Rep. Betty Villegas

Maddy summaryHB 2885 establishes Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts (ESAs) that provide state-funded education options for students. Parents can use these accounts to pay for tuition, textbooks, approved therapies, tutoring, online learning, educational technology, and other qualified educational expenses at participating schools. The bill requires parents to agree not to enroll their child in a public school while using the ESA (with limited exceptions) and prohibits combining ESAs with school tuition organization scholarships in the same year. It also mandates annual reviews for students with specific needs to continue receiving funds until age 22.

Maddy summaryHB 2493 requires private education providers that accept Arizona empowerment scholarship funds to follow the same financial reporting and audit rules as public schools. These providers must submit financial data using the state's standard system, comply with annual achievement profile reporting, and undergo performance audits conducted by the auditor general. The bill directly affects private schools, tutoring services, or other educational entities receiving scholarship funds, mandating transparency in their financial operations. Key provisions include standardized financial recordkeeping, inclusion in state achievement reports, and specific audit requirements tailored for private businesses. This bill focuses on oversight rather than changing scholarship eligibility or funding amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 2590 amends Arizona law to clarify key definitions related to residential rental properties. It defines "residential rental property" as property leased for residential use or rented to lodgers for less than 30 days, excluding the mobile home itself in mobile home parks if owned by the tenant (not the space owner). The bill also defines "slum property" by specific hazardous conditions like structural damage, lack of water/sanitation, or dangerous waste accumulation. This bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and property managers by establishing clear terms for enforcement and regulation. As a definitional bill, it does not create new requirements but provides precise language for future legal or regulatory actions.

Maddy summaryHB 2677 allows Arizona middle school students (grades 6-8) to earn career and technical education (CTE) course credits that count toward both 8th-grade promotion and high school graduation. Schools offering these courses must partner with approved CTE providers, such as career districts, state-approved schools, or community colleges. They must report annually to the state on course offerings and student completions, with a final summary due by December 2028. The law applies only through the 2027-2028 school year and expires December 31, 2036.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Arizona's child neglect definitions in Section 8-201 of the Revised Statutes. It adds specific criteria for "abandoned" (e.g., minimal parental effort after six months) and expands "abuse" to explicitly include sexual offenses against minors and certain hazardous situations. The changes clarify how child neglect and abuse are legally defined, affecting cases handled by the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and juvenile courts. It does not create new financial assistance or policy changes - it only refines existing legal terminology for consistency. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (House First Reading).

Maddy summaryHB 2585 amends Arizona law to clarify open enrollment options for tribal students living on federally recognized tribal land. It defines "resident transfer pupil" to include tribal students who can enroll in one of the three closest school districts (based on shortest distance to district boundaries), rather than only their home district. This specifically affects tribal students residing on reservation lands who seek enrollment outside their home school district. The bill establishes a clear, distance-based mechanism for selecting eligible districts, without changing general open enrollment rules for other students.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending Arizona's constitution to remove the current ban on same-sex marriage and guarantee marriage equality. It would repeal the existing constitutional provision defining marriage as between one man and one woman, replacing it with a new section stating marriage cannot be prohibited based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. If approved by voters, this change would directly affect all Arizona residents seeking marriage licenses by ensuring same-sex couples have the same constitutional right to marry as opposite-sex couples. The proposal requires voter approval at the next general election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2289 would increase Arizona's minimum wage in phased steps, starting at $10 per hour in 2017 and rising to $18 per hour by 2025. After 2025, the wage would automatically adjust annually based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for cost-of-living changes. The bill also allows employers to pay tipped workers a base wage up to $3 less per hour, provided total tips and wages meet the minimum wage requirement for all hours worked. This applies to most covered employees in Arizona, excluding certain agricultural or seasonal workers as defined by existing law. The bill requires a three-fourths vote in both legislative chambers to become effective.

Maddy summaryHCR 2030 requires Arizona public schools to identify the primary language of all new students and assess English proficiency using state-approved tests. It mandates that students not proficient in English be enrolled in structured English immersion programs with specific daily instructional time (120 minutes for K-5, 100 minutes for grades 6-12). The bill repeals older language education rules and creates a framework for the state board to approve research-based English instruction models, including annual reviews and budget procedures for schools. This directly affects English language learners (ELLs) and their schools, focusing on standardized assessment, program enrollment, and funding mechanisms. The bill establishes the Arizona English Language Learner Fund to support these programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2506 adds two new official state holidays to Arizona's calendar: "Cesar Chavez Day" on March 31 and "Dolores Huerta Day" on April 1. The bill amends Arizona's statutes to include these dates in the list of recognized holidays for state employees and institutions. It directly affects state operations by designating these specific dates as days when state offices and schools would typically close. The key provision is the formal inclusion of these observances into the state's holiday schedule, honoring these civil rights leaders through official recognition.