Rep. Quantá Crews

Maddy summaryHB 2295 raises Arizona's minimum wage to $18 per hour by January 1, 2027, with scheduled increases from $10 in 2017 up to $12 in 2020. After 2020, the wage will automatically adjust annually based on the Consumer Price Index (measuring cost-of-living changes) to maintain its value. The bill also allows employers to pay tipped workers a base wage up to $3 less per hour, provided total tips plus wages meet the minimum wage requirement. This applies to most hourly workers in Arizona covered by state minimum wage law, including those in restaurants and service industries. The bill requires a three-fourths legislative vote to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2626 creates a state-funded scholarship program for child care workers in Arizona earning below 85% of the state median income. It directly affects teachers, educators, and support staff at department-contracted child care providers, preschools, kindergartens, and K-12 schools. The program provides $200 million in state funding for fiscal year 2026-2027, with scholarship money paid directly to child care providers (not individual workers) on a first-come, first-served basis. This aims to support workforce retention by covering costs for eligible providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents Arizona cities and towns from banning short-term rentals (like Airbnb properties). Instead, it allows local governments to regulate these rentals only for specific reasons: protecting public health/safety (e.g., fire codes), enforcing zoning rules equally applied to all housing, or preventing illegal activities. Key requirements include: owners must provide business license details and emergency contacts, obtain a permit with a $500 maximum fee, notify nearby neighbors before renting, and maintain $500,000 in liability insurance. The bill directly affects short-term rental property owners and local governments seeking to regulate them.

Maddy summaryHB 2708 limits late fees landlords can charge to $50 or 5% of rent, whichever is greater, and bans rental agreements that prevent tenants from calling emergency services or penalize them for doing so. It also requires a 5-day waiting period after an eviction judgment before a landlord can enforce a writ of restitution. Landlords cannot force tenants to waive legal rights or pay excessive fees, and tenants may recover damages if landlords knowingly include prohibited lease terms. The bill applies directly to all residential rental agreements in Arizona, affecting both landlords and tenants in housing disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 2627 creates new protections for workers during public health emergencies in Arizona. It prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who report health/safety concerns, wear higher-level personal protective equipment (like masks recommended by health agencies), or refuse forced confidentiality agreements about workplace hazards. Employers must post notices of these rights and face civil penalties of at least $100 per day for violations, with options for reinstatement or back pay if workers are fired for exercising these rights. The law applies to most employers and entities contracting with five or more independent contractors, enforced by the state Labor Department.

Maddy summaryHB 2391 requires vloggers (parents or guardians creating compensated video content featuring minors) to set aside earnings for minor children when their name, likeness, or image appears in at least 30% of compensated videos meeting platform compensation thresholds or $0.10 per view. For single minors, 15% of the relevant earnings must be held in a trust; for multiple minors, 10% of the combined earnings is distributed equally. Minors can later request permanent deletion of their content from platforms upon reaching 18, with platforms required to comply. The bill applies to Arizona-based vloggers using minors' content for compensation, defining key terms like "minor child" (under 18 residing in Arizona) and "content percentage."

Maddy summaryHB 2302 requires student loan servicers operating in Arizona to obtain a state license, with exemptions for banks, credit unions, and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. It establishes a Student Loan Ombudsman to handle borrower complaints, provide education on loan terms (including repayment options and forgiveness), and compile complaint data. The licensing process mandates application fees ($1,800 total), financial disclosures, background checks, and proof of financial stability to ensure servicers operate fairly. The ombudsman must also create a mandatory borrower education course by October 1, 2026, covering key loan terms and rights. This bill directly affects student loan servicers and borrowers in Arizona by setting licensing standards and improving complaint resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 2581 establishes a state-run health care claims consumer assistance program within Arizona's Department of Insurance to help individuals enrolled in or seeking health insurance plans. The program assists consumers with filing complaints, appeals, and resolving disputed claims against health insurers. Key provisions require insurers to pay double the amount of any wrongfully denied or underpaid claim (including attorney fees) and face civil penalties of at least $25,000 per violation for repeated denials. Insurers must report denial data to the department, and the department must publish annual public reports detailing claim denials, wrongful denials, and enforcement actions by insurer.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2466 requires most Arizona employers to provide employees with specific break and pay protections. It mandates a 30-minute unpaid meal break after 5 hours of work (and an additional break after 12 hours), a paid 10-minute rest break every 4 hours, and extra pay rates: 1.5 times the regular wage for hours worked beyond 8 but not exceeding 12 in a day or for the first 8 hours on the seventh consecutive workday, and double the regular wage for hours beyond 12 in a day or beyond 8 hours on the seventh consecutive workday. The law applies to employers with annual sales of $100,000 or more or those engaged in interstate commerce, aligning with federal labor standards. This directly affects hourly workers and employers across Arizona who fall under these thresholds.

Maddy summaryHB 2468 authorizes placing a Rotary International peace pole monument in a designated area of Arizona's governmental mall. The bill requires Rotary International to cover all costs for fundraising, design, and construction - state funds cannot be used, and the government cannot facilitate fundraising. It also specifies the monument authorization expires on September 30, 2029. This is a procedural bill focused on monument placement with clear funding restrictions and a sunset date.