Rep. Alex Kolodin

Maddy summaryHB 2606 allocates $50 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Department of Public Safety for local border support. The funds will directly support local law enforcement by creating border-focused officer positions to address drug trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal immigration, and provide grants to cities, towns, and counties for prosecuting and detaining individuals charged with these border-related crimes. The bill also allows funding for equipment like vehicles or technology needed for border operations. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and does not alter which activities are considered crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 2608 requires Arizona elected or appointed public officers to provide a photograph taken within the past 12 months for all official uses when assuming office. This applies directly to individuals holding public office, such as mayors, council members, or county officials. The bill mandates that these photos be used for official purposes like identification, public records, or official communications. It overrides any existing requirements regarding officer photographs under other laws.

Maddy summaryHB 2411 allows qualifying golf courses to permit patrons to bring outside alcohol purchased elsewhere for consumption on-site. Specifically, it amends Arizona law to permit golf courses that are at least 1,000 yards in size and hold an on-sale alcohol license to allow this practice. The bill directly affects these eligible golf courses and their patrons, removing a previous restriction on bringing outside alcohol to such venues. It does not change alcohol sales at the course itself, only the allowance for patrons to consume externally purchased alcohol. The law applies to on-sale licensed golf courses meeting the size requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2631 requires Arizona's Secretary of State to create an official election procedures manual every odd-numbered year before a general election, to be approved by the governor, attorney general, and legislative committee chairs before issuance. The manual covers rules for early voting, ballot handling, and voting systems, with violations classified as class 2 misdemeanors. It directly affects the Secretary of State's office and county election officials who must follow these standardized procedures. The bill focuses on procedural oversight, mandating specific review steps before election rules take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2051 requires Arizona's governor to appear before the legislature monthly (starting January 2027) to answer questions from lawmakers. The governor must respond to two questions each from the majority and minority leaders, one question each from four randomly selected legislators, and follow-up questions if requested. This applies during legislative sessions on the third Wednesday of each month, alternating between the Senate and House of Representatives each year. The bill aims to increase public engagement with state government, as cited in the legislature's findings linking similar practices to higher voter turnout and political knowledge.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2681 establishes requirements for physicians prescribing medication abortions. It mandates in-person examinations, pregnancy verification, Rh blood testing, and disclosure of physical/psychological side effects (including bleeding and seeing pregnancy tissue) before providing abortion-inducing drugs. Physicians must also schedule a 7-14 day follow-up visit to confirm the abortion is complete, document efforts to ensure the visit occurs, and provide the patient with the contact information of an associated physician for complications. The bill prohibits mailing or delivering abortion drugs via courier and creates civil liability for violations, allowing patients to seek $5,000 statutory damages plus medical costs and attorney fees. It explicitly states this law does not create a right to abortion or make unlawful abortions legal.

Maddy summaryHB 2601 exempts minors under 18 years old from Arizona income tax on their first $50,000 of Arizona gross income for any tax year. This directly affects young workers earning up to $50,000 annually in Arizona, regardless of income source (e.g., wages, self-employment). The bill adds this exemption to existing tax code sections (43-403 and 43-1043), requiring the tax department to verify eligibility. The policy change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 2023 (property tax; combat veterans; exemption) creates a full property tax exemption for Arizona combat veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans with disabilities not meeting this threshold receive a partial exemption of up to $4,188 annually, adjusted yearly for inflation based on GDP changes. Eligibility requires total household income to stay below $34,901 (no minor children) or $41,870 (with qualifying children), excluding certain benefits like VA pensions. The bill, now passed by the legislature, requires voter approval to become law and amends Arizona’s property tax code (ARS 42-11111).

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Arizona government entities and election vendors from using money or services from foreign governments or non-citizens for election administration. It also bans foreign entities from funding efforts to influence ballot measure outcomes. Vendors must provide annual written statements confirming they don’t receive foreign funds, with penalties for false statements (up to three times the contract value). The law explicitly excludes federally recognized tribal nations from the definition of "foreign government."

Maddy summaryHB 2228 restores a limited number of peremptory challenges in Arizona civil trials, directly affecting parties (plaintiffs and defendants) in superior court cases. The bill grants each side four peremptory challenges to remove potential jurors without stating a reason, with parties alternating turns starting with the plaintiff. It also allows additional challenges if parties on the same side have conflicting interests, requiring the court to distribute them equally. This change responds to concerns raised after the Arizona Supreme Court eliminated peremptory challenges in civil trials in 2021, aiming to help parties secure impartial juries while maintaining Batson v. Kentucky protections.