Rep. Nancy Gutierrez

Maddy summaryHB 2363 allows Arizona counties to establish voting centers - locations where any voter in the county can cast a ballot on election day after presenting ID - instead of traditional precinct-specific polling places. County boards of supervisors must approve voting centers through a specific resolution, including findings that justify the change, and must coordinate with county recorders. The bill requires counties to maintain a public list of all voting locations and sets rules for emergency voting centers during elections. It directly affects county election administrators and voters by changing how polling places are designated, while maintaining voter ID requirements. The law applies to general, primary, and special elections starting from the 2026 election cycle.

Maddy summaryHB 2158 requires Arizona's Department of Education to create a central database storing certificated electronic copies of high school diplomas issued by school districts, charter schools, or accommodation schools on or after January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that electronic copies must be convertible to portable document format and include all original diploma information. Individuals who earned diplomas after this date can request their own electronic copy through the database after verifying their identity, and the state may charge fees for this service. The bill directly affects Arizona high school graduates receiving diplomas from 2027 onward, replacing paper diplomas with a standardized electronic verification system.

Maddy summaryHB 2355 sets an end date for Arizona's Board of Massage Therapy, terminating the board on July 1, 2035. The bill also specifies that related laws (Title 32, Chapter 42 and this section) will be repealed on January 1, 2036. This directly affects licensed massage therapists and the board itself, as it ends the board's authority to regulate the profession after 2035. The legislation is procedural, not creating new rules, but formally ending the board's existence with a clear sunset date. The bill applies retroactively from July 1, 2025, for administrative purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 2294 amends Arizona law to allow outpatient treatment centers sharing ownership with a hospital and staffed by licensed providers to avoid state licensure, provided they do not charge a "facility fee." A facility fee is defined as any separate charge beyond professional fees for building costs, electronic records, billing, or administrative expenses. Centers must notify the health department of their exemption status, but the exemption does not apply if they keep patients overnight, provide abortion services, or offer pain management. This directly affects outpatient treatment centers seeking to operate without full licensure under these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 2475 makes specific voter intimidation and ballot handling practices a class 2 misdemeanor in Arizona. It directly affects voters, election officials, and anyone near polling places or early voting locations during voting hours. Key provisions prohibit knowingly failing to return a ballot before leaving a polling place, showing another voter’s ballot, interfering with ballot delivery, or harassing people transporting voted ballots. The law also clarifies that voters sharing their ballot online is deemed consent for sharing, removing that act as a violation. These changes aim to protect ballot secrecy and prevent intimidation during the voting process.

Maddy summaryHB 2351 modifies Arizona health boards' public website disclosures for professional complaints and disciplinary actions. It prohibits dismissed complaints and nondisciplinary actions (like letters of concern) from appearing on public websites, while requiring disciplinary records to remain online for up to five years. The bill mandates that health boards display a notice on their websites directing the public to request additional records - such as dismissed complaints or nondisciplinary actions - directly from the board, in compliance with public records laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2460 amends Arizona's children's health insurance program (CHIP) eligibility rules by adjusting income thresholds for children under 19. It sets the following income limits relative to the federal poverty level: 200% for 1999-2023, 225% (with CMS approval) for 2023-2025, and 300% starting October 1, 2025. The bill directly affects low-income Arizona families with children under 19 whose household income meets these revised thresholds. It does not change program benefits or structure, only the income eligibility percentages. The amendment is part of defining program terms in Arizona Revised Statutes Section 36-2981.

Maddy summaryHB 2336 creates a new "Native American Veteran special plate" option for Arizona vehicle owners. To implement this, a person must pay $32,000 to the state department by December 31, 2025, after which the department will issue the plates. The payer designs the plates (subject to department approval) and may combine the request with personalized plates. A $25 annual fee applies, with $17 of that amount donated to a dedicated "Native American Veteran special plate fund" established by the bill. This directly affects qualifying Native American veterans seeking this specific plate option.

Maddy summaryHB 2290 establishes a licensing requirement for student loan servicers operating in Arizona, directly affecting entities that manage student loans for borrowers. It mandates that most servicers obtain a state license (with exceptions for banks/credit unions), requiring application fees, financial disclosures, and criminal background checks. The bill also creates a state student loan ombudsman to handle borrower complaints, analyze issues, and develop an education course on loan terms and repayment options by 2025. Key provisions include license renewal rules, suspension for unpaid fees, and a requirement for servicers to notify the state of operational changes. This policy changes how student loan servicing is regulated within Arizona, focusing on oversight and borrower support.

Maddy summaryHB 2288 restricts tuition and fee increases at Arizona's public universities. It limits annual tuition hikes for in-state undergraduate students to the change in the metropolitan Phoenix consumer price index (CPI), but only if the state appropriates at least 50% of the tuition and mandatory fees. The bill also prohibits tuition increases for in-state undergraduates during their first four years of enrollment. Additionally, it requires public hearings and disclosure of proposed changes before any tuition or fee adjustments take effect. This directly affects the Arizona Board of Regents, public universities, and in-state undergraduate students.