Rep. Quantá Crews

Maddy summaryHB 2900 updates Arizona's health insurance appeal process for denied coverage. It gives members up to two years to request an initial appeal after a denial and requires insurers to send written acknowledgment within five business days. The bill specifies that appeal reviews for medical necessity must be conducted by licensed physicians or advanced practice nurses (like nurse practitioners), and clarifies when external reviews can be requested. This affects patients, healthcare providers, and insurers by standardizing appeal timelines and review procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Arizona's exemption law to better protect essential income from creditors. It increases the $5,000 personal property exemption to adjust annually with inflation, adds exemptions for federal/state earned income and child tax credits, and expands protections for retirement plan benefits. It also preserves existing exemptions for child support, disability insurance proceeds, and prepaid rent (up to $2,000 for housing). These changes directly affect Arizona residents relying on these specific income streams for basic needs. The law ensures these funds remain accessible while maintaining creditor protections.

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 2917 repeals Arizona's law prohibiting possession or use of drug paraphernalia (Section 13-3415, A.R.S.). This directly affects individuals previously charged under this specific offense, removing it as a criminal violation. The bill amends drug court provisions (Section 13-3422) to remove paraphernalia from the list of offenses eligible for dismissal through drug court programs. The change eliminates a specific criminal penalty without altering other drug laws or court procedures.