Rep. Seth Blattman

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2656 establishes an election worker harassment task force within Arizona's secretary of state's office to address harassment faced by election workers. The task force, composed of members including two assistant attorneys general, two law enforcement representatives, two election workers (from different parties), and four election officers, is responsible for investigating harassment complaints, coordinating prosecutions, and submitting annual reports starting January 1, 2028. The secretary of state provides administrative support and posts the annual reports online. This bill directly affects election workers and officers across Arizona’s cities, counties, and school districts who administer elections.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2508 requires ballot measures to include clear, plain-language descriptions of their effects. Specifically, it mandates that each measure's ballot summary must state exactly what a "yes" vote would do and what a "no" vote would do, using brief phrases approved by the attorney general. This applies to all state ballot measures, including initiatives and referendums, and replaces vague titles with direct explanations of outcomes. The bill ensures voters understand the practical impact of each measure before casting their ballot, as required by law.

Maddy summaryHB 2509 restricts direct corporate and labor organization contributions to candidate committees while creating new rules for their political activity. It allows corporations, LLCs, and labor organizations to establish separate segregated funds (SSFs) for employee, member, and affiliate contributions, but requires these SSFs to register as political action committees. The bill mandates strict reporting: corporations must notify election officials within one day of exceeding $5,000 in statewide races, $2,500 in legislative races, or $1,000 in local races, providing details like contributor names, amounts, and candidate support/opposition. This directly affects corporations, their employees/members (who can contribute to SSFs), and political committees receiving funds. Violations carry civil penalties up to three times the contribution amount.

Maddy summaryHB 2506 allows Arizona county boards of supervisors to establish voting centers - physical locations where any voter in the county can cast a ballot on election day - instead of or in addition to traditional precinct-specific polling places. The bill requires county boards to approve these centers via a specific resolution before each election, ensuring they comply with election district boundaries. Voters benefit from greater location flexibility, as voting centers can also serve as early voting drop-off points and ballot replacement sites. This change directly affects county election officials, who gain authority to adjust polling place structures while maintaining voter access.

Maddy summaryHB 2511 modifies Arizona's election laws to restrict ballot handling and strengthen signature requirements for early voting. It amends Section 16-513 to clarify that only voters, family members, household members, or caregivers may handle ballots, and Section 16-547 requires early ballots to include a signed mail affidavit with specific return instructions. Starting in 2026, voters must return ballots with their signature to a county recorder’s office, polling place, or by presenting ID at a polling place by 7:00 p.m. on election day. The bill also amends Section 16-1005 to increase penalties for improper ballot collection, making it a class 5 felony to collect ballots unlawfully or fail to turn them over to election officials. These changes directly affect voters, election officials, and anyone involved in ballot handling.

Maddy summaryHB 2657 prohibits Arizona local law enforcement agencies (including police departments, sheriff's offices, and the state police) from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to exercise federal civil immigration enforcement powers or detain individuals for immigration violations. The bill specifically bans agreements related to 8 U.S.C. §1357(g) authority and housing federal immigration detainees. It does not affect enforcement of court warrants or other federal legal obligations. This bill directly impacts how Arizona's local law enforcement interacts with federal immigration enforcement protocols.

Maddy summaryHB 2392 repeals Section 15-120.02 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which previously addressed team designations related to biological sex. The bill does not create new policy but removes an existing statutory provision. It is currently in early legislative stages, having passed its first two readings in the House on January 20-21, 2026. This is a procedural repeal without direct impact on current laws or individuals, as it eliminates a prior statute rather than altering current regulations. The bill’s specific content prior to repeal is not detailed in the provided text.

Maddy summaryArizona's HB 2464 repeals the specific "RIGHT TO WORK" article heading in the state's labor code (Section 23-1302) and reclassifies it under "GENERAL PROVISIONS." The bill maintains existing liability protections for employees who face retaliation for refusing union membership (Section 23-1306) and preserves the right to non-union membership as protected employment policy under Section 23-1501(vi). It does not change the substance of Arizona's right-to-work law but alters its legal classification within the statutes. The bill's implementation depends on a future voter-approved constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 2297, the "Arizona Ban on Scholarship Displacement Act of 2026," prevents Arizona public colleges and universities from reducing a student's free financial aid (like grants or scholarships not requiring repayment) if the student receives a private scholarship. Specifically, institutions cannot lower gift aid because of a private scholarship, except when the gift aid exceeds the student's actual cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, living expenses, etc.). The bill also prohibits schools from factoring private scholarships into financial aid decisions. It directly affects Arizona public universities and community colleges (under the Arizona Board of Regents or community college system) and students receiving private scholarships from non-governmental sources.