Rep. Stephanie Simacek

Maddy summaryHB 2218 authorizes Arizona's Secretary of State to create a mobile communications platform for election workers, including poll workers, drivers, warehouse staff, and voter registration personnel. The bill requires a pilot program in one or more counties using $200,000 in state funds (fiscal year 2026-2027), with counties offered the platform at reduced or no cost. The platform is designed to improve communication among election staff during operations, and the program expires December 31, 2027. This bill directly affects election administrators and workers across participating counties during the pilot phase.

Maddy summaryHB 2220 requires Arizona counties to provide accessible voting devices at every polling place that meets federal standards for voters with disabilities. These devices must be programmed to display all available ballot styles regardless of the polling location, ensuring consistent access. The bill also mandates durable, private voting booths and requires election officials to inspect equipment before sealing it for use. This directly affects voters with disabilities and election administrators by standardizing accessibility requirements for voting technology.

Maddy summaryHB 2317 amends Arizona law to prohibit cities and towns from banning "cruising," defined as repetitive driving past the same location without a destination within a specific time period. The bill directly affects local governments by preventing them from enacting or enforcing ordinances that target this type of driving behavior. It updates Section 28-626 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to explicitly state that local authorities "shall not enact or enforce an ordinance... that prohibits cruising." This change ensures uniform traffic laws statewide, allowing cities to create other non-conflicting traffic regulations but not to ban cruising through local ordinances. The bill does not create new penalties or alter other traffic enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2888 clarifies eligible expenses for Arizona's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which provides state-funded education options for students. It directly affects parents of enrolled students and participating schools by specifying allowable uses for ESA funds, including tuition, textbooks, therapies for students meeting special education criteria, vocational training, assistive technology, tutoring, and transportation. Key provisions expand permitted expenses to cover educational therapies (like speech or occupational therapy), vocational programs, and computer hardware for learning, while requiring annual evaluations for students nearing age 22 to continue eligibility. The bill prohibits using ESAs concurrently with school tuition organization scholarships and bans homeschooling affidavits for ESA-eligible students.

Maddy summaryHB 2465 is a procedural bill that repeals Section 13-3605 of Arizona’s Revised Statutes. It does not create new policies or affect specific groups, as it solely removes an existing legal provision. The bill is currently in its early legislative stage, having received its first House reading on June 27, 2025. The summary cannot describe the repealed law’s content, as the bill text does not specify what Section 13-3605 previously regulated.

Maddy summaryHB 2463 repeals Section 36-3604 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which prohibited abortion services provided through telemedicine. This repeal removes a specific legal restriction that previously blocked telehealth providers from offering abortion care in Arizona. The bill does not create new abortion policies but eliminates an existing prohibition on telemedicine for abortion services. As a result, abortion providers could potentially offer telemedicine-based abortion care without violating this statute if the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryHB 2884 requires educators, student teachers, charter school staff, and tutoring contractors in Arizona to submit identity-verified fingerprints for background checks. It standardizes the process: applicants must use a department-provided packet, provide photo ID for verification, and pay a fee, with fingerprints digitally stored for future renewals. The bill eliminates the need for new fingerprints when renewing clearance cards if existing prints are intact and usable. This applies directly to individuals seeking or maintaining teaching roles or tutoring contracts in Arizona schools or districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2743 repeals a requirement for healthcare providers in Arizona to report certain abortion-related data to the state. It directly affects healthcare facilities and providers who previously had to submit this information under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 36, chapter 20, article 2. The bill removes this specific reporting obligation by eliminating the referenced statute from state law. This is a straightforward repeal of an existing administrative requirement with no new provisions or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2806 commits Arizona to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (NPVIC), requiring the state to award its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote. If enough states join the compact to control 270 electoral votes (a majority), Arizona would certify its electors based on the national popular vote winner, not the state's winner. The bill adds a new chapter to Arizona law outlining how member states would coordinate to implement this system, including requiring states to share vote totals and certify electors for the national popular vote winner. This affects Arizona's election process and its presidential electors, but only takes effect once the compact reaches the required threshold of electoral votes.

Maddy summaryHB 2744, titled the "Arizona Right to Contraception Act," establishes a legal right for Arizonans to access contraception and for health professionals to provide it. The bill prohibits any state or local law that singles out contraception services or makes access harder - such as requiring special permits for birth control or restricting where it can be distributed. It also mandates that patients must give voluntary, informed consent for sterilization procedures. This bill does not create new access to contraception but aims to protect existing access by preventing restrictive laws targeting contraceptive care.