Rep. Rachel Keshel

Maddy summaryHB 2679 establishes a new framework for Arizona public power entities (like municipal utilities) to finance infrastructure upgrades by issuing "Transition Bonds." These bonds are secured by future customer payments called "Financing Charges," which become nonbypassable fees added to all customers' utility bills until the costs are fully recovered. The bill creates specific definitions for terms like "Financing Charges," "Qualified Special Purpose Entity," and "Transition Bonds," ensuring these payments cannot be avoided regardless of the customer's service provider or asset ownership. This mechanism allows public power entities to shift financing costs to customers over time rather than relying solely on traditional rate increases.

Maddy summaryHB 2767 requires Arizona's Department of Transportation (AZ DOT) to send voter registration information directly to county recorders - not through the Secretary of State - within five business days of collection at driver's license offices. The bill applies to all voter registration details collected at AZ DOT locations, including name, address, date of birth, and digital signature. It ensures compliance with federal voter registration laws while clarifying that the Secretary of State retains all other election administration duties. The bill does not alter existing responsibilities for voter registration or election management beyond this data-sharing process.

Maddy summaryHB 2895 requires cities, counties, school districts, and state agencies in Arizona to publicly post task order contracts (for ongoing services or supplies) on their websites. It mandates that contracts must include the total dollar amount, contractor name, service description, and contract length - these items cannot be redacted. Contractors may redact personal or proprietary information beyond these four required details. The bill was passed by the legislature in May 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on May 13, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 1097 requires Arizona schools to close on election days, with teachers and staff attending in-service training instead of taking leave, while allowing school districts to provide time off for voting. It updates election rules to permit counties to establish voting centers (where any registered voter in the county can cast a ballot) and emergency voting centers for specific elections, with clear guidelines for location changes and voter identification. The bill also provides criteria for consolidating polling places when early voting patterns suggest reduced turnout at certain locations, mandating advance voter notifications about changes. These provisions directly affect voters, school districts, and county election boards by streamlining election logistics.

Maddy summarySB 1091 requires Arizona school districts to hold voter-approved elections (override elections) when proposing budget increases exceeding state limits. It mandates that districts provide voters with a detailed informational pamphlet 35 days before the election, including the proposed budget amount, current budget, alternate budget, tax impact estimates for different property types, and balanced arguments for and against the increase (submitted with signed, sworn statements). The bill directly affects school districts needing budget approvals and voters deciding on tax increases. Key provisions include standardized pamphlet content, strict rules for public arguments, and clear disclosure of how proposed increases would be funded (e.g., property taxes vs. other revenue). The bill was passed by the legislature in May 2025 but vetoed by the Governor.

Maddy summaryHB 2256 prohibits courts from requiring parents to pay for therapeutic interventions (like therapy or counseling) in custody cases without the parent's consent. It also sets strict rules for expert testimony about therapy, child development, or related issues, requiring experts to have specialized child development experience and follow professional standards. The bill defines "therapeutic intervention" broadly to include court-ordered programs aimed at improving parent-child relationships. This bill affects custody proceedings in Arizona, but was vetoed by the governor on May 12, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2671 would have required Arizona's Department of Child Safety (DCS) to establish kinship foster care services for children removed from their homes and placed in DCS custody. The bill mandated that DCS prioritize placing these children with relatives, extended family members (such as grandparents), or individuals with a significant relationship to the child. It also defined key terms like "kinship care" and provided detailed standards for "restrictive behavior management" to clarify foster care practices. The bill was passed by the legislature in May 2025 but vetoed by the Governor, so it did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 1098 requires voters to present identification when dropping off early ballots at designated voting centers. The bill amends election law to allow voting centers (locations for election day voting) to also accept early ballots, mandating that the same identification rules apply as for in-person voting. This affects voters who use these centers for early ballot drop-off and election day voting, as well as election officials managing the centers. The bill also extends these identification requirements to emergency voting centers established during elections.

Maddy summarySB 1094 prohibits Arizona financial institutions, insurers, and credit reporting agencies from discriminating against consumers based on political affiliation or "social credit," environmental, social justice, or governmental scores. The bill requires these entities to fully disclose any subjective standards used in services before contracts are signed, while allowing refusal of service only for physical safety reasons. It directly affects consumers interacting with banks, insurance providers, and credit agencies in Arizona. The legislature states such discrimination threatens democratic foundations and public welfare, though the bill does not define or regulate the specific "scores" it references.

Maddy summarySB 1095 prohibits the use of federally recognized central bank digital currency (CBDC) as legal tender or for payments in Arizona, affecting all contracts, securities, and commercial transactions within the state. The bill amends escrow and trust laws to ban CBDC-backed transfers, requiring all payments to settle exclusively in U.S. dollars through traditional means like wire transfers or checks. It defines "legal tender" to exclude CBDC and explicitly states that distributed ledger technology transfers must maintain dollar-based value stability without CBDC backing. The bill passed the legislature on May 5, 2025, but was vetoed by the governor on May 12, 2025, so it remains unenforced.