Rep. Julie Willoughby

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the administrative powers of the Arizona Board of Regents to govern the state's public universities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It authorizes the board to set tuition and fees based on student residency and enrollment status, while establishing a separate fund for tuition revenue that cannot be used to support alumni associations. The legislation also mandates public hearings and roll call votes for any tuition increases, ensures guaranteed admission for veterans, and requires the board to submit annual budget requests that include projected tuition revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Arizona counties with fewer than 250,000 residents to use money from specific local taxes for general county expenses in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Under this rule, a county can use up to $1.25 million from any designated revenue source for purposes other than what that source was originally intended for. To ensure transparency, the law requires these smaller counties to submit a report to the state budget committee by October 1, 2026, detailing how they plan to use these funds. The measure applies only to counties based on their 2020 population counts and does not affect larger jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes annual groundwater withdrawal fees for users in Arizona's Prescott, Santa Cruz, Tucson, Phoenix, and Pinal active management areas, with a maximum rate of $5 per acre-foot. The collected funds are allocated to cover administrative costs, water supply augmentation, conservation assistance, water banking, and the purchase of older water rights, while also exempting small-scale irrigation operations. Additionally, the legislation creates a dedicated fund to finance the construction and rehabilitation of wells and infrastructure for irrigation districts in specific regions.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill creates a new transition program that allows eligible inmates to serve up to ninety days in the community before their full release. To qualify, inmates must meet specific criteria, such as having a minimum or medium custody classification, making satisfactory progress in prison programming, and agreeing to provide post-release information, while those convicted of sexual offenses or serious violent crimes are excluded. The program requires private or nonprofit providers to offer services like counseling, job placement, and family reunification, and it mandates that victims be notified and given a chance to object before an inmate can be released early. Additionally, the bill establishes a dedicated fund to cover program costs and requires the state department to submit annual reports on the number of participants, the types of services provided, and recidivism rates.

Maddy summaryHB 4166 establishes the framework for implementing Arizona's 2026-2027 state budget, with a primary focus on strengthening the state's information technology management and financial oversight. The bill mandates that the state department of administration develop and enforce statewide IT standards, requiring agencies to submit annual technology plans and limiting the department's approval authority for projects between $25,000 and $1 million while mandating independent reviews for larger initiatives. Additionally, the legislation directs that any unrestricted federal funds received during the 2026-2027 fiscal year must be deposited into the state general fund specifically to pay for essential government services.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill updates regulations for liquor licenses, boxing, and fantasy sports to ensure proper tax collection and fund management. It requires boxing promoters to pay a four percent tax on gross receipts and mandates financial audits for these events, with unspent funds reverting to the state general fund if they exceed a specific limit. The legislation also establishes a fee for fantasy sports operators based on tribal gaming revenue shares and allows the boxing commission to withhold prize money from participants involved in sham contests. Additionally, the bill clarifies license renewal timelines and medical exam expiration dates for combat sports while repealing an outdated section related to fantasy sports funds.

Maddy summaryHB 4168 updates Arizona's insurance premium tax rates and reporting requirements for the 2026-2027 period. The bill mandates that insurers file annual reports by March 1 detailing their direct premium income and pay corresponding taxes, which vary by insurance type and location. Fire insurance premiums on properties in towns with private fire companies are taxed at 0.66 percent, while other fire insurance is taxed at 2.2 percent, and taxes on other insurance categories gradually decrease to 1.70 percent for premiums received in 2021 and later. Eighty-five percent of the fire insurance tax collected is allocated to municipal and fire district funds to support public safety personnel retirement systems. Additionally, the bill requires larger insurers to make monthly tax payments throughout the year and allows for electronic submission of reports and payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for overdose and disease prevention programs in Arizona, allowing cities, counties, and local health departments to operate services that provide free needles, naloxone for overdose reversal, and referrals to treatment. The legislation requires these programs to offer educational materials on preventing infections and injuries while mandating that the number of needles disposed of equals the number distributed to ensure safety. Additionally, the bill creates a new fund to support rural health initiatives, requiring the state to hold public meetings in major metropolitan areas to gather community input before spending the allocated money. Finally, it explicitly prohibits the use of opioid settlement funds to finance safer smoking equipment, clarifying that such funds cannot be used for tools designed to reduce health risks associated with inhaling drugs.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund through December 31, 2031, and creates two separate subaccounts to manage funds for veterans served before and after the September 11, 2001 attacks. It establishes two advisory committees, one for each subaccount, to set criteria for financial assistance, manage the application process, and evaluate requests for aid. The committees will consist of state officials and community members, including widows, widowers, military retirees, and veterans with service-connected disabilities, who will be appointed by the governor. Additionally, any unspent money in these subaccounts at the end of the funding period will be transferred to the state's veterans' donations fund.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 4080 establishes a two-year pilot program within the Department of Health Services to test artificial intelligence tools that perform nursing-support tasks (like scheduling or data analysis) in clinical settings, not patient assessment or treatment. The bill requires AI vendors to apply with detailed safety plans - including human oversight protocols, escalation procedures for errors, and documentation systems - to ensure patient privacy and safety. An advisory committee, including nursing professionals, will review applications, recommend up to five vendors for the pilot, and monitor safety, with final reports due by 2029. The program expires December 31, 2029, and directly affects AI technology vendors, healthcare facilities participating in the pilot, and the nursing workforce by testing AI integration within current practice standards.