Rep. Ralph Heap

Maddy summaryHB 2133 creates a provisional nursing license pathway for out-of-state nurses moving to Arizona. It allows the Arizona Board of Nursing to issue a temporary license within five business days if applicants hold an active, unencumbered license in another state, pass background checks, and meet residency or employment requirements (e.g., working in Arizona or accepting a job offer). The provisional license is valid for six months and converts to a full license upon meeting standard requirements, unless the board determines safety concerns exist. Veterans and military spouses receive waived application fees under this provision.

Maddy summaryHCR 2021 would require Arizona cities and towns to exempt most food for home or on-premises consumption from municipal sales taxes, prohibiting differential tax rates on specific food items. It sets a deadline of June 30, 2027, for cities to comply, limits tax increases to 2% without voter approval, and bans new food taxes or rate hikes in the 24 months before that date. This affects local governments (cities/towns), food retailers, restaurants, and residents purchasing food, as it standardizes food tax treatment and restricts local tax authority over food sales. The bill also exempts SNAP/food stamp purchases and food packaging from taxation. It requires voter approval for any new food tax or rate increase beyond 2% and applies retroactively to December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 2679 establishes a new framework for Arizona public power entities (like municipal utilities) to finance infrastructure upgrades by issuing "Transition Bonds." These bonds are secured by future customer payments called "Financing Charges," which become nonbypassable fees added to all customers' utility bills until the costs are fully recovered. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "Financing Charges," "Qualified Special Purpose Entity," and "Transition Bonds," ensuring these payments cannot be avoided regardless of the customer's service provider or asset ownership. This mechanism allows public power entities to shift financing costs to customers over time rather than relying solely on traditional rate increases.

Maddy summaryHB 2895 requires cities, counties, school districts, and state agencies in Arizona to publicly post task order contracts (for ongoing services or supplies) on their websites. It mandates that contracts must include the total dollar amount, contractor name, service description, and contract length - these items cannot be redacted. Contractors may redact personal or proprietary information beyond these four required details. The bill was passed by the legislature in May 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on May 13, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 2730 requires fingerprinting and criminal history checks for all employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors with direct contact (unsupervised or supervised) with "committed youth" in Arizona's secure care facilities under state jurisdiction. It mandates these checks within 7-10 days of hire or contact, conditioning employment and facility access on clearance. Individuals with certain disqualifying offenses - including sexual abuse, murder, violent crimes, drug trafficking, or child exploitation - face immediate termination from roles involving direct youth contact, though "good cause" exceptions may apply. Contracts with service providers can be canceled if these requirements aren't met, aiming to enhance safety for youth in state custody.

Maddy summaryHB 2112 requires websites and social media platforms hosting over one-third sexual material harmful to minors to implement age verification, confirming users are 18+ using methods that do not transmit or retain personal data to government entities. It prohibits commercial entities from sharing or keeping user identifying information during verification and imposes penalties of up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance or $250,000 if minors access restricted content. The law directly affects commercial online platforms but exempts news organizations, search engines, and internet service providers from liability for content they host but do not create. Violators face civil lawsuits with potential fines and attorney fee recovery for affected minors or parents. It defines "harmful to minors" material as content exploiting sexual acts or prurient interests without artistic/scientific value for youth.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1438 establishes a central registry for child abuse and neglect reports, requiring background checks for individuals working with children or vulnerable adults. It directly affects foster homes, adoptive parents, child care providers, behavioral health facilities, and residential care staff by mandating registry checks as a factor in licensing, employment, or certification decisions. Key provisions include limiting registry entries to 25 years, requiring monthly purges of outdated records, and creating an exception process for disqualified applicants. Employees must certify under penalty of perjury whether abuse allegations exist, and agencies must publish disqualifying acts while protecting privacy in shared data.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2052 creates a license exemption for individuals providing basic first aid without compensation. It specifically allows anyone to administer basic first aid (such as cleaning minor wounds, treating small burns, or applying bandages) in good faith, provided they obtain the injured person's consent first. If the injured person is under 15, consent must come from a parent or guardian, and the helper must notify law enforcement about the minor's condition. The bill explicitly excludes administering prescription medications and defines "basic first aid" to include nonprescription pain relief for minor injuries only. This policy directly affects community members, volunteers, and bystanders offering immediate care during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHCR 2049 is a symbolic resolution passed by Arizona's legislature, not a binding law. It asserts Arizona's sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment by declaring the state will not use state personnel or funds to enforce federal laws or programs deemed unconstitutional by Arizona. The resolution demands the federal government cease "commandeering" state actions and prohibits Arizona from complying with federal mandates that courts have ruled unconstitutionally coercive. It serves as a formal statement sent to federal officials, emphasizing Arizona's position but having no legal effect on federal law or enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 2440 prohibits Arizona's Attorney General from taking legal action against county board members who vote against certifying election results based on a good faith belief in unresolved integrity issues or documented evidence of potential irregularities. It specifically protects supervisors acting in good faith (not arbitrarily or partisanshiply) with evidence like audits or affidavits, while allowing prosecution of unrelated election offenses. The bill, passed by the Arizona legislature in April 2025, was vetoed by the Governor on May 6, 2025, and would have taken effect December 31, 2025, had it become law. It directly affects county election officials and the Attorney General's office in election certification disputes.