Rep. Neal Carter

Maddy summaryHB 4135 creates a new child care tax credit for Arizona taxpayers with children under five who use certified child care providers. The credit provides $2,000 per child for families with federal adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, and $1,000 for incomes between $75,000 and $150,000 annually. A total of $15 million in credits is available each year on a first-come, first-served basis, with excess credits paid as refunds. The credit applies to tax returns filed for 2026 and later, supporting working families seeking quality early childhood care.

Maddy summaryHB 4082 proposes that social media platforms in Arizona must restrict users under 16 from accessing content and engaging in social interactions. The bill requires platforms to implement age-appropriate design features, default safety settings, and annual risk assessments to address potential harms to minors. Platforms must also publish safety policies detailing risk categories and mitigation strategies, while maintaining compliance records for three years. This legislation directly affects social media companies operating in Arizona, mandating specific safety measures without restricting business transactions or advertising.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill seeks a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used for fast food purchases while allowing their use for vitamins. If approved, SNAP recipients in Arizona would no longer be able to buy fast food with their benefits but could purchase vitamins using the program. The state would need to annually request this waiver until approved. The bill is currently in early legislative review stages (prefiled, first reading) and does not change existing SNAP rules until federal approval is granted.

Maddy summaryHB 2554 amends Arizona's budget process by requiring the governor to submit a two-year budget plan (biennial budget) with separate annual breakdowns, instead of a single-year plan. It mandates that state agencies submit detailed financial estimates by September 1 each even-numbered year, including costs from local minimum wage increases exceeding state levels. The bill also establishes a continuous budget planning process, requires a February 15 appropriations estimate report, and specifies detailed contents for the governor's budget report (like balance sheets, income/expenditure schedules, and performance measures). This procedural bill affects the governor's office, state agencies, and the legislature by standardizing budget submission and reporting requirements for the next two fiscal years.

Maddy summaryHB 2971 allows new licensees in Arizona to defer paying initial fees for occupational licenses, registrations, or certifications until the beginning of their second year of practice. This directly affects individuals applying for their first license in regulated professions (such as contractors, cosmetologists, or healthcare roles) under Arizona law. The bill changes the timing of fee payment from "at the beginning of the licensing period" to "the beginning of the second year," reducing upfront costs for new practitioners. It does not alter licensing requirements or create new regulations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages with House first and second readings completed.

Maddy summaryHB 2920 requires app stores operating in Arizona to verify the age of users creating accounts and link accounts of minors (under 18, excluding married/emancipated individuals) to verified parent accounts. App stores must obtain parental permission before minors can download apps, make purchases, or access in-app purchases, and re-verify consent after significant app changes like new ads or in-app purchases. The bill mandates that app stores provide clear disclosures about age ratings, data collection, and privacy practices to parents before granting permission. It directly affects app store providers, minors under 18, and their parents within Arizona, with exemptions for preinstalled apps and core device functions.

Maddy summaryHB 2555 requires Arizona retail businesses with physical locations to accept cash for transactions of $100 or less without charging fees or penalties. It directly affects in-person retail stores (excluding online sales) by mandating cash acceptance and creating a legal remedy: customers denied cash payments or charged fees can sue for $1,000 per violation (capped at $5,000 per person), plus attorney fees. The law exempts businesses with pre-agreed written payment terms and online transactions. Damages adjust annually for inflation, but the bill does not apply to digital services or agreements specifying payment methods.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 sets new rules for employment contracts and evaluations of school leaders in Arizona. It limits superintendent and principal contracts to three years (with a 15-month notice period before renewal) and requires school districts to offer equal non-salary benefits to all staff, not just leadership. The bill also mandates annual performance evaluations for principals and school psychologists, including improvement plans and appeal processes. School districts must formally offer new contracts by May 15 (or June 15 if an override election occurs) and provide performance records to other districts for hiring. These changes directly affect superintendents, principals, and school psychologists in Arizona public and charter schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2835 prohibits labor organizations in Arizona from deducting membership dues directly from employees' paychecks. This bill directly affects employees who are members of labor organizations and the organizations themselves, as it bans automatic payroll deductions for dues. The key provision states that labor organizations may not take dues payments from an employee's paycheck without explicit written authorization. The bill amends Arizona law to establish this clear prohibition, shifting how dues payments must be collected.

Maddy summaryHB 2743 amends Arizona law governing homeowners' associations (HOAs) to clarify notice requirements and limit penalties. It requires HOAs to provide detailed written notices when alleging rule violations - including specific rule references, violation dates, and observers - and gives unit owners 21 days to respond via certified mail. The bill imposes $1,000 damages for HOAs failing to remove unlawful provisions after the first written notice, increasing to $2,500 for subsequent notices. It also caps annual assessment increases at 20% without member approval and limits late fees to $15 or 10% of the unpaid amount. These changes directly affect HOAs and their unit owners by standardizing dispute resolution and financial accountability.