Rep. Sarah Liguori

Maddy summaryHB 2823 prohibits Arizona's Department of Corrections from renewing or creating new contracts with private prison operators that include a "minimum occupancy clause." This means the state cannot require private prisons to maintain a specific occupancy rate, and will only pay for the actual number of inmates physically housed at the facility. The bill directly affects the state department and private prison operators by changing how contracts are structured and paid. It applies to all new contracts or renewals after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 2504 amends Arizona's election laws to change how initiative and referendum petitions are prepared and circulated. It requires petition sponsors to get the attorney general's advance approval of their measure's description before submitting petitions, and it mandates that all non-resident and paid circulators register with the secretary of state - including providing personal details, consent to court jurisdiction, and a notarized affidavit. Circulators who fail to register, provide false information, or are convicted of certain offenses (like fraud or felony) face disqualification of signatures they collected and potential misdemeanor charges. The bill directly affects petition sponsors, circulators, and the secretary of state's office by adding new registration steps and enforcement mechanisms for statewide ballot measures.

Maddy summaryHB 2583 primarily updates fingerprinting requirements for education professionals in Arizona. It mandates that teachers, student teachers, charter school staff, and tutoring contractors submit identity-verified fingerprints through the Department of Public Safety for background checks. Key provisions include standardizing the fingerprint submission process, allowing school districts to contract with third parties for fingerprinting services, and creating a digital archive to avoid duplicate submissions for renewals. The bill also includes a separate section (Section 2) about Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts, which is unrelated to the fingerprinting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2393 prohibits selling or giving tobacco products, alternative nicotine products (like e-cigarettes), vapor products, or related paraphernalia (e.g., hookahs) to anyone under 21 in Arizona. Minors who buy, possess, or falsely claim age to obtain these items face petty offenses with fines starting at $100 or 30 hours of community service. Businesses violating the law face escalating penalties: first violations incur $500-$750 fines plus mandatory education, while repeat offenses can lead to misdemeanor charges, $10,000 fines, or even felony convictions with sales bans. The law exempts religious use of shisha and gifts not intended for minor use.

Maddy summaryHB 2778 updates Arizona's laws regarding electronic smoking devices and vapor products by prohibiting sales to individuals under 21. It directly affects minors under 21 (who face fines up to $500 for purchasing or falsely claiming age) and retailers (who must verify age and face penalties for violations). The bill clarifies definitions to include e-cigarettes, vape pens, and related products under "vapor products," while excluding FDA-approved nicotine products. Key provisions require retailers to verify age before sale and impose fines for selling to minors or allowing underage possession.

Maddy summaryHB 2850 amends Arizona law to clarify procedures for mobile home abandonment and establish a relocation fund. It requires landlords to notify the legal owner or lienholder within 10 days if a mobile home is abandoned (defined as 30 days absent with unpaid rent or after eviction), giving them 7 days to pay outstanding rent/utilities before a sale can occur. The bill creates a "mobile home relocation fund" using fees from mobile home transactions to cover tenant relocation costs if parks change use, paying for insurance or direct payments when needed. Landlords must also notify lienholders about abandonment and potential sales, allowing lienholders to reclaim the mobile home by paying owed amounts. This directly affects mobile home park landlords, tenants, and lienholders in Arizona.

Maddy summaryHB 2852 regulates utility billing in Arizona mobile home parks. It requires landlords to provide separate meters for gas, water, and electricity with clear billing showing meter readings, and prohibits charging more than standard single-family residential rates for utilities or waste removal. Tenants can file written complaints if landlords violate these rules, and if they win a court case or administrative hearing, they may recover attorney fees and receive penalties up to $500 per violation. The law directly affects mobile home park landlords and tenants by standardizing billing practices and strengthening enforcement mechanisms under Arizona's mobile home park tenant protections.

Maddy summaryHB 2503 amends Arizona's campaign finance law (ARS § 16-921) to explicitly allow candidate committees to use campaign funds for direct childcare costs for the candidate's dependents, such as a child or other individual the candidate cares for. This change directly affects candidates with caregiving responsibilities who previously faced ambiguity about using campaign money for these essential expenses. The bill clarifies that such childcare costs are now a lawful expenditure under the law, without requiring separate fundraising. It does not alter existing exemptions for volunteer services, news coverage, or other campaign-related expenses. The legislature states this is a clarifying update, not a substantive change to campaign finance rules.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2628 amends election laws to clarify ballot handling rules and delivery requirements for mail-in ballots. It requires election officials to include specific instructions (in voter guides and mail ballot envelopes) stating that only voters, family members, household members, or caregivers may handle or return ballots, with violations classified as a class 5 felony under Section 16-1005. The bill mandates that mail ballots must include a signed affidavit and be returned by 7:00 p.m. on election day to a county recorder’s office, polling place, or via in-person drop-off with ID (starting 2026), with explicit warnings about felony penalties for improper handling. These changes directly affect voters, election officials, and ballot returners by standardizing delivery procedures and reinforcing penalties for unauthorized ballot collection.

Maddy summaryHB 2507 makes specific actions related to voting illegal by adding new misdemeanor offenses under Arizona law. It prohibits behaviors like electioneering near polling places or early voting locations, interfering with voting machines, showing another voter's ballot, or failing to return a ballot after voting. The bill directly affects voters and election workers by clarifying what constitutes voter intimidation or ballot interference during in-person voting. Key provisions include banning the display of completed ballots (except when a voter posts their own ballot online, which is deemed consent to share), and making it illegal to harass people delivering voted ballots.