Rep. Consuelo Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 2976 strengthens due process protections for Arizona justices of the peace when state or county entities take administrative actions that affect their statutory duties, such as changing authority or imposing new operational costs. The bill requires these entities to provide written notice, a hearing before an independent officer, clear evidence, and the right to counsel before making such decisions. It also mandates that administrative orders affecting justice courts be reported to the legislature within 10 days with fiscal impact statements, and prevents counties from implementing new requirements without state funding. This directly impacts elected justices of the peace, county governments, and state/county administrative bodies overseeing justice courts.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution (HCR 2064) expressing the Arizona Legislature's condolences upon the passing of former state legislator Barbara Leff. It honors her 1996-2006 service representing Paradise Valley, her work on HMO reform and economic development, and her contributions to voter information systems. The resolution extends sympathy to her surviving family members (husband, children, grandchildren) and acknowledges her community leadership. It has no policy impact or legislative effect beyond this expression of respect.

Maddy summaryHB 2725 prevents AHCCCS (Arizona's Medicaid program) from requiring patients to switch from non-opioid pain medications to opioids when a doctor prescribes a non-opioid for chronic or acute pain. It also prohibits stricter coverage rules - like more difficult prior authorization or step therapy - for non-opioid pain drugs compared to opioid alternatives. The bill directly affects AHCCCS members prescribed pain medication and their healthcare providers. Key provisions mandate equal treatment in coverage policies for clinically appropriate non-opioid and opioid pain drugs. This bill is pending in the Arizona legislature after its first reading in January 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 2006 is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Arizona House of Representatives honoring Yvonne Glee Lime Fedderson, who died on January 23, 2026. The resolution expresses the House's sympathy to her family and admirers while recognizing her founding role in Childhelp and her decades of work advancing child welfare programs, including establishing the first national child abuse hotline and advocacy centers. It directs the Secretary of State to transmit copies of the resolution to her family and Childhelp organization. As a non-binding commemorative measure, it does not create new laws or affect any policies.

Maddy summaryHB 4127 amends Arizona Revised Statutes §12-284 to update court filing fees for various case types. It establishes specific fee categories, such as $188 for initial civil case filings and $149 for domestic relations cases (including divorce or custody matters). The bill directly affects anyone filing court documents in Arizona, including individuals in civil disputes, family law cases, and probate matters. Note: The bill's title references firearm transfers and domestic violence, but the provided text only addresses court fee changes - not the subjects mentioned in the title.

Maddy summaryHB 4084 expands Arizona's state indigent defense fund to include legal representation for low-income residents facing eviction cases, in addition to existing criminal cases. The bill modifies funding rules to require that state monies distributed through the fund must supplement, not replace, existing county funding for legal defense in both criminal and eviction matters. It ensures the fund's resources remain available year-to-year without needing annual legislative approval for general fund allocations. This change directly affects tenants in eviction proceedings who qualify for free legal aid through county public defender or contracted legal services. The bill does not alter eviction laws or tenant protections, only the funding mechanism for legal defense in those cases.

Maddy summaryHB 4123 establishes Arizona's "Homeless Persons' Bill of Rights," guaranteeing homeless individuals equal access to public spaces, services, employment, medical care, voting, and privacy protections without discrimination based on housing status. It explicitly prohibits charging homeless people with public sleeping or sitting offenses when no shelter space is available, amending criminal law to remove such liability under those conditions. The bill directly affects homeless residents in Arizona by legally protecting their right to use public areas, receive services, and maintain privacy through confidentiality safeguards. Key provisions include banning discrimination in voting documentation, requiring shelter confidentiality, and ensuring reasonable privacy for personal property.

Maddy summaryHB 2675 requires Arizona constables to obtain certification from the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) board to exercise peace officer authority, directly affecting all elected and appointed constables. The bill establishes the Constable Ethics Standards and Training Board to enforce conduct rules, mandate annual training (including 16 hours yearly plus initial basic training), and handle ethics complaints. It prohibits constables from owning private process-serving businesses or acting as private process servers outside official duties. These provisions aim to standardize constable training, oversight, and conduct while aligning their authority with state peace officer standards.

Maddy summaryHB 4126 establishes Arizona's state-run retirement savings program, targeting private-sector employees without access to employer-sponsored retirement plans (excluding government workers, railroad employees, and those in existing tax-qualified plans). The bill creates an Arizona Retirement Savings Board to manage the program, allowing workers to contribute to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) through automatic payroll deductions. Key provisions include requiring the Board to develop investment policies, partner with private administrators, and ensure federal tax compliance for the program. The title references "appropriation" as future funding would be authorized separately, but the bill itself only sets up the program framework.

Maddy summaryHB 4099 redirects annual surpluses from Arizona's state lottery fund to specific state programs. It allocates $5 million yearly to the Department of Child Safety's Healthy Families Program (supporting child care and family services), $1 million to the federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food program, and other fixed amounts for health education, teen pregnancy prevention, disease research, and homeless shelter grants. All funding amounts adjust annually based on GDP changes and are exempt from standard budget lapsing rules. The bill does not create new programs but modifies how existing lottery funds are distributed.