Rep. Cesar Aguilar

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 2940 requires Arizona businesses to include all mandatory fees in advertised prices and clearly explain refund processes on receipts. It also bans digital shelf labels (like remote-updating price tags) and limits price increases to 10% during declared states of emergency. Violations would trigger civil penalties up to $5,000, enforced by the Attorney General. The bill directly affects businesses selling goods or services in Arizona by mandating transparent pricing and restricting certain pricing practices.

Maddy summaryHB 2839 establishes a maximum annual rent increase limit for landlords in Arizona, directly affecting both landlords and tenants. It caps rent increases at the annual consumer price index (CPI) plus 3% of the current rent, but not exceeding a total 7% increase per year. The bill also clarifies procedures for landlords to handle tenant property or animals if a tenant dies or becomes incapacitated, requiring authorized persons to retrieve items within 20 days. These provisions aim to limit arbitrary rent hikes while standardizing property retrieval processes under Arizona law.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 bans retail stores from providing free single-use checkout bags to customers. Instead, stores must charge at least $0.05 per bag for reusable fabric, recycled paper, or reusable plastic bags (defined as durable, multi-use bags). Stores must report total fees collected and bag types distributed to the Department of Environmental Quality, and face civil penalties of up to $250 per day for violations. The law exempts certain bags (like those for bulk items, frozen food, or WIC/EBT customers) and requires a state impact report by 2032. It takes effect in 2029 and expires in 2033.

Maddy summaryHB 2835 requires mandatory settlement conferences for certain eviction cases in Arizona before a trial can proceed. It applies to landlords seeking eviction for unpaid rent (under ARS 33-1368(B)) or material lease violations (under ARS 33-1368(A)), mandating that both parties attend a court meeting five days after the eviction notice is served. At the conference, they must bring lease agreements, payment records, and other relevant documents; failure to attend results in dismissal (landlord) or default judgment (tenant). If unresolved, the case moves to an eviction hearing five business days after the conference, streamlining the process while requiring courts to track and report settlement outcomes.

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.

Maddy summaryArizona's HCR 2054 formally ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a constitutional proposal originally adopted by Congress in 1972. The bill directs Arizona's Secretary of State to transmit the state's approval to federal officials, supporting the ERA's goal of guaranteeing equality under the law regardless of sex. This resolution does not create new state laws but affirms Arizona's position in the process of achieving the required ratifications for the ERA to become part of the U.S. Constitution. The measure directly affects Arizona's role in the federal constitutional amendment process, not Arizona residents' rights.