Rep. Junelle Cavero

Maddy summaryHB 2890 requires Arizona employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, such as modified equipment, more frequent breaks, schedule changes for prenatal visits, or assistance with manual labor, unless it causes significant difficulty for the business. Employers cannot force pregnant employees to use vacation or sick leave when accommodations are possible and must post clear notices about these requirements in employee handbooks and provide written notice to new hires, current employees, and pregnant employees within 10 days of pregnancy notification. The bill directly affects pregnant employees and their employers across Arizona, ensuring they receive specific workplace adjustments without penalty. It takes effect after the law is enacted, with written notices required within 180 days of the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2838 updates Arizona landlord-tenant law by changing eviction court judgments and rental agreement rules. It requires courts to calculate unpaid rent as a prorated amount (not the full period) in eviction cases, removes social security numbers from judgments, and prohibits landlords from including excessive late fees ($50 max per period), clauses forcing tenants to pay landlord attorney fees, or blocking tenants from calling emergency services. The bill also clarifies that landlords must give tenants 10 days to fix lease breaches (like false application info), but material falsification of details (e.g., income, criminal history) makes eviction immediate and unfixable. These changes directly affect tenants facing eviction and landlords drafting rental agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 2837 limits landlord fees and requires clear cost disclosures for renters in Arizona. It prohibits landlords from charging for background checks if tenants provide their own credit report, caps application fees at actual costs (banning separate fees for screening), and restricts landlords to one application fee per year. The bill also mandates landlords to disclose in writing at lease start: all rent amounts, mandatory fees (like trash or smart device upgrades), additional costs, property management details, and landlord contact information - both in the lease and in all promotional materials. These changes directly affect renters (by reducing hidden fees) and landlords (who must follow new disclosure rules).

Maddy summaryHB 2903 establishes Arizona's Retirement Savings Program, creating a new state board to administer a payroll deduction savings option for private-sector workers who lack employer-sponsored retirement plans. The program allows eligible employees (ages 18+ working for covered employers not in government or existing retirement plans) to contribute to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) through automatic payroll deductions. The Arizona Retirement Savings Board will develop investment policies, select a program administrator, and manage funds to offer low-cost investment options focused on income replacement. This directly affects private employers and employees in Arizona who currently don't have access to tax-advantaged retirement savings through their workplace.

Maddy summaryHB 2891 requires Arizona wireless carriers to share a device's real-time location with law enforcement during emergencies involving risk of death or serious injury. Carriers must provide contact details to the state Department of Public Safety quarterly and notify the person whose location was shared within 48 hours, unless the request involves domestic violence or stalking restrictions. Law enforcement must obtain a court order confirming probable cause within 48 hours of requesting location data. The bill protects carriers from liability for sharing location in good faith during emergencies and prohibits sharing with individuals subject to certain restraining orders.

Maddy summaryHB 2839 establishes a maximum annual rent increase limit for landlords in Arizona, directly affecting both landlords and tenants. It caps rent increases at the annual consumer price index (CPI) plus 3% of the current rent, but not exceeding a total 7% increase per year. The bill also clarifies procedures for landlords to handle tenant property or animals if a tenant dies or becomes incapacitated, requiring authorized persons to retrieve items within 20 days. These provisions aim to limit arbitrary rent hikes while standardizing property retrieval processes under Arizona law.

Maddy summaryHB 2860 requires Arizona's auditor general to review the Department of Revenue's (DOR) staffing and compensation issues, directly affecting DOR operations. The review must identify vacant positions, how long they've been unfilled, and how much pay for current roles lags behind market rates. The auditor general must submit a report with findings and recommendations to state leaders by December 31, 2025, and the law expires June 30, 2026. This bill mandates a specific evaluation of DOR staffing gaps without altering existing laws or creating new programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2835 requires mandatory settlement conferences for certain eviction cases in Arizona before a trial can proceed. It applies to landlords seeking eviction for unpaid rent (under ARS 33-1368(B)) or material lease violations (under ARS 33-1368(A)), mandating that both parties attend a court meeting five days after the eviction notice is served. At the conference, they must bring lease agreements, payment records, and other relevant documents; failure to attend results in dismissal (landlord) or default judgment (tenant). If unresolved, the case moves to an eviction hearing five business days after the conference, streamlining the process while requiring courts to track and report settlement outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2848 requires corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), or their affiliates purchasing single-family homes in Arizona to register with the Corporation Commission before buying. County recorders cannot record deeds unless the buyer provides proof of registration and the deed states the property is not the owner’s primary residence. The bill limits corporate buyers to owning no more than 5% of a county’s single-family homes (or 100 units annually in counties with over 400,000 residents), with exceptions for entities owning fewer than ten homes statewide. These rules apply to commercial investors buying homes, aiming to limit large-scale corporate ownership in residential neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryHB 2834 requires Arizona municipalities with over 30,000 residents to allow "starter homes" in at least 10% of new single-family developments larger than 10 acres, starting January 1, 2027. It removes specific zoning rules like minimum lot sizes (4,000 sq ft), front/rear yard setbacks, and requirements for rear patios or landscaping, while preserving building codes and safety standards. A "starter home" must have income restrictions limiting initial sales or occupancy for 15 years to households earning ≤120% of the area median income (based on HUD data). The law exempts historic districts, airport zones, and existing planned communities, and expires December 31, 2035.