Rep. Joseph Chaplik

Maddy summarySB 1441 would require school board elections in Arizona to be nonpartisan by removing political party designations from ballots for school district governing board candidates. The bill would amend election statutes to place school board candidates in a "Nonpartisan Ballot" section, listing their names without party labels or partisan titles. This change would directly affect all Arizona school districts and candidates running for school board positions by eliminating party affiliations from the ballot. The bill passed the legislature in April 2025 but was vetoed by the governor, so it did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 2670 requires Arizona public schools to include specific fetal development instruction in health education for students in grades 7 and 8, covering human reproduction, pregnancy, infertility, and trimester-by-trimester growth of an unborn child. School districts may also offer age-appropriate fetal development lessons in grades 1-6 or 9-12. Parents can opt their child out of this instruction, and schools must notify parents about the curriculum and withdrawal options. The bill passed the legislature in April 2025 but was vetoed by the governor on April 18, 2025, so it did not become law.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1092 prohibits state and local governments from establishing vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduction goals, tracking personal driving data (like odometer readings or license plate movements), or charging mileage-based taxes. The bill directly affects Arizona's government entities, including cities, counties, and state agencies, by banning these specific actions. Key provisions include banning VMT tracking through cameras, third-party data, or license plate capture, and prohibiting per-mile fees or taxes on personal vehicles. Exceptions apply for interstate commercial vehicle fuel/tax agreements and vehicles owned by specific government entities. This bill focuses on preventing government collection of driving data and mileage-based charges, not on altering driver behavior or vehicle usage.

Maddy summaryHB 2855 declares that drug cartels operating in Arizona are terrorist organizations under state law. It defines "drug cartel" to include groups involved in human smuggling, drug trafficking, or terrorism, and requires the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to address the threat they pose. The bill explicitly states this definition does not affect individuals' claims for asylum under federal law. This legislation aims to empower state agencies to combat border-related criminal activity, based on voter-approved findings about public safety concerns linked to transnational cartels.

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 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 2739 requires manufacturers, packagers, or retailers of food products made from cultivated cells (like lab-grown meat) to label the product packaging with "This food product is derived from cultivated cells." The bill directly affects food companies producing such products sold in Arizona. Its key provision mandates this specific labeling language on all packaging, ensuring consumers can identify these products. The law does not restrict the sale of cultivated cell products but requires clear disclosure of their origin.

Maddy summaryHB 2683 requires Arizona physical retail businesses to accept cash for purchases under $100 without charging extra fees or penalties. It gives customers a legal right to sue businesses that violate this rule, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation (capped at $5,000 per person). The law does not apply to online sales or written contracts that specify payment methods. This directly affects brick-and-mortar retailers and protects customers making smaller in-person purchases.

Maddy summaryHB 2635 amends Arizona's tax code to add new sales tax exemptions for specific items. It exempts sales of "cash equivalents" (like gift cards, stored-value cards, and prepaid digital payment tools) and "precious metal bullion" (refined gold, silver, etc.) from retail sales tax. The bill defines "cash equivalents" as pre-paid items denominated in money redeemable for goods/services, excluding telecom prepaids, and clarifies that "monetized bullion" (coins used as currency) is exempt. This directly affects retailers selling these items, removing tax liability on such transactions. The bill focuses solely on tax policy, with no provisions related to firearm storage devices as inaccurately suggested in the title.

Maddy summaryHB 2684 prohibits pedestrians from congregating or soliciting (e.g., asking for money) on traffic islands, medians, highway ramps, or unsafe locations without sidewalks. It directly affects pedestrians who gather in these specific high-risk areas, such as busy roadways or unprotected medians. The bill establishes a tiered enforcement approach: a first violation receives only a warning, a second violation is a civil traffic violation (likely involving a fine), and third or subsequent violations are classified as a class 1 misdemeanor. The law aims to improve pedestrian safety by restricting gathering in locations where pedestrians face significant traffic dangers.