Rep. Patty Contreras

Maddy summaryHB 2643 allocates $120 million from Arizona's state general fund and $91 million from federal child care development funds for the Department of Economic Security's child care assistance program in fiscal year 2025-2026. The bill directs these funds specifically for child care assistance services, exempting them from standard appropriation expiration rules. This funding supports low-income families seeking child care, ensuring continued program operations without automatic budget lapse. The bill does not change eligibility rules or create new benefits, only securing existing funding streams.

Maddy summaryHB 2497 establishes a study committee to examine health insurance costs for Arizona school district employees and their dependents. The committee, composed of appointed members including health insurance representatives, school district officials, teachers, and school board members, will analyze current insurance plans and costs. It must recommend affordable ways to maintain high-quality health coverage for educators and their families. The committee must submit its findings and recommendations to state leaders by November 1, 2026, and will be dissolved after October 31, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2648 updates Arizona's child care assistance eligibility rules to support low-income working families and specific vulnerable groups. It expands access for families transitioning off cash assistance (up to 24 months), those with incomes at or below 165% of the federal poverty level (FPL), foster families, and families facing crises like domestic violence or homelessness. Key mechanisms include income thresholds (ceasing aid if income exceeds 85% of state median income), priority for families at or below 100% FPL, and options for education/training support instead of work requirements. The bill aims to align child care assistance with employment goals while managing funding through income-based eligibility and waiting list prioritization.

Maddy summaryHB 2460 amends Arizona's children's health insurance program (CHIP) eligibility rules by adjusting income thresholds for children under 19. It sets the following income limits relative to the federal poverty level: 200% for 1999-2023, 225% (with CMS approval) for 2023-2025, and 300% starting October 1, 2025. The bill directly affects low-income Arizona families with children under 19 whose household income meets these revised thresholds. It does not change program benefits or structure, only the income eligibility percentages. The amendment is part of defining program terms in Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-2981.

Maddy summaryHB 2336 creates a new "Native American Veteran special plate" option for Arizona vehicle owners. To implement this, a person must pay $32,000 to the state department by December 31, 2025, after which the department will issue the plates. The payer designs the plates (subject to department approval) and may combine the request with personalized plates. A $25 annual fee applies, with $17 of that amount donated to a dedicated "Native American Veteran special plate fund" established by the bill. This directly affects qualifying Native American veterans seeking this specific plate option.

Maddy summaryHB 2290 establishes a licensing requirement for student loan servicers operating in Arizona, directly affecting entities that manage student loans for borrowers. It mandates that most servicers obtain a state license (with exceptions for banks/credit unions), requiring application fees, financial disclosures, and criminal background checks. The bill also creates a state student loan ombudsman to handle borrower complaints, analyze issues, and develop an education course on loan terms and repayment options by 2025. Key provisions include license renewal rules, suspension for unpaid fees, and a requirement for servicers to notify the state of operational changes. This policy changes how student loan servicing is regulated within Arizona, focusing on oversight and borrower support.

Maddy summaryHB 2288 restricts tuition and fee increases at Arizona's public universities. It limits annual tuition hikes for in-state undergraduate students to the change in the metropolitan Phoenix consumer price index (CPI), but only if the state appropriates at least 50% of the tuition and mandatory fees. The bill also prohibits tuition increases for in-state undergraduates during their first four years of enrollment. Additionally, it requires public hearings and disclosure of proposed changes before any tuition or fee adjustments take effect. This directly affects the Arizona Board of Regents, public universities, and in-state undergraduate students.

Maddy summaryHB 2357 requires landlords in Arizona to provide tenants with specific written information at the start of a tenancy, including the name and address of property managers, owners authorized to receive legal notices, and the website for Arizona's residential landlord-tenant laws. It also mandates that landlords include the website address for tenant assistance resources (like azcourthelp.org) or local eviction prevention services in all written notices related to lease violations or eviction proceedings. This bill directly affects landlords (who must provide these disclosures) and tenants (who gain clearer access to legal resources and support). The key change is adding mandatory inclusion of tenant assistance information in eviction-related notices, without altering core eviction procedures or tenant obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 2502 requires Arizona employers to provide employees with a 30-minute unpaid meal break after five hours of work (and an additional break after twelve hours), plus a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked. It mandates 1.5 times regular pay for hours worked beyond eight in a workday (up to twelve hours) or the first eight hours on a seventh consecutive workday, and double pay for hours beyond twelve in a day or eight on the seventh consecutive workday. The bill applies to employers meeting the federal threshold of $100,000 annual sales or engaging in interstate commerce, ensuring Arizona’s labor standards align with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. This directly affects most Arizona employers and their hourly workers by modifying break requirements and overtime compensation rates.

Maddy summaryHB 2286, the "Arizona Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act of 2025," prohibits eligible Arizona public universities and community colleges from reducing a student's gift aid (non-loan financial aid) because they receive a private scholarship, except when the gift aid exceeds the student's actual cost of attendance. It directly affects students enrolled in associate or bachelor's degree programs at eligible institutions (like Arizona Board of Regents universities or community colleges) who receive private scholarships from companies, foundations, or nonprofits (excluding university foundations or government aid). The bill requires institutions to consider private scholarship awards separately when determining financial aid, ensuring students retain full scholarship benefits unless the gift aid already covers their full cost of attendance. Key definitions clarify "cost of attendance" (including tuition, books, living expenses) and "gift aid" as non-loan financial support.