Rep. Kevin Volk

Maddy summaryHB 2738 provides tax relief to owners and operators of computer data centers in Arizona that meet specific investment requirements, with qualified colocation tenants also eligible for the benefit. To qualify, data centers must apply for certification, submit a cost responsibility agreement (requiring them to pay for utility infrastructure upgrades), and meet either a $25 million investment threshold (in counties under 800,000 people) or $50 million (in larger counties) within five years of certification. Failure to meet these thresholds results in revoked certification and potential recapture of tax relief, with new applications no longer accepted after December 31, 2033.

Maddy summaryHB 2523 regulates strip searches and pat searches (frisks) of prisoners in Arizona state prisons. It requires that all such searches be conducted by a correctional officer of the same gender as the prisoner, except in emergencies where opposite-gender searches are allowed only with strict documentation. The bill mandates detailed logs including officer names, badge numbers, prisoner ID, and the reason for cross-gender searches, plus presence of a witness when possible. It also prohibits touching body parts during strip searches except for head inspections. This directly affects prisoners and correctional officers in Arizona Department of Corrections facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2528 establishes new rights for Arizonans seeking fertility care, including the right to access treatments like IVF without unreasonable restrictions, continue ongoing treatments, and control their embryos, eggs, or sperm. It also affirms health care providers' rights to perform fertility treatments and insurers' rights to cover them. The law requires health authorities to create rules supporting these rights within one year. This bill directly affects individuals pursuing fertility care, clinics offering such services, and health insurance companies.

Maddy summaryHB 2522, the "Arizona Right to Contraception Act," establishes a legal right for Arizonans to access contraceptives and contraception-related information, and for healthcare providers to offer these services. It prohibits state or local restrictions that single out contraceptive services, impede access, or interfere with a provider's ability to deliver care. The bill explicitly clarifies it does not override existing requirements for voluntary, informed consent in sterilization procedures. This law directly affects individuals seeking reproductive healthcare and healthcare providers who offer contraceptive services across Arizona.

Maddy summaryHB 2626 creates a state-funded scholarship program for child care workers in Arizona earning below 85% of the state median income. It directly affects teachers, educators, and support staff at department-contracted child care providers, preschools, kindergartens, and K-12 schools. The program provides $200 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026-2027, with scholarship money paid directly to child care providers (not individual workers) on a first-come, first-served basis. This aims to support workforce retention by covering costs for eligible providers.

Maddy summaryHB 2529 requires Arizona prisons to provide free medical care to pregnant inmates, exempting them from fees for medical visits, prescriptions, and medical devices under Section 1(I)(5) of the bill. This directly affects pregnant individuals incarcerated in Arizona state facilities, ensuring they cannot be denied treatment or charged for care related to pregnancy. The bill also mandates that prisons honor a prisoner’s refusal of non-life-threatening treatment after documenting consequences (Section 31-202), while prohibiting denial of care due to inability to pay (Section 1(J)). These provisions specifically address pregnancy-related healthcare access and financial barriers within correctional medical services.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2801 allows individuals convicted of specific low-level marijuana offenses occurring before November 30, 2020, to petition courts for expungement of their records. It directly affects people arrested or convicted for possessing ≤2.5 ounces of marijuana, growing ≤6 plants at home for personal use, or possessing related paraphernalia. The bill requires courts to grant expungement unless prosecutors prove ineligibility with clear evidence, sealing records and restoring civil rights like firearm possession. Agencies must remove expunged records from public access and cannot use them in future cases. This policy change takes effect July 12, 2021, for eligible cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2581 establishes a state-run health care claims consumer assistance program within Arizona's Department of Insurance to help individuals enrolled in or seeking health insurance plans. The program assists consumers with filing complaints, appeals, and resolving disputed claims against health insurers. Key provisions require insurers to pay double the amount of any wrongfully denied or underpaid claim (including attorney fees) and face civil penalties of at least $25,000 per violation for repeated denials. Insurers must report denial data to the department, and the department must publish annual public reports detailing claim denials, wrongful denials, and enforcement actions by insurer.

Maddy summaryHB 2530 amends Arizona's nursing board statute to clarify that the board cannot regulate the scope of practice for abortion services (as defined in ARS §36-2151). The bill primarily updates the board's authority to adopt rules for nursing education, licensing, disciplinary actions, and administrative functions. It does not include any provisions requiring waiting periods or ultrasounds for abortion procedures. This bill focuses on defining the nursing board's regulatory boundaries, not on changing abortion access policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2521 amends Arizona's children's health insurance program (CHIP) eligibility rules by adjusting income thresholds for children under 19. It increases the income limit from 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL) to 225% for fiscal years 2024-2026, then to 300% for all subsequent years. This change directly affects low-income families whose children qualify for CHIP coverage based on household income. The bill updates the legal definition of "member" in the program without altering its structure or administration.