Rep. Matt Gress

Maddy summaryHCR 2014 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Arizona's House of Representatives seats are designated and establish an independent redistricting commission. Starting in 2027, each legislative district would elect two representatives whose seats would be labeled "A" and "B" based on the alphabetical order of their names (surname then first name), requiring candidates to run for a specific seat. It also creates a five-member independent redistricting commission with strict rules to ensure political balance (no more than two members from the same party) and requires members to have been registered voters for at least three years without recent political office or lobbying roles. This amendment must be approved by Arizona voters to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (HCR 2047) proposes to establish separate permanent funds for Arizona's state land grants, particularly those designated for schools. It mandates that funds from specific land grants must stay in their designated fund, restricts investments (capping equities at 60% and single-company holdings at 5%), and sets annual distribution rates: 2.5% for most years but 6.9% from 2015-2025, with a special provision directing excess funds (above 2.5%) toward teacher salary increases starting in 2025-2026. The amendment requires voter approval and aims to preserve capital safety while directing fund earnings toward education and state aid. It directly affects how Arizona manages its land trust revenue, particularly for public schools and teacher compensation.

Maddy summarySCR 1015 proposes amending Arizona's constitution to establish separate permanent funds for state and school lands, directly affecting how these funds are managed and distributed. The amendment requires all monies from these lands to be deposited into designated funds, prohibits transferring money between funds, and mandates strict investment rules (e.g., max 60% in equities, max 5% in single companies). It specifies annual distribution rates: 2.5% of fund value for most years, with a higher 6.9% rate from 2015-2025, and directs excess funds from the higher rate period toward school funding. The bill creates a board of investment to manage assets, prioritizing long-term safety and returns over speculation.

Maddy summaryHCR 2020 is a technical correction to Arizona's Constitution, specifically fixing a duplicated word ("university universities") in Article XI, Section 6 to read "universities." It does not change any admissions policies or requirements for students; it only corrects a grammatical error in the existing constitutional text. The bill directly affects the wording of the state constitution, not any educational institutions or students. This is a purely procedural amendment requiring voter approval after legislative passage. No substantive policy changes are made by this bill.

Maddy summaryHB 2185 amends Arizona law to clarify the certification process for exchange teachers and professors from other states or countries. It updates Section 15-132 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to specify that the state board of education must issue temporary certificates when these educators' qualifications match local teaching standards. This technical correction directly affects foreign and out-of-state exchange teachers seeking temporary teaching roles in Arizona. The bill makes no substantive policy changes - it only clarifies existing certification rules to ensure consistency.

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 summaryHCM 2016 is a symbolic resolution (not a binding bill) passed by the Arizona House of Representatives. It urges the U.S. Congress to support the Palo Verde Generating Station, Arizona's largest nuclear power plant, highlighting its role as a major clean energy source (supplying 70% of Arizona's carbon-free energy), economic contributor ($2.3 billion annual impact), and employer (2,000+ full-time workers). The resolution cites the plant's use of recycled water, lower costs compared to solar, and public support for nuclear energy (56% in a 2024 survey) to make its case. It does not create new policy but requests congressional recognition and support for the facility.

Maddy summaryHB 2862 requires Arizona public schools to obtain explicit parental consent before providing most school-based mental health services to students, including screenings and interventions. It mandates that schools provide written notice to parents before referrals and require detailed intervention plans outlining goals, methods, personnel credentials, and data privacy before services begin. Schools must also post a clear disclaimer on their websites stating that unlicensed staff cannot diagnose or treat mental health conditions. The bill directly affects students, parents, and school staff by prioritizing parental involvement in mental health support decisions while exempting certified school psychologists from certain licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2616 creates a state scholarship fund administered by the Arizona Board of Regents to support students who complete federal national service programs (like AmeriCorps) and receive a federal post-service education award. The fund provides scholarships equal to the federal award amount, but only to students attending eligible Arizona schools (such as state universities or community colleges) who use the federal award first. Recipients must maintain good academic standing, use scholarship funds within three years of service completion, and cannot access funds until their federal award is fully exhausted. The state appropriates funds for this program in fiscal year 2025-2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2797, titled "Erin's Law," requires Arizona public schools to implement a statewide child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention program by October 1, 2026. The program, developed by the Department of Child Safety and Education by July 1, 2026, includes age-appropriate student materials teaching skills to recognize abuse and boundary violations, teacher training on prevention and response, and standardized reporting procedures for schools. It directly affects all public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade, teachers, and school staff. Parents may exempt their child from participation or specific portions of the program through written notification to the school.