Rep. Teresa Martinez

Maddy summaryHB 2101 allocates $10 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to the State Match Advantage for Rural Transportation Fund. This funding directly supports rural transportation programs by providing state matching resources for eligible projects. The bill establishes a specific financial allocation without creating new policy requirements or altering existing laws. It affects rural transportation initiatives that qualify for state matching funds under Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-339.

Maddy summaryHB 2002 amends Arizona law to establish rules for counties that voters approve to levy a transportation excise tax. The tax rate cannot exceed 20% of existing business transaction tax rates, and collected funds must be deposited into specific transportation funds based on county population size: counties over 400,000 residents send revenue to the regional transportation fund, while smaller counties can choose between funds or split allocations. All tax revenue must be used for transportation projects within the county, with no reduction in tax rates if underlying business taxes change. The bill requires voter approval for the tax to take effect and specifies it would be effective starting April 9, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill updates state laws against bestiality by explicitly criminalizing sexual contact with animals and the possession or distribution of visual depictions involving real people and real animals. The legislation establishes specific penalties, classifying direct acts as felonies and the creation or sharing of related images as a misdemeanor, while also allowing courts to order psychological counseling and reimbursement for animal care costs. Importantly, the law includes exemptions for standard veterinary procedures and legitimate animal husbandry practices, and it clarifies that artificial intelligence-generated images do not fall under the visual depiction restrictions.

Maddy summarySB 1174 expands tuition waiver scholarships in Arizona for children and spouses of public safety and military personnel who died in the line of duty or from injuries sustained while traveling to or from work. The bill specifically includes individuals who suffered a posttraumatic stress injury and died by suicide, requiring verification from relevant memorial boards or the department of veterans' services. Eligible recipients can receive up to 64 credit hours at community colleges or enough credits for a bachelor's degree at universities, provided they meet age and marital status requirements. Additionally, the law extends these benefits to National Guard members with Purple Heart citations and veterans with significant service-connected disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a referendum to ban foreign governments and non-governmental sources from donating money or services to Arizona election administration or ballot measure campaigns. It requires vendors and service providers to submit sworn certifications confirming they have not accepted such foreign contributions, with annual updates and quarterly reporting to the Secretary of State. Violations of these rules could result in the invalidation of contracts, misdemeanor charges, and civil lawsuits allowing private citizens to seek damages and injunctions. The legislation explicitly excludes federally recognized sovereign tribal nations from the definition of foreign sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to declare drug cartels as terrorist organizations within Arizona state law. It directs the Department of Homeland Security to take all actions within its authority to address the threat posed by these groups. The legislation defines a drug cartel as an association involved in human smuggling, drug trafficking for profit, or acts of terrorism, and defines a threat as anything harming individual rights or public safety. If approved by voters, this change would formally categorize drug cartels alongside terrorist organizations for legal and enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 2681 establishes a dedicated real estate information technology fund in Arizona to finance software upgrades, equipment purchases, and external vendor contracts for the state's real estate department. The bill directs specific portions of real estate license and renewal fees into this fund, starting with $25 per fee through fiscal year 2027-2028 and reducing to $15 per fee beginning in fiscal year 2028-2029. These collected monies are excluded from the general fee-setting process used to balance the department's overall budget, ensuring they are reserved exclusively for technological needs. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that funds in this account are continuously appropriated and cannot be used to replace staff salaries.