Rep. Lupe Diaz

Maddy summaryHB 2741 modifies Arizona's liquor licensing rules by adjusting how many new bar, beer/wine bar, and liquor store licenses are issued each year based on county population growth (increasing from 5,000 to 10,000 people per new license for beer/wine bars starting in 2022). It requires new license holders to pay a fee equal to the current market value of similar licenses in their county, determined through appraisals. The bill also limits off-sale liquor sales (e.g., takeout) to no more than 30% of total on-sale sales at licensed establishments. Additionally, it allows license holders to combine multiple license types (like bar + liquor store) at a single location under specific conditions. This law directly affects businesses seeking new liquor licenses or expanding existing operations in Arizona.

Maddy summaryHB 2083 amends Arizona's Game and Fish Commission membership rules. It requires the governor to appoint five commission members who must include at least one cattleman or rancher, with no more than three from the same political party and no two members from the same county. The bill also specifies that members serve five-year terms, receive compensation from the game and fish fund, and must attend at least quarterly meetings. This bill directly affects how the commission is structured and who can serve on it, without changing wildlife management policies.

Maddy summaryHCM 2012 is a memorial from Arizona's legislature requesting Congress exempt Arizona from the Antiquities Act of 1906, similar to Wyoming's 1950 exemption. It seeks to prevent future federal designation of national monuments in Arizona without specific congressional approval, addressing concerns about land access, recreation, water resources, and economic impacts from current and proposed monuments. The bill cites Arizona's limited private land ownership (18%) and specific examples like the proposed Great Bend of the Gila monument. Arizona's legislature passed the memorial on April 16, 2025, and transmitted it to Congress and the Secretary of State for action. This is a state request, not a federal bill, and would require congressional legislation to implement.

Maddy summaryHB 2094 amends Arizona law to clarify the definition of "contiguous" for real estate purposes. It specifies that contiguous land parcels share a common boundary or are separated only by a private road, while excluding parcels divided by natural/man-made barriers or publicly maintained roads (like highways used by the public for five+ years). This definition directly affects real estate developers, brokers, and sellers when marketing land, particularly in master-planned communities where multiple subdivisions might be promoted together. The change aims to resolve ambiguity in how land parcels are grouped for sales and marketing under existing regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2090 prohibits individuals or groups from acting together to divide a single parcel of land into six or more lots within ten years, which would bypass standard land subdivision regulations. This directly affects property owners, developers, and real estate entities who might attempt to circumvent rules through multiple transactions or owners. The law specifies exceptions for family relationships, well-sharing agreements, road maintenance agreements, and using the same contractor in counties under 500,000 residents. It clarifies that either the county or the state real estate department can enforce this rule, but not both, while updating related land division approval processes.

Maddy summaryHB 2088 amends Arizona's groundwater management laws to establish procedures for designating new "subsequent active management areas" (SAMAs) and removing them. It allows the director to create SAMAs where groundwater preservation, land subsidence, or water quality issues require action, and to remove SAMAs if these conditions no longer exist. The bill requires public hearings with 30-60 day notice, detailed map and boundary descriptions, and written findings within 30 days of hearings. These changes directly affect landowners and water users in areas meeting the specified groundwater criteria, with all decisions subject to public review and judicial oversight.

Maddy summaryHB 2089 allows residents in Arizona groundwater basins designated as "subsequent active management areas" (SAMAs) to petition for removal of that designation after 10 years. It requires 10% of registered voters in the SAMA to file a petition within 180 days before a general election, triggering a review by the groundwater director on whether the designation remains necessary. If the director determines removal is appropriate, a vote is held; otherwise, the designation stays. The bill directly affects residents in SAMAs and was passed by the legislature in April 2025 but vetoed by the governor on April 15.

Maddy summaryHB 2086, vetoed by the Governor on April 15, 2025, proposed a county-administered program providing grants to low-income or fixed-income homeowners for specific water improvements. The bill would have allowed grants to deepen existing drinking water wells, install storage tanks for water hauling, or upgrade plumbing for water delivery systems at a residence. County boards would designate an operating entity (like a nonprofit or county department) to set eligibility criteria and manage funds, but prohibited using general county funds for the program. The bill required annual reports on program operations but never took effect due to the gubernatorial veto.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona law (HB 2114) changes how sexual acts with minors are classified and punished under state law. It creates stricter felony classifications based on the minor’s age and the offender’s circumstances: sexual conduct with a minor under 12 who suffers serious injury is now a life sentence with no parole, while acts with minors under 15 are class 2 felonies. For minors aged 15 or older, penalties range from class 6 (standard) to class 4 (if offender is over 20) or class 2 (if offender was in a position of trust, with no probation or early release allowed). The law directly affects individuals convicted of sexual acts with minors, imposing mandatory jail time in some cases and eliminating eligibility for early release in the most severe scenarios. The bill was signed into law in April 2025.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by Arizona lawmakers expressing support for the Palo Verde Generating Station nuclear power plant and nuclear energy. It highlights Palo Verde's role as Arizona's largest clean energy source, economic contributor ($2.3 billion impact), and employer (3,000+ jobs), while noting public support for nuclear power. The resolution has no legal effect but formally endorses continued nuclear energy use and directs the Secretary of State to send copies to federal officials. It does not create new policies, funding, or regulations.