Rep. Stephanie Simacek

Maddy summaryHB 2803 repeals Arizona Revised Statute 15-911 and amends ARS 15-1285 to exempt school districts and career technical education districts from state budgetary spending limits. Specifically, funds received by these districts under the relevant chapter are not counted as local revenue for constitutional budget calculations and cannot be restricted by existing expenditure caps. This allows school districts to use state-provided funds without being constrained by the usual spending limits that apply to local revenue. The bill also includes related adjustments to expenditure limitation calculations for counties but focuses primarily on increasing school district financial flexibility.

Maddy summaryHB 2637 updates Arizona's method for calculating annual spending limits for cities, counties, and other local governments (not school districts, as the title suggests). It requires the state commission to determine each jurisdiction's expenditure limit using a formula based on population changes since 1979 and inflation adjustments (GDP price deflator), with annual reports to local governing boards. The bill includes specific rules for adjusting limits when jurisdictions annex new areas, split, or form new cities or counties. This directly affects all Arizona political subdivisions subject to the state's constitutional spending cap, ensuring their annual budgets reflect population growth and inflation. The changes apply to how these limits are calculated and reported each year.

Maddy summaryHB 2644 creates a new tax credit for Arizona taxpayers investing in affordable housing projects that qualify for federal low-income housing tax credits. It allows investors to claim credits against their insurance premium tax liability (not income tax), with a $10 million annual cap for projects meeting federal standards, administered by the Arizona Department of Housing. The credit is allocated based on project eligibility statements, can be shared among investors regardless of ownership stake, and expires after 2031. Taxpayers must submit documentation with their tax returns, and unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years. The bill requires annual reporting on housing impacts but does not change income tax rates or directly affect renters.

Maddy summaryHB 2638 creates the Arizona School Mental Health Professionals Academy to address staffing shortages in public schools. It provides graduate students pursuing school psychology, social work, or counseling degrees with scholarships covering tuition and fees (up to three years) at eligible Arizona institutions, in exchange for a one-year service commitment in public schools after graduation. The program prioritizes critical need areas like rural schools, Indian reservation schools, and schools serving students with disabilities. The Arizona Board of Regents manages a dedicated fund for administering the academy, tracking participants, and ensuring graduates fulfill their service obligations in public schools.

Maddy summaryHB 2714 amends Arizona's tax deed sale process to prioritize affordable housing development. It allows counties to sell property held by the state due to unpaid taxes directly to cities, counties, or housing authorities for low-income housing without requiring a public auction, provided a recorded agreement ensures affordability for at least 30 years. The bill also includes streamlined sales to contiguous property owners (for commercial, agricultural, or residential use) and homeowners' associations for common areas. These changes aim to facilitate affordable housing projects by removing auction barriers for eligible properties while maintaining standard procedures for other sales.

Maddy summaryArizona's legislature is formally approving the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a constitutional amendment proposed by Congress in 1972 that would guarantee equal rights under the law regardless of sex. The resolution states Arizona's ratification of the amendment and directs the Secretary of State to send the approval to federal officials. This action supports the national effort to achieve the required ratification by 38 states (three-fourths of all states) for the ERA to become part of the U.S. Constitution. The bill does not change Arizona law but advances the federal constitutional process.

Maddy summaryHB 2702 establishes Arizona's "Solar for All" program to provide funding, technical assistance, and workforce support for low-income households and disadvantaged communities to access solar energy. The program, administered by the governor's office of resiliency, allocates funds for solar installations on homes and multifamily housing in disadvantaged areas, prioritizing projects that deliver at least 20% annual electricity bill savings and include local hiring commitments. Eligible households must earn ≤80% of the area median income, and the program prohibits utilities from charging extra fees to participants. Funds come from legislative appropriations, TPT distributions, and private sources, with grantees required to report annual outcomes like savings, emissions reductions, and job creation.

Maddy summaryHB 2467 repeals Arizona's tax incentive program for data centers (Section 41-1519) and amends tax disclosure law to allow the Arizona Commerce Authority to access taxpayer information for certifying data centers for tax relief under the repealed program. This bill directly ends eligibility for data center tax incentives for businesses and expands the Commerce Authority's access to confidential tax data for certification purposes. The key mechanism is the repeal of the incentive section combined with a new disclosure provision (added to Section 42-2003) specifying the Commerce Authority's role in data center certification. The bill affects data center operators who previously qualified for tax relief and the Commerce Authority's administrative processes.

Maddy summaryHB 2519 appropriates $100 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the existing Water Conservation Grant Fund established under Arizona Revised Statutes § 49-1331. This funding directly supports water conservation programs and projects, including grants for municipalities, water providers, and agricultural entities. The bill creates no new regulations or requirements but allocates state funds to advance existing water conservation efforts. The legislation is currently in early legislative stages, having undergone its first and second readings in the House.

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.