Rep. David Livingston

Maddy summaryHB 2520 amends Arizona's duress defense law to limit when a defendant can claim they committed a crime due to threats of immediate physical force. Specifically, the defense cannot be used if the defendant intentionally created the situation where they faced duress, or for offenses involving homicide, serious physical injury, or certain violent crimes like aggravated assault or sexual offenses. This change directly affects criminal defendants in cases where they attempt to justify their actions using duress as a legal defense. The bill clarifies that the duress defense is unavailable for the most serious violent offenses, making it harder for defendants to avoid responsibility for those acts.

Maddy summaryHB 2429 establishes rules for "pharmacy management networks" that Arizona employers can create to provide medications to employees injured on the job. It requires employers to notify injured workers about the network and their mandatory use for outpatient prescriptions related to work injuries, while out-of-network prescriptions remain reimbursed at the standard fee schedule until the employer provides specific notice. Key provisions include requiring networks to register with the state, prohibiting additional fees to pharmacies, and ensuring dispute resolution processes for reimbursement claims. The bill directly affects injured workers, employers, and participating pharmacies by standardizing medication access and billing for work-related injury claims.

Maddy summaryHB 2276 requires Arizona state agencies to submit proposed rules expected to increase regulatory costs for businesses by more than $100,000 within five years for review by the Office of Economic Opportunity. If the cost exceeds $500,000, the rule cannot take effect until the legislature passes separate legislation approving it. Agencies cannot finalize such rules without this legislative approval, and if the legislature doesn't act during the session, the proposed rule must be terminated. This directly affects state agencies creating new rules and businesses subject to those rules, adding a legislative review step for high-cost regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2098 amends Arizona law to adjust how court fees collected by the state's supreme court, court of appeals, and superior courts are distributed to specific state funds. The bill modifies the percentage of fees going to the elected officials' retirement plan fund (26% through June 2025) and shifts this allocation to the Department of Administration (26% starting July 2025). It also specifies exact percentages for distributing fees to other funds, including the judicial collection enhancement fund (17.62%), general fund (46.22%), and county-specific funds like the law library and domestic violence services. This bill directly affects Arizona state courts and the allocation of fee revenue to these designated state funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Arizona state university statutes to clarify campus locations, delegate academic approval authority to university presidents, and establish new reporting requirements for enrollment and financial data. It specifically affects the Arizona Board of Regents, university presidents, and faculty representatives by defining their respective roles in governance and policy development. The legislation also updates rules on tuition setting, requiring the board to report student enrollment numbers and restricting how excess tuition revenue can be used. Ultimately, the bill aims to streamline administrative powers and improve transparency in state university operations.

Maddy summarySB 1174 expands tuition waiver scholarships in Arizona for children and spouses of public safety and military personnel who died in the line of duty or from injuries sustained while traveling to or from work. The bill specifically includes individuals who suffered a posttraumatic stress injury and died by suicide, requiring verification from relevant memorial boards or the department of veterans' services. Eligible recipients can receive up to 64 credit hours at community colleges or enough credits for a bachelor's degree at universities, provided they meet age and marital status requirements. Additionally, the law extends these benefits to National Guard members with Purple Heart citations and veterans with significant service-connected disabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2209 amends Arizona laws to clarify the Industrial Commission's authority over workplace safety inspections and enforcement actions. The bill allows the commission to delegate most duties to its director or department heads, except for making rules, commuting fines to lump sums, and licensing self-insurers. It also updates procedures for safety inspections, specifying who may accompany inspectors and requiring that inspection records become public once a violation is cited. Additionally, the legislation permits inspectors to consider employee substance abuse violations when deciding whether to issue citations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Arizona Commerce Authority as a state agency dedicated to growing the economy by attracting and retaining businesses. It creates a board of directors led by the governor and composed of private sector leaders, appointed officials, and representatives from various sectors like universities and local governments. The authority will operate without compensation for its board members but can reimburse travel expenses, and it must maintain transparent records while allowing limited private discussions on sensitive business opportunities. Additionally, the law defines specific types of jobs created by business expansion, including direct, indirect, and induced employment, to help measure economic impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a revolving fund for the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions to finance investigations into insurance fraud and civil penalties recovered by the state. It creates a dedicated fraud unit within the department staffed by investigators who possess peace officer powers, allowing them to conduct searches, issue subpoenas, and enforce laws while working alongside the Department of Public Safety. The legislation also mandates that insurers report suspected fraudulent claims to the director for review and enables the sharing of confidential fraud data with other state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the bill sets specific rules for handling recovered funds, requiring amounts exceeding a certain threshold to be transferred to a separate receivership fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 2906, clarifies how Arizona finances charter schools sponsored by state agencies, universities, or community colleges. It establishes specific rules for calculating funding amounts, including adjustments for small schools and methods for counting student enrollment to determine state aid. The legislation also addresses situations where a student is enrolled in both a charter school and a traditional public school, ensuring funding is not duplicated for the same pupil. Additionally, the bill outlines how state aid is distributed and requires adjustments to school budgets if the schools receive other federal or state grants.