Rep. Anna Abeytia

Maddy summaryHB 2904 prohibits landlords in Arizona from terminating a tenant's lease solely because the tenant uses marijuana. This law directly affects renters who use marijuana (including medical or recreational users) and landlords who might otherwise seek to evict them for this reason. The key provision adds a new section to Arizona law stating that rental agreements cannot be terminated based on a tenant's marijuana use. It applies to all standard residential leases under state law and does not address other lease violations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (House first and second reading).

Maddy summaryHB 2901 establishes a $100 million scholarship program for low-income child care workers in Arizona. It provides funds to eligible individuals earning below 85% of the state median income who work as teachers, support staff, or district employees in contracted child care, preschool, or K-12 programs. The scholarship money is paid directly to child care providers (not individuals) on a first-come, first-served basis. The program is funded through a dedicated appropriation from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. This bill directly affects child care providers and their staff by offering financial support to retain workers in the sector.

Maddy summaryHB 2909 sets new salary requirements for workers classified as exempt from overtime pay under Arizona law. It requires exempt salaried employees (excluding teachers, licensed medical professionals, and attorneys) to earn at least the 40th percentile of weekly wages for full-time nonhourly workers in Arizona's lowest-wage region, adjusted every three years starting in 2028. The bill updates Arizona's exemption threshold to align with federal wage data, ensuring exempt workers meet a minimum compensation standard. This directly affects salaried professionals in administrative or professional roles who previously qualified for overtime exemptions under lower salary thresholds. The change aims to modernize Arizona's overtime rules without altering federal standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2890 requires Arizona employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, such as modified equipment, more frequent breaks, schedule changes for prenatal visits, or assistance with manual labor, unless it causes significant difficulty for the business. Employers cannot force pregnant employees to use vacation or sick leave when accommodations are possible and must post clear notices about these requirements in employee handbooks and provide written notice to new hires, current employees, and pregnant employees within 10 days of pregnancy notification. The bill directly affects pregnant employees and their employers across Arizona, ensuring they receive specific workplace adjustments without penalty. It takes effect after the law is enacted, with written notices required within 180 days of the effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2838 updates Arizona landlord-tenant law by changing eviction court judgments and rental agreement rules. It requires courts to calculate unpaid rent as a prorated amount (not the full period) in eviction cases, removes social security numbers from judgments, and prohibits landlords from including excessive late fees ($50 max per period), clauses forcing tenants to pay landlord attorney fees, or blocking tenants from calling emergency services. The bill also clarifies that landlords must give tenants 10 days to fix lease breaches (like false application info), but material falsification of details (e.g., income, criminal history) makes eviction immediate and unfixable. These changes directly affect tenants facing eviction and landlords drafting rental agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 2837 limits landlord fees and requires clear cost disclosures for renters in Arizona. It prohibits landlords from charging for background checks if tenants provide their own credit report, caps application fees at actual costs (banning separate fees for screening), and restricts landlords to one application fee per year. The bill also mandates landlords to disclose in writing at lease start: all rent amounts, mandatory fees (like trash or smart device upgrades), additional costs, property management details, and landlord contact information - both in the lease and in all promotional materials. These changes directly affect renters (by reducing hidden fees) and landlords (who must follow new disclosure rules).

Maddy summaryHB 2910, the "Wage Antidiscrimination Act," protects Arizona employees by banning employers from prohibiting wage discussions or requiring employees to sign agreements that limit pay transparency. It prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant's prior salary before making an offer and prevents retaliation against employees who discuss pay or assert their rights. The law updates equal pay protections to bar employers from using past salary history as a defense in discrimination claims, ensuring pay differences are based on factors like seniority or job duties - not gender. Employees can file civil lawsuits for violations, seeking remedies like back pay, reinstatement, or removal of negative employment records.

Maddy summaryHB 2903 establishes Arizona's Retirement Savings Program, creating a new state board to administer a payroll deduction savings option for private-sector workers who lack employer-sponsored retirement plans. The program allows eligible employees (ages 18+ working for covered employers not in government or existing retirement plans) to contribute to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) through automatic payroll deductions. The Arizona Retirement Savings Board will develop investment policies, select a program administrator, and manage funds to offer low-cost investment options focused on income replacement. This directly affects private employers and employees in Arizona who currently don't have access to tax-advantaged retirement savings through their workplace.

Maddy summaryHB 2912, the "Wage Antidiscrimination Act," prohibits Arizona employers from asking about a job applicant’s past salary or using salary history to screen candidates before making a job offer. It also protects employees who discuss wages or raise concerns about pay discrimination from retaliation. Employers violating the law face civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation and may be sued for damages, including lost wages and attorney fees. The bill strengthens existing equal pay laws by banning employers from using prior salary as a defense in discrimination cases and requires employers to include wage rights in employee handbooks.

Maddy summaryHB 2848 requires corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), or their affiliates purchasing single-family homes in Arizona to register with the Corporation Commission before buying. County recorders cannot record deeds unless the buyer provides proof of registration and the deed states the property is not the owner’s primary residence. The bill limits corporate buyers to owning no more than 5% of a county’s single-family homes (or 100 units annually in counties with over 400,000 residents), with exceptions for entities owning fewer than ten homes statewide. These rules apply to commercial investors buying homes, aiming to limit large-scale corporate ownership in residential neighborhoods.