Rep. Betty Villegas

Maddy summaryHB 2937 requires nuclear power plant contractors and subcontractors in Arizona to use a skilled workforce, mandating that skilled journeymen (experienced workers who completed approved training programs) make up 30% of the workforce by 2027, 45% by 2028, and 60% by 2029. It also requires contractors to pay skilled journeymen at least the prevailing wage for their occupation, which must meet or exceed the minimum wage. The Arizona Industrial Commission will create rules to verify worker qualifications and handle workplace violations. This bill directly affects contractors performing maintenance, repair, or installation work at licensed nuclear power plants in Arizona.

Maddy summarySB 1608 sets specific indoor temperature requirements for rental properties in Arizona, mandating that landlords maintain rooms at no more than 82°F in warm weather and no lower than 68°F during extreme cold, measured mid-room at 3 feet above ground. It shortens tenant notice periods for heating/cooling failures affecting health to 2 days (from 10 days) and prohibits evictions during weeks with two or more days exceeding 90°F outdoor temperatures. The bill directly affects landlords (requiring compliance with temperature standards and maintenance) and tenants (providing stronger remedies for unsafe conditions and eviction protection). Key provisions include precise temperature measurements, accelerated tenant remedies for critical failures, and a heat-related eviction ban.

Maddy summaryHB 4007 allows Arizona municipalities to create designated "municipal improvement areas" (up to 30 years) where they redirect tax revenue growth from increased property values to fund public infrastructure projects like roads, sewers, parks, and transit. It requires areas to meet specific criteria (e.g., blighted, needing redevelopment, or suitable for housing) and mandates approval from county, school, and community college districts. The bill specifies that captured tax increments - defined as the difference between current and original property tax values - must finance approved projects outlined in a development plan, including feasibility studies and revenue sources. This directly affects cities/towns seeking to finance public improvements through local tax growth, while prohibiting areas where residential taxes exceed state limits without state fund reimbursement.

Maddy summaryHB 2987 creates a new state income tax credit for owners rehabilitating certified historic structures in Arizona. It establishes a $30 million annual tax credit limit (increasing to $60 million after 2035) for projects meeting federal rehabilitation standards, requiring a cost-benefit analysis proving positive economic impact. The state historic preservation officer certifies projects based on a point system evaluating job growth, economic impact, and community support, with 60% of funds reserved for projects in cities/towns under 150,000 residents. Property owners must grant a restrictive covenant to preserve the structure for 24 months after certification, and larger projects require certified public accountant verification.

Maddy summaryHB 2988 allows Arizona cities to designate specific "Municipal Improvement Areas" within their boundaries to fund public infrastructure projects using redirected property tax increases. It authorizes municipalities to capture tax revenue growth (above the original assessed value) within these designated areas for projects like transit systems, water/sanitation infrastructure, streets, and public recreation facilities. The bill requires cities to adopt development and financial plans demonstrating community need, secure county/school district approvals, and limit area size based on city population. Projects must be completed within 30 years, and cities must reimburse the state if tax increases exceed constitutional limits for school funding in residential areas.

Maddy summaryHB 2949 requires large data centers (defined as facilities with at least 100 megawatts of peak demand) to directly pay for all energy costs related to their operations, including fuel, generation, and transmission. This applies to both public power entities (like municipal utilities) and public service corporations (like investor-owned utilities). The bill prohibits these data centers from passing these costs onto other utility customers, ensuring ratepayers aren’t burdened by the facilities’ energy expenses. The law aims to address cost allocation for high-energy data infrastructure without altering broader utility rate structures.

Maddy summaryHB 2964 requires Arizona health insurers to cover specific cancer-related genetic services without cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) starting January 1, 2027. It applies to hospital service corporations, health care services organizations, and disability insurers, directly affecting subscribers, enrollees, and insureds who have a personal or family history of cancer or inherited gene mutations. The bill mandates coverage for genetic counseling, testing (including BRCA and Lynch syndrome tests), and cancer risk assessments when recommended by a health care provider following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This ensures access to inherited cancer risk testing without financial barriers for eligible individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 2945 establishes Arizona's first state-administered family and medical leave insurance program, effective January 1, 2029. It provides wage replacement benefits for eligible workers needing time off for reasons including childbirth/adoption, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, pregnancy recovery, military family needs, or safe leave due to domestic violence, sexual violence, abuse, or stalking. The program guarantees up to 26 weeks of benefits for pregnancy or inpatient health conditions and up to 24 weeks for other qualifying reasons, with employers required to provide at least 12 weeks of leave. Benefit payments must begin within two weeks of a claim and continue every two weeks, applying to both employees and self-employed individuals who meet the defined eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryHB 2948 requires large food and garden seed suppliers (those selling over $6 billion annually) to offer identical pricing terms to all retailers purchasing the same quantity of "covered goods" (food for home use and garden plants, excluding gasoline, drugs, tobacco, or alcohol). It mandates that suppliers provide anonymized sales data to retailers upon request and prohibits charging different prices based on retailer type or location. The law also restricts dominant retailers (with over $18 billion in annual sales) from forcing suppliers to violate these pricing rules. Exceptions apply for perishable goods, seasonal items, or business closures.

Maddy summaryHB 2963 requires mandatory settlement conferences for certain Arizona eviction cases within five days of an eviction notice being served on the tenant. Landlords and tenants must attend, submit relevant documents (lease, rent notices, receipts), and the court will dismiss cases if landlords don't appear or enter default judgments if tenants don't attend. The bill updates Arizona Revised Statutes §12-1175 and §33-1368 to specify these procedures, including different notice periods for lease breaches (10 days for most issues, 5 days for health/safety concerns) and clarifying that certain tenant falsifications (like false occupancy or criminal records) are non-curable. This directly affects landlords and tenants in eviction proceedings by adding a required conference step before hearings.