Rep. Lydia Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 4109 requires Arizona school districts to adopt specific public safety policies. These policies must clearly outline safety procedures, designate the superintendent as the responsible official, and mandate immediate notification to parents, staff, and law enforcement about life-threatening violence or weapons incidents on school property. School superintendents must confiscate weapons used in such incidents and notify police, while prohibiting retaliation against anyone reporting violations. Failure to comply results in felony charges (class 6 or 4, depending on injury) for superintendents or school board members. The bill directly affects school districts, their leadership, and the safety protocols for students and staff.

Maddy summaryHB 2680 creates a public database requiring Arizona employers to disclose workers' compensation insurance details. It mandates insurers to submit policy information - including employer name, insurer, policy expiration, and employee counts - to the state commission, with each policy including a QR code linking to the database. Employers claiming "zero estimated exposure" (no employees) must sign an affidavit confirming this, and must notify contractors directly if they hold such a policy. This affects all employers with workers' comp coverage, insurers, and contractors who receive zero-exposure notifications.

Maddy summaryHB 2671 changes Arizona's rules for prosecuting juveniles (ages 14-17) as adults, specifically targeting those with prior felony convictions. It requires prosecutors to file notice if a juvenile is a "chronic felony offender" (defined as having two prior felony convictions classified as serious offenses), triggering a court hearing to confirm this status. If confirmed, the juvenile faces adult criminal sentencing; if not, the case transfers to juvenile court. This directly affects juveniles with prior felony convictions who commit new serious offenses, shifting jurisdiction from juvenile to criminal court. The bill creates a clear process for determining chronic offender status before trial.

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 summaryHB 2681 amends Arizona's civil service dismissal procedures to clarify appeal rights for classified state employees. It requires written notice of dismissal/suspension with specific reasons, allows a 10-day appeal window to the commission, and mandates a hearing within 20 days. The bill specifies public hearings unless closed for cause, permits changing hearing officers due to prejudice, and states commission decisions are final. It applies to dismissals/suspensions but excludes budget-related furloughs.

Maddy summaryHB 2951 requires businesses offering automatic subscription renewals to clearly disclose key terms (like cancellation policies and recurring charges) before consumers agree. It mandates explicit consumer consent before charging, provides simple one-click cancellation options, and requires advance notice (25-40 days before renewal) for all auto-renewing contracts. The law directly affects consumers who subscribe to services with automatic renewal and businesses selling such subscriptions in Arizona. Key provisions include standardized disclosures, verified consent records, and clear language to prevent surprise charges.

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 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 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 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.