Rep. Michael Way

Maddy summaryHB 2810 prohibits public schools in Arizona from allowing abortion clinics or related entities to provide health education instruction, programs, or materials to students or staff. It specifically bans involvement by abortion providers (including clinics, their controlling entities, or franchised partners) in school health education. Schools failing to comply face potential withholding of state education funding after a 90-day correction period. The law directly affects public schools and their health education programs by restricting partnerships with abortion-related organizations.

Maddy summaryHCR 2017 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a new property tax exemption for Arizona residents aged 62 or older who own their primary residence without a mortgage and have lived there as their main home for at least two years. If approved by voters, this exemption would apply to tax years beginning after December 31, 2026. The amendment would specifically affect seniors meeting these criteria by eliminating property tax liability on their primary residence. This proposal requires voter approval and is not yet law, as it is currently in the early legislative review stages.

Maddy summaryHB 2553 authorizes Arizona to participate in a federal tax credit program (under Internal Revenue Code section 25F) that allows individuals to claim a tax credit for contributions to certified scholarship organizations. It requires the Arizona Department of Education to certify nonprofit scholarship organizations meeting federal standards and maintain a public list of certified organizations by January 1 each year. Starting December 31, 2026, these certified organizations may provide scholarships for elementary or secondary education expenses to eligible students, in alignment with federal law. The bill directly affects Arizona residents who contribute to scholarship programs and the nonprofit organizations administering them.

Maddy summaryHB 2366 limits Arizona election precincts to a maximum of 2,500 registered voters and prohibits the use of voting centers (where voters can choose any location in the county) for regular elections, requiring each precinct to have a designated polling place. County election boards must now establish precincts within the voter limit and cannot replace designated polling places with centralized voting centers. Emergency voting centers are permitted only with a specific, recorded vote by the board for a single election, under strict conditions. This bill affects county election boards and changes how polling locations are organized for regular elections, taking effect in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2658 repeals Section 15-901.06 of Arizona law, which authorized online dropout recovery programs for students who left school. This ends the specific provision allowing virtual options in these programs, directly affecting students enrolled in Arizona's dropout recovery initiatives who previously could access online courses. The bill also amends related virtual school assessment rules (Section 15-808.01), but the core action is removing the online program authorization. It does not create new requirements but eliminates a specific pathway for virtual dropout recovery services.

Maddy summaryHB 2659 repeals two Arizona statutes (Sections 15-796 and 15-901) that previously governed alternative education programs and instructional time models. Specifically, it removes provisions allowing alternative schools to deliver required instructional time on any day, enroll students without withdrawal forms (if verified), and continue funding for students incorrectly coded as graduates. This bill directly affects school districts and alternative education programs by eliminating these specific enrollment and funding mechanisms. The repeal is procedural and does not create new policies or change existing requirements for student instruction or accountability.

Maddy summaryHCR 2026 would allow individuals convicted of personal possession or use of controlled substances or drug paraphernalia to receive probation instead of immediate jail time, requiring participation in drug treatment or education programs. It mandates that courts place offenders on probation with treatment as a condition, and they must pay for programs based on their ability to pay. Exceptions include those convicted of violent crimes, three or more prior drug possession offenses, refusal to participate in treatment, or offenses involving methamphetamine or fentanyl (without a valid medical prescription). This proposal must be approved by Arizona voters to become law, as it is structured as a referendum measure.

Maddy summaryHB 2498 creates a new Class 5 felony for driving with a suspended, revoked, or canceled license when a person has five or more prior separate violations of this offense within 84 months (7 years). It directly affects individuals with repeated violations of Arizona's driving suspension laws, imposing a mandatory minimum 4-month prison sentence with no probation, suspension, or early release. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after January 1, 2019, and counts multiple violations from the same incident as a single offense for the five-violation threshold. This bill does not change penalties for first-time or fewer violations, which remain misdemeanors under existing law.

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 2365 establishes clear procedures for handling newborns left at designated safe haven locations (such as hospitals, churches, or fire stations). It requires immediate hospital examinations, directs private adoption agencies to take custody within 24 hours if able, and mandates the state department to contact the next agency on a rotating list if needed - ensuring custody is secured within 48 hours. The bill directly affects newborns left at safe havens, adoption agencies, hospitals, and the Department of Child Safety. It also requires agencies to cover medical costs if the infant is ineligible for state health programs.