Rep. Brian Garcia

Maddy summaryHB 2503 is a definitional bill that clarifies terms related to driver licenses and personal information in Arizona law. It defines key terms like "consular identification card" (a form of ID meeting specific state requirements), "highly restricted personal information" (including social security numbers, tax IDs, and medical data), and "express consent" for releasing such data. The bill establishes that personal information - including driver license details, medical codes, and identification numbers - cannot be shared without a customer's explicit written consent. This primarily affects how Arizona's Department of Transportation handles and discloses personal data, requiring opt-in consent for sharing sensitive information like tax IDs or medical records.

Maddy summaryHB 2556 amends Arizona's liquor license rules to clarify transfer procedures and ownership changes for spirituous liquor licenses (like bars and liquor stores). It creates a rebuttable presumption that public convenience was established when a location already holds a valid license of the same type, unless the location has been inactive for over 180 days. The bill requires license owners to notify the state director within 30 business days of any change in control, gives local governments 60 days to review new ownership and provide recommendations, and specifies that minor ownership changes (without new controlling persons) don’t trigger a transfer. This directly affects businesses seeking to transfer licenses or change ownership, streamlining some processes while adding review steps for significant ownership shifts.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits rental application fees in Arizona by prohibiting landlords from charging more than one fee per tenant application. Landlords cannot charge additional fees for property visits before or after submitting an application. The law directly affects renters seeking housing and landlords who rent residential properties in Arizona. It sets a clear maximum fee structure to prevent multiple charges for the same application process.

Maddy summaryHB 2619 prohibits most private possession, sale, or transfer of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines (holding more than 10 rounds) in Arizona. It requires current owners of such weapons to register them within 90 days of the law's effective date, surrender them, render them inoperable, or remove them from the state. Registered owners must store weapons securely, undergo annual background checks, and face strict usage rules (e.g., only on owned property or licensed ranges). Violations carry fines starting at $750 for first offenses, escalating to felony penalties for repeat or other violations, with exemptions for law enforcement and military personnel.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2622 increases penalties for political committees and parties that miss campaign finance filing deadlines. It raises late filing fines to $20 per day for the first 15 days and $50 per day after, accruing until reports are submitted. Committees failing to file three consecutive reports face temporary suspension of operating authority, with permanent suspension if they don't comply within 30 days of a suspension notice. The bill directly affects campaign finance committees and political parties by imposing stricter financial penalties and operational consequences for repeated late filings.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill requires employers with 50+ employees to grant up to 16 hours per school year for school conferences or activities involving an employee's child. Employees must have worked at least six months, exhausted other leave types (except sick leave), and work at least half-time to qualify. Employers aren't required to pay for this time off and may deny requests if over 5% of staff request it simultaneously. The law applies to all public and private K-12 schools in Arizona and covers biological, adopted, foster, and stepchildren.

Maddy summaryHB 2495 amends Arizona law to establish standards for online schools and instruction. It requires new online schools to operate under probationary status for three years, demonstrating improved student academic performance before becoming permanent. The bill mandates daily time tracking for online students, sets specific curriculum and safety standards for online programs, and adjusts funding to 95% of base support for full-time online students (compared to traditional schools). These provisions directly affect Arizona online schools, their students, and school districts managing online enrollment. The bill does not relate to full-day kindergarten as the title suggests.

Maddy summarySB 1188 bans price hikes of 25% or more for essential goods and services (like food, medicine, or utilities) during declared emergencies when market disruptions occur - such as natural disasters, power outages, or civil unrest. It applies to all sellers in the supply chain, from manufacturers to retailers, and requires the attorney general to enforce the rule. Violations are classified as misdemeanors, with intentional violations carrying harsher penalties. The law only takes effect when a governor declares a state of emergency for the disruption.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2647 requires landlords to offer tenants the optional chance to have their rental payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide a written offer at lease start and annually, disclosing that reporting is optional, including all payments (on time or late), any fee ($10 max or actual cost), and how to opt in or out. Tenants can stop reporting at any time but cannot restart for six months. Landlords may charge a fee for reporting, but nonpayment of this fee cannot be treated as rent nonpayment or affect security deposits.

Maddy summaryHB 2586 creates a mobile communications platform for Arizona election workers, including poll workers, drivers, warehouse staff, and voter registration personnel. The bill requires the Secretary of State to establish this platform and deploy it in a pilot program across one or more counties, with counties potentially using it at reduced or no cost. It appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support the pilot, which expires on December 31, 2026. The legislation directly affects election workers and local election offices participating in the pilot.