Rep. Janeen Connolly

Maddy summaryHB 2709 limits landlord fees and requires clearer rental disclosures in Arizona. Landlords cannot charge for background checks if renters provide their own credit reports, may not charge more than the actual screening cost, and cannot charge multiple application fees within a year. Landlords must provide written disclosures before tenancy, including all mandatory fees, rent amounts, due dates, and optional costs (like trash valet or smart device upgrades), and include these details in all rental ads and websites. This directly affects Arizona landlords and renters by reducing unexpected costs and increasing transparency in rental agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 2558 requires Arizona health insurers to cover scalp cooling systems for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, starting January 1, 2027. The bill mandates that hospital service corporations, health care services organizations, disability insurers, and group disability insurers must provide coverage for these systems when used alongside cancer-related chemotherapy treatment. A "scalp cooling system" is defined as a medical device designed to prevent or reduce hair loss during chemo, intended for repeated use and primarily for medical purposes. This policy directly affects cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in Arizona and insurers offering related coverage. The law creates a new coverage requirement without altering existing treatment standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2711 modifies how Arizona allocates unclaimed property funds, such as abandoned bank accounts and stocks, that would otherwise go to the state general fund. It directs 55% of these funds to the housing trust fund, with 40% of that portion (22% of total funds) specifically reserved for rural housing development. The bill also specifies that $2 million goes to a trust fund for housing the seriously mentally ill, $2.5 million to the general housing trust fund, and $24.5 million to the department of revenue's administrative fund. This policy change affects state fund distribution without directly altering individual rights or services.

Maddy summaryHB 2295 raises Arizona's minimum wage to $18 per hour by January 1, 2027, with scheduled increases from $10 in 2017 up to $12 in 2020. After 2020, the wage will automatically adjust annually based on the Consumer Price Index (measuring cost-of-living changes) to maintain its value. The bill also allows employers to pay tipped workers a base wage up to $3 less per hour, provided total tips plus wages meet the minimum wage requirement. This applies to most hourly workers in Arizona covered by state minimum wage law, including those in restaurants and service industries. The bill requires a three-fourths legislative vote to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2462 requires Arizona state governmental units to mandate that contractors and subcontractors on specific "covered contracts" submit certified payroll records. These records must accurately show hours worked, job classifications, wages paid, and include a signed compliance statement. The bill also ensures worker retention during contract transitions by requiring successor contractors to offer jobs to qualified previous employees and prohibiting unjustified terminations or hour cuts during the transition period. It explicitly states the bill does not create new wage requirements beyond existing law and excludes commodity contracts, fixed-delivery contracts, and contracts below a dollar threshold.

Maddy summaryHB 2708 limits late fees landlords can charge to $50 or 5% of rent, whichever is greater, and bans rental agreements that prevent tenants from calling emergency services or penalize them for doing so. It also requires a 5-day waiting period after an eviction judgment before a landlord can enforce a writ of restitution. Landlords cannot force tenants to waive legal rights or pay excessive fees, and tenants may recover damages if landlords knowingly include prohibited lease terms. The bill applies directly to all residential rental agreements in Arizona, affecting both landlords and tenants in housing disputes.

Maddy summaryHB 2391 requires vloggers (parents or guardians creating compensated video content featuring minors) to set aside earnings for minor children when their name, likeness, or image appears in at least 30% of compensated videos meeting platform compensation thresholds or $0.10 per view. For single minors, 15% of the relevant earnings must be held in a trust; for multiple minors, 10% of the combined earnings is distributed equally. Minors can later request permanent deletion of their content from platforms upon reaching 18, with platforms required to comply. The bill applies to Arizona-based vloggers using minors' content for compensation, defining key terms like "minor child" (under 18 residing in Arizona) and "content percentage."

Maddy summaryHB 2302 requires student loan servicers operating in Arizona to obtain a state license, with exemptions for banks, credit unions, and their wholly-owned subsidiaries. It establishes a Student Loan Ombudsman to handle borrower complaints, provide education on loan terms (including repayment options and forgiveness), and compile complaint data. The licensing process mandates application fees ($1,800 total), financial disclosures, background checks, and proof of financial stability to ensure servicers operate fairly. The ombudsman must also create a mandatory borrower education course by October 1, 2026, covering key loan terms and rights. This bill directly affects student loan servicers and borrowers in Arizona by setting licensing standards and improving complaint resolution.

Maddy summaryHB 2634 establishes a study committee to examine health insurance costs for Arizona educators and their families. The committee, composed of representatives from school districts, teachers' organizations, health insurers, and school boards, will analyze current insurance plans and costs for both school districts and employees. It must recommend affordable ways to provide high-quality health coverage for educators and their dependents, then submit a report to state leaders by November 2027. The committee will dissolve on October 31, 2028. This is a procedural bill focused on research, not immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 2581 establishes a state-run health care claims consumer assistance program within Arizona's Department of Insurance to help individuals enrolled in or seeking health insurance plans. The program assists consumers with filing complaints, appeals, and resolving disputed claims against health insurers. Key provisions require insurers to pay double the amount of any wrongfully denied or underpaid claim (including attorney fees) and face civil penalties of at least $25,000 per violation for repeated denials. Insurers must report denial data to the department, and the department must publish annual public reports detailing claim denials, wrongful denials, and enforcement actions by insurer.