Rep. Kevin Volk

Maddy summaryHB 2668 allocates $5 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund broadband infrastructure projects. The bill directs the state treasurer to distribute these funds as grants to cities and towns with populations under 100,000. This provides direct financial support for local governments to expand high-speed internet access in smaller communities. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having passed its first two House readings.

Maddy summaryHB 2583 primarily updates fingerprinting requirements for education professionals in Arizona. It mandates that teachers, student teachers, charter school staff, and tutoring contractors submit identity-verified fingerprints through the Department of Public Safety for background checks. Key provisions include standardizing the fingerprint submission process, allowing school districts to contract with third parties for fingerprinting services, and creating a digital archive to avoid duplicate submissions for renewals. The bill also includes a separate section (Section 2) about Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts, which is unrelated to the fingerprinting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2393 prohibits selling or giving tobacco products, alternative nicotine products (like e-cigarettes), vapor products, or related paraphernalia (e.g., hookahs) to anyone under 21 in Arizona. Minors who buy, possess, or falsely claim age to obtain these items face petty offenses with fines starting at $100 or 30 hours of community service. Businesses violating the law face escalating penalties: first violations incur $500-$750 fines plus mandatory education, while repeat offenses can lead to misdemeanor charges, $10,000 fines, or even felony convictions with sales bans. The law exempts religious use of shisha and gifts not intended for minor use.

Maddy summaryHB 2394 amends Arizona's property tax code to create new deductions for contractors in the "prime contracting classification," primarily affecting construction businesses and manufactured building dealers. It allows contractors to exclude specific costs from their taxable base, including land sales (up to fair market value), groundwater monitoring equipment, unattached furniture/fixtures, military reuse zone projects (with qualification), environmental cleanup work, and machinery/equipment with "independent functional utility." To claim certain deductions (like military or environmental projects), contractors must obtain a pre-work letter of qualification from the Department of Revenue. This bill does not change tax rates for homeowners but adjusts taxable income for specific contractor activities. The title referencing "residential property" is misleading, as the changes apply to contractor tax calculations, not residential property owners.

Maddy summaryHB 2580 defines key terms for Arizona's education scholarship programs, primarily affecting students and micro-schools. It establishes eligibility criteria for "qualified students" (including those with disabilities, from low-performing schools, military families, or Indigenous communities) and defines "micro-schools" as tuition-charging entities employing instructors for specific subjects. The bill sets requirements for annual education plans, curriculum standards, and enrollment rules for scholarship programs. It does not create new funding but clarifies program mechanics for existing scholarship accounts. This definitional work prepares the framework for how Arizona's education savings accounts will operate.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 prohibits foreign corporations or individuals from contributing money or goods/services to influence Arizona ballot measures, including initiatives and referendums. It requires campaign committees filing under Arizona law to certify under penalty of perjury that they have not accepted such foreign funds. The law directly affects all organizations, committees, or individuals running or supporting ballot measure campaigns. It takes effect on December 31, 2026, aligning with the bill's stated implementation date.

Maddy summaryHB 2577 requires Arizona's state board of education to implement statewide assessments in reading, writing, and math for students in at least four grades, ensuring tests are uniform, objective, and free from partisan viewpoints. It mandates the collection and public posting of specific nontest data (such as graduation and dropout rates by ethnicity) and sets strict deadlines for schools to receive test scores (May 15 for 3rd grade reading, May 25 for other subjects). The bill also allows students to use scores from nationally recognized assessments to opt out of the state test, with those scores then recorded for school records, and requires the state board to provide intervention strategies for underperforming schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2672 requires Arizona school districts to hold a voter-approved election (an "override") if their proposed budget exceeds the state's budget limit, and mandates detailed public disclosure about the financial impact of the increase. The bill requires districts to prepare an alternate budget without the excess increase and distribute an informational pamphlet at least 35 days before the election, including the current and proposed budgets, funding sources (tax vs. non-tax), and estimated tax effects for different property types (e.g., owner-occupied homes at various valuations). The pamphlet must also include up to 10 verified written arguments for and against the increase, submitted with signed, sworn statements, while the county superintendent reviews factual accuracy but not opinions. This directly affects school districts seeking budget increases and residents who vote on these proposals.

Maddy summaryHB 2803 repeals Arizona Revised Statute 15-911 and amends ARS 15-1285 to exempt school districts and career technical education districts from state budgetary spending limits. Specifically, funds received by these districts under the relevant chapter are not counted as local revenue for constitutional budget calculations and cannot be restricted by existing expenditure caps. This allows school districts to use state-provided funds without being constrained by the usual spending limits that apply to local revenue. The bill also includes related adjustments to expenditure limitation calculations for counties but focuses primarily on increasing school district financial flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2644 creates a new tax credit for Arizona taxpayers investing in affordable housing projects that qualify for federal low-income housing tax credits. It allows investors to claim credits against their insurance premium tax liability (not income tax), with a $10 million annual cap for projects meeting federal standards, administered by the Arizona Department of Housing. The credit is allocated based on project eligibility statements, can be shared among investors regardless of ownership stake, and expires after 2031. Taxpayers must submit documentation with their tax returns, and unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years. The bill requires annual reporting on housing impacts but does not change income tax rates or directly affect renters.