Rep. Mariana Sandoval

Maddy summarySB 1544 requires landlords in Arizona to maintain air conditioning at or below 82°F during cooling seasons and prohibits them from setting temperatures higher. It also bans evictions during any week with two or more days exceeding 90°F outdoors. The bill directly affects landlords and tenants in rental housing across Arizona by setting concrete temperature standards and protecting tenants from eviction in extreme heat. These provisions amend Arizona Revised Statutes § 33-1324 (landlord maintenance duties) and add § 33-1379.01 (eviction prohibition during heatwaves).

Maddy summaryHB 2510 creates a program to fund curbside composting in Arizona cities by establishing a dedicated "municipal composting program fund." This fund will receive money from fees on imported hazardous waste (waste classified as hazardous where generated but not in Arizona) and use it to award grants to eligible municipalities for composting programs. The bill requires the state to adopt rules setting eligibility for grants and managing the waste fees. It also establishes new rules for handling imported hazardous waste, including its transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal.

Maddy summaryHB 2777 repeals Section 15-911 of Arizona law and amends Section 15-1285 to exempt school districts and career technical education districts from budgetary, expenditure, and revenue control limits when using certain state funds. This means these districts can spend funds received under specific programs without being constrained by the usual spending caps that apply to other local revenues. The bill also modifies how county expenditure limits are calculated, including annual adjustments based on GDP changes for construction projects and justice of the peace compensation. The primary effect is to provide greater flexibility for school districts in managing state-funded programs.

Maddy summaryHB 2710 allocates $15 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to help tribal governments open or reopen assisted living facilities and nursing homes on tribal lands. The funds must be distributed proportionally across northern, central, and southern regions of Arizona, with at least $1.5 million specifically reserved for the Hopi Tribe and $1.5 million for the Navajo Nation. This funding directly supports tribal governments in expanding or restoring elder care services for tribal communities. The bill establishes concrete financial mechanisms to address infrastructure needs at tribal facilities without altering eligibility or service standards.

Maddy summarySB 1554 creates the Arizona Rental Assistance Fund to help tenants who are behind on rent or anticipate falling behind. Tenants and landlords can jointly apply for up to three months of rent assistance, paid directly to the landlord, with eligibility covering future rent payments. The fund is financed by 10% of the state’s transaction privilege tax on prime contracting, administered by the Arizona Department of Housing, and limits assistance to one instance per household within any 12-month period. Landlords receiving assistance cannot evict tenants for the covered months or subsequent months included in the payment.

Maddy summaryHB 2745 establishes legal rights for individuals seeking fertility treatments in Arizona, defining key terms like "fertility treatment" (including IVF, embryo storage, and genetic testing) and "health care provider." It guarantees individuals the right to access these treatments without unreasonable restrictions, retain control over their reproductive materials, and continue ongoing care per written agreements. Health care providers gain explicit rights to perform or counsel on fertility treatments within their scope, while insurers retain the right to cover such services. The bill also exempts the Department of Health Services and health boards from standard rulemaking requirements for one year to implement these provisions, as outlined in Section 36-1305.01.

Maddy summaryHB 2782 creates a state-run health insurance consumer assistance program to help Arizonans navigate claim denials, appeals, and enrollment issues. It requires health insurers to prominently display information about this program on all benefit explanations and denials, while mandating insurers to report data on denied claims to the state. Insurers that wrongfully deny or underpay valid claims face civil penalties (up to $25,000 per violation), double damages for consumers, and potential license suspension. The program also tracks claim issues, compiles annual public reports on denial rates, and requires insurers to disclose denial data upon request.

Maddy summarySB 1547 establishes a mail-in ballot system as an alternative voting method for elections in Arizona's agricultural improvement districts. It requires election officials to mail ballots, return envelopes, and instructions to all eligible voters 90 days before an election, with ballots due by 7:00 p.m. on election day. Voters may also request ballots in person or vote at designated early voting locations until 7:00 p.m. on election day. This bill directly affects voters in agricultural improvement districts by providing a mail-based voting option alongside traditional in-person voting, streamlining the process for these specific districts.

Maddy summarySB 1548 establishes a temporary study committee to examine barriers to community land trusts in Arizona. The committee, appointed by legislative leaders and including land trust practitioners and higher education representatives, will study economic and developmental challenges and submit recommendations by December 31, 2025. This procedural bill does not create new policies or directly affect residents; it only authorizes a study to inform future legislative action. The committee’s work expires on June 20, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2646 prohibits the sale and use of fertilizers and pesticides containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or fluorinated chemicals with two or more fully fluorinated carbon atoms after December 31, 2026. It directly affects fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and pesticide producers who use these chemicals. The bill amends Arizona statutes to ban such substances in all fertilizers (including biosolids) and pesticides, with enforcement through director authority to issue penalties, pursue criminal charges (class 2 misdemeanor for violations), or seek injunctions. The prohibition takes effect on January 1, 2027, providing a transition period for industry compliance.