules until June 30, 2029, ensuring the funds remain available for the project. This bill directly affects Yavapai County by providing state funding for a centralized election operations facility.

Maddy summaryHB 2204 amends Arizona's workers' compensation law to clarify who qualifies as an "employee" for benefits, specifically including volunteer firefighters, reserve officers, and other part-time first responders. The bill establishes clear wage calculation methods for these personnel - using full-time equivalent salaries or fixed rates like $400/month for some roles - to determine their compensation benefits. It applies to volunteer firefighters serving without full pay, sheriff's reserve members, and similar personnel who perform duties under authorized programs. The bill does not address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), despite the title, as it focuses solely on expanding and standardizing existing workers' compensation coverage for these first responders.

Maddy summaryHB 2441 creates a new "adaptive sports and recreation special plate" for Arizona vehicle owners. To implement this, a single entity must pay $32,000 to the state department to design and fund the plates, which must be approved by the department. Owners who purchase these plates pay a $25 annual fee, with $17 of that amount directed to a dedicated fund supporting adaptive sports and recreation programs. The bill specifies that plate design must meet state readability and contrast requirements, and the $17 donations will be deposited into a specific fund established by this legislation. This is a funding mechanism for adaptive sports programs through a specialized license plate program.