Rep. Anna Abeytia

Maddy summaryHB 2650 creates a state-funded rainwater harvesting grant program in Arizona to support water conservation. It allows eligible homeowners, non-profits, or organizations focused on water conservation to apply for two types of grants: Level 1 for simple passive systems (reimbursing up to $500 for materials/labor), and Level 2 for complex active systems (reimbursing up to $2,000 based on tank size). The program excludes costs like pumps, irrigation systems, unlicensed labor, and landscaping materials. Funding for the program is appropriated from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2470 adjusts Arizona legislators' daily subsistence payments during legislative sessions. It replaces a fixed $35 rate for Maricopa County residents with a new system where all legislators receive 100% of the federal per diem rate (including lodging) for non-Maricopa residents, and Maricopa residents get $35 for the first 120 session days. After 120 days, Maricopa residents receive $10 daily, while non-Maricopa residents get 50% of the annual federal rate. The annual rate is set by the Department of Administration using U.S. General Services Administration data, and legislators may opt out of these payments.

Maddy summaryHB 2741 designates the third Tuesday in January each year as Arizona's "National Day of Racial Healing" for public observation. The bill specifies this day is not a legal holiday, meaning state offices and schools would remain open. It aims to encourage community reflection and dialogue on racial healing through state-level recognition, without imposing new legal requirements or funding. This is a symbolic, non-binding designation focused on raising awareness.

Maddy summaryHB 2651 establishes a voluntary "Blue Envelope Program" for drivers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in Arizona. Participants receive a standardized blue envelope (available in English and Spanish) containing their vehicle registration, insurance details, and communication tips for law enforcement during traffic stops. The program ensures confidentiality by prohibiting disclosure of participants' identities and requires collaboration between the state, University of Arizona, and community stakeholders to design the envelope's contents based on expert guidance. This directly affects individuals with autism spectrum disorder who drive, aiming to improve communication during police interactions.

Maddy summaryHB 2296 prohibits Arizona state agencies and local governments from requiring public works contractors to sign neutrality agreements, project labor agreements, or contribute to federally registered apprenticeship programs as a condition of winning or performing public construction projects. It directly affects contractors bidding on state or local public works contracts, such as building or repairing public infrastructure. The bill defines key terms like "neutrality agreement" (requiring contractors to stay neutral toward unions) and "project labor agreement" (pre-hire bargaining agreements), banning these as mandatory contract conditions. It explicitly does not prevent private collective bargaining or interfere with federally protected labor activities.

Maddy summaryHB 2629 amends Arizona's corporate income tax law to increase the minimum tax for corporations with 50 or more employees from $50 to $1,000. Smaller corporations (fewer than 50 employees) remain subject to the $50 minimum tax. The bill also updates the tax rate schedule for corporate income (e.g., lowering rates from 6.968% to 4.9% over time), but the primary change is the higher minimum tax for larger businesses. This amendment applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2633 establishes the Arizona Commission on Latino Affairs to address the needs of Arizona's Latino community. The commission consists of nine voting members (seven appointed Latino residents and two non-Latino residents) appointed by the governor, plus non-voting advisors with expertise in education, health, civil rights, social services, and small business. Its key duties include advising the governor on policies affecting Latinos, assisting state agencies with Latino-focused programs, and hosting an annual Latino Legislative Day. The bill also creates a dedicated fund to support the commission's operations, with annual reporting requirements to the governor and legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2347 protects individuals who assist others during drug-related overdoses from criminal prosecution for drug possession or use. It requires people at overdose scenes to provide reasonable assistance (like calling 911) without endangering themselves, and shields both the helper and the overdose victim from charges related to the drug offense if medical help was sought. The law explicitly states that seeking medical assistance may be considered a mitigating factor in other criminal cases, while still allowing evidence collection and arrests for unrelated crimes. It defines "reasonable assistance" as contacting emergency services and "medical assistance" as care from licensed professionals.

Maddy summaryHB 2317 amends Arizona law to prohibit cities and towns from banning "cruising," defined as repetitive driving past the same location without a destination within a specific time period. The bill directly affects local governments by preventing them from enacting or enforcing ordinances that target this type of driving behavior. It updates Section 28-626 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to explicitly state that local authorities "shall not enact or enforce an ordinance... that prohibits cruising." This change ensures uniform traffic laws statewide, allowing cities to create other non-conflicting traffic regulations but not to ban cruising through local ordinances. The bill does not create new penalties or alter other traffic enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 2888 clarifies eligible expenses for Arizona's Education Savings Account (ESA) program, which provides state-funded education options for students. It directly affects parents of enrolled students and participating schools by specifying allowable uses for ESA funds, including tuition, textbooks, therapies for students meeting special education criteria, vocational training, assistive technology, tutoring, and transportation. Key provisions expand permitted expenses to cover educational therapies (like speech or occupational therapy), vocational programs, and computer hardware for learning, while requiring annual evaluations for students nearing age 22 to continue eligibility. The bill prohibits using ESAs concurrently with school tuition organization scholarships and bans homeschooling affidavits for ESA-eligible students.