Rep. Janeen Connolly

Maddy summaryHB 2780 amends Arizona's landlord-tenant law to clarify eviction rules for "cause," directly affecting tenants and landlords. It specifies that landlords can terminate leases for material breaches (like rent nonpayment or falsified application info) with 10 days' notice, or for health/safety issues with 5 days. For irreparable breaches (e.g., violence, drug activity, or criminal behavior), immediate termination is allowed. Crucially, landlords must provide one month's rent or relocation assistance to tenants with 12+ months of tenancy if evicting for reasons like the landlord moving in or removing the property from the rental market. The bill also prohibits tenants from withholding rent except as permitted by law and outlines procedures for utility disconnection after court orders.

Maddy summaryHB 2715 prohibits charter schools from suspending students for unexcused absences and amends school discipline rules for all Arizona school districts. The bill specifically states that penalties for excessive absenteeism (including failure to pass a course or expulsion) cannot include suspension, with an exception for absences due to illness certified by a licensed medical professional. School districts must also annually report suspension/expulsion data related to illegal substances to the state education department, with aggregated data posted online. This directly affects students facing discipline for absenteeism, school staff implementing discipline policies, and school boards managing disciplinary procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 2348) requires Arizona health insurers - covering hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health care services organizations, and disability insurers - to provide coverage for behavioral health services (including mental health and substance use disorder treatment) starting January 1, 2026. It mandates insurers to arrange out-of-network coverage with negotiated rates when in-network providers aren’t available within specific timeframes: 30 days for routine care, 7 days for residential care, and 24 hours for emergencies. Crucially, patients cannot pay more than their standard in-network copay, coinsurance, or deductible for these services. Insurers must also document and report out-of-network payments to the state within 20 days of request.

Maddy summaryHB 2352 repeals Arizona's state-level registration requirement for scrap metal dealers and clarifies that local cities, towns, or counties retain authority to enforce their own business licensing systems - including those requiring background checks or fingerprinting. The bill directly affects scrap metal dealers and local licensing authorities by shifting registration responsibility from the state to local governments. Key provisions include eliminating statewide registration (repealing Sections 9-500.38 and 11-269.16) while allowing local licensing systems to remain in place for existing license holders. Existing licenses held by dealers before September 13, 2013, remain valid without requiring reapplication, unless local requirements mandate updates for specific events.

Maddy summaryHB 2443 redirects unclaimed property funds (from abandoned assets like forgotten bank accounts) to Arizona's housing programs. It requires 55% of these funds to go to the state Housing Trust Fund, with at least 40% of that portion specifically for developing housing in rural areas. Additional allocations include $2 million annually to a mental health housing fund and $24.5 million yearly to an administrative fund. The bill does not directly affect individuals but changes how state funds from unclaimed property are distributed to support housing initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2293 raises Arizona's minimum age for purchasing tobacco products and vaping devices from 18 to 21. It prohibits retailers from selling these items to anyone under 21 and makes it a petty offense for minors to buy, possess, or receive them, with penalties including fines of at least $100 or 30 hours of community service. The law includes exceptions for religious use of tobacco products and gifts of smoking paraphernalia that aren't intended for use. This directly affects underage youth, retailers, and those supplying tobacco or vaping products.

Maddy summaryHB 2644 creates a state-funded rainwater harvesting grant program in Arizona, providing financial assistance to eligible entities (like nonprofits focused on water conservation) and their partners. It offers two grant tiers: Level 1 reimburses up to $500 for simple systems (e.g., gutters, foundations), while Level 2 covers up to $2,000 for larger systems based on tank capacity (e.g., $0.25/gallon for tanks under 800 gallons). The program funds materials and labor for installation but excludes costs like pumps, landscaping, or unlicensed labor. This bill allocates $________ from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to administer the program.

Maddy summaryHB 2587 updates Arizona's voter registration rules by requiring automatic voter registration at driver license offices. When applying for or renewing a driver license, eligible residents must be offered registration using minimal, standardized forms that prevent duplicate entries. The bill clarifies that individuals without fixed housing (like those using homeless shelters) can still register at specific locations listed in the law. It maintains existing eligibility requirements, such as citizenship and residency, while ensuring DMV forms align with federal confidentiality standards under the National Voter Registration Act. This change directly affects Arizona residents applying for or renewing driver licenses.

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 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.