Rep. Michele Peña

Maddy summaryHB 2705 amends Arizona election laws to require strict compliance with nomination petition rules for candidates. It specifies exact wording for partisan and nonpartisan petitions, clarifies that signatures from multiple counties are acceptable for district offices, and allows post office box addresses for candidates with protected residences. The bill directly affects candidates seeking public office who must gather signatures through these standardized petitions. It failed to advance in the legislature on February 19, 2025, so these changes did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 2561 prohibits Arizona health insurers from requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays) for specific breast examinations starting January 1, 2026. It applies to hospital service corporations, health plans, disability insurers, and group disability policies. The law covers "diagnostic" exams (to evaluate abnormalities found during screening) and "supplemental" exams (for high-risk screening based on medical history or risk factors), including methods like mammography, MRI, and ultrasound. All exams must align with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to be covered without cost-sharing.

Maddy summaryHB 2923 modifies Arizona family court procedures for parenting time disputes involving alleged domestic violence or abuse. It requires courts to admit expert witness testimony only from professionals with specific clinical experience helping domestic violence victims (not just forensic expertise), and limits such testimony to scientifically validated methods. The bill explicitly prohibits using polygraph results, voice-stress analysis, or other unproven psychological measures in these cases. This affects parents, courts, and experts in custody proceedings where domestic violence allegations are raised under Arizona law.

Maddy summaryHB 2921 requires landlords in Arizona to include the website address for azcourthelp.org (a free legal aid resource) in all written notices to tenants about lease violations or termination. This affects landlords who must add the website link to notices under Section 33-1368 and tenants who gain direct access to legal assistance resources. The bill does not change eviction procedures or tenant obligations but mandates this specific informational addition to notices. It applies to all residential rental agreements governed by Arizona law.

Maddy summaryHCM 2016 is a symbolic resolution (not a binding bill) passed by the Arizona House of Representatives. It urges the U.S. Congress to support the Palo Verde Generating Station, Arizona's largest nuclear power plant, highlighting its role as a major clean energy source (supplying 70% of Arizona's carbon-free energy), economic contributor ($2.3 billion annual impact), and employer (2,000+ full-time workers). The resolution cites the plant's use of recycled water, lower costs compared to solar, and public support for nuclear energy (56% in a 2024 survey) to make its case. It does not create new policy but requests congressional recognition and support for the facility.

Maddy summaryHB 2922 requires public buildings constructed or fully renovated with public funds to install adult changing stations in at least one restroom. These stations must serve both babies and adults, be accessible to all genders, and include clear signage. The law applies to locations like public schools, assembly spaces, and highway rest stops, with exemptions for feasibility issues or historic properties. Violations incur a $1,000 civil penalty paid into Arizona’s developmental disabilities grant fund. The bill directly affects state and local government facilities, ensuring accessible restroom options for caregivers and individuals with disabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2717 requires businesses constructing solar or wind energy projects to compensate agricultural lessees when the project reduces the size of their leased agricultural operation. It directly affects lessees of state or federal lands used for agriculture, as defined in the bill. The law mandates compensation for lost profits, conservation measure value, reduced operation value, relocation costs, and mitigation expenses, with lessees needing to provide credible evidence of these costs. The bill aims to protect agricultural operations by ensuring financial redress for land-use impacts from energy projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2771 amends Arizona law to clarify and strengthen protections for employees serving in the National Guard or military reserves. It requires private employers to allow leave for military training without affecting vacation rights or seniority, and ensures state/local government employees receive pay during training under specific conditions. The bill specifies that leave time cannot reduce scheduled work hours or vacation entitlements, and caps annual leave at three times an employee’s average weekly work hours (or six times over two years). It directly affects Arizona-based military reservists working in both private and public sectors, ensuring they retain job protections during required training.

Maddy summarySB 1686 clarifies that the county recorder is the "officer in charge of elections" for Arizona counties, directly affecting county election officials. It updates rules for establishing election precinct boundaries and designating polling places, requiring county recorders to set boundaries by October 1 before elections and follow specific guidelines for combining precincts or using voting centers. The bill also mandates that public schools must provide space for polling places unless principals deny requests with written reasons like lack of space or safety concerns. These changes aim to standardize election administration procedures for county recorders managing polling locations.

Maddy summaryHB 2766 requires Arizona cities and towns to apply municipal sales taxes uniformly to all food items (without differential rates), while exempting most food for home consumption, food packaging, and sales paid with SNAP benefits. It specifically excludes candy, confectionaries, soft drinks, and soda from the general food exemption, ensuring these remain taxable. The bill also exempts low-cost food sales to vulnerable groups (elderly, homeless, disabled) when purchased using SNAP benefits through approved programs. This amendment, effective January 1, 2026, modifies existing tax code to standardize food taxation and expand specific exemptions.