Sen. Catherine Miranda

Maddy summarySB 1461 allocates $15 million from Arizona's general fund for a new allied health workforce development program targeting roles like medical technicians and therapists (requiring specialized training beyond high school but less than a bachelor's degree). The program will fund a nonprofit meeting strict criteria, including prior training of 7,000+ students, partnerships with employers and schools, and operating in at least eight states. The nonprofit must commit to graduating 1,000 students annually through this initiative. This direct funding aims to expand training capacity for non-physician, non-nurse healthcare roles across Arizona.

Maddy summarySB 1776 adds "traditional healing services" to the list of covered health services under Arizona's AHCCCS (Medicaid) program. It specifically covers these services only for AHCCCS members who qualify through the Indian Health Service or tribal facilities, as defined by federal regulations. The services must be delivered by or through an Indian Health Service, urban Indian organization, or tribal facility. This is a targeted addition to existing coverage, not a broad expansion, and does not change funding or eligibility outside these specific tribal partnerships.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1602 increases monthly stipends for kinship foster parents caring for children in state custody. The bill raises the stipend to $400 per child monthly for 2026-2027, $500 for 2027-2028, and $600 starting in 2029. This directly affects relatives or individuals with significant relationships who provide foster care for children removed from their homes. The increase applies to the existing stipend program under Arizona law, supplementing other financial benefits like full foster care payments or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The bill amends Section 8-514.03 of Arizona Revised Statutes to implement these specific, time-bound payment amounts.

Maddy summarySB 1523 allocates $340,000 from Arizona's state general fund for the Navajo Nation to cover design, planning, and construction costs of the Ganado waterline pipeline project. The funds are specifically designated for the Navajo Nation community in Ganado, Arizona, to address water infrastructure needs. The bill includes an exemption from standard appropriation lapse rules, ensuring the funds remain available for the project even if not fully spent by the end of the fiscal year. This is a direct funding measure with no additional policy changes beyond the financial allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Arizona's child support laws to allow a presumed father to terminate future payments if genetic testing proves he is not the biological parent. Courts must order genetic testing and vacate paternity rulings when results confirm non-parentage, but past payments (arrears) remain fully enforceable. It directly affects parents legally challenging paternity through court proceedings. The change applies only to future support obligations, not amounts already owed.

Maddy summarySB 1487 extends the deadline for implementing Hopi Tribe special license plates in Arizona from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026. It requires individuals to pay $32,000 to the state for these plates, with the payer designing the plates (subject to state approval). The bill specifies that $17 of the $25 plate fee goes directly to the Hopi Tribe’s public safety department for road maintenance and traffic control on tribal reservation roads. This program affects drivers purchasing Hopi plates and directs funds to tribal infrastructure, with retroactive application starting December 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1603 amends Arizona law to clarify eligibility for temporary cash assistance by defining "child only case" in Section 46-101. This specifically covers children in foster care with unrelated adults or nonparent relatives not receiving cash assistance, or placed under court order with such caregivers. The bill ensures these cases are treated separately from "needy families" (which require a parent or relative receiving aid), as stated in Section 46-292. It directly affects children in foster care settings where caregivers do not qualify for cash assistance themselves. The change refines existing eligibility rules without creating new programs or altering benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 4127 amends Arizona Revised Statutes §12-284 to update court filing fees for various case types. It establishes specific fee categories, such as $188 for initial civil case filings and $149 for domestic relations cases (including divorce or custody matters). The bill directly affects anyone filing court documents in Arizona, including individuals in civil disputes, family law cases, and probate matters. Note: The bill's title references firearm transfers and domestic violence, but the provided text only addresses court fee changes - not the subjects mentioned in the title.

Maddy summaryHB 4126 establishes Arizona's state-run retirement savings program, targeting private-sector employees without access to employer-sponsored retirement plans (excluding government workers, railroad employees, and those in existing tax-qualified plans). The bill creates an Arizona Retirement Savings Board to manage the program, allowing workers to contribute to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) through automatic payroll deductions. Key provisions include requiring the Board to develop investment policies, partner with private administrators, and ensure federal tax compliance for the program. The title references "appropriation" as future funding would be authorized separately, but the bill itself only sets up the program framework.

Maddy summaryHB 4073 sets new requirements for gestational surrogacy agreements in Arizona. It mandates that surrogates and intended parents complete medical and mental health evaluations by specific licensed professionals, obtain independent legal counsel, and sign agreements transferring parental rights immediately at birth. The agreements must disclose financial responsibilities, confirm no parental claims by surrogates or their spouses, and include specific acknowledgments of parental duties. These provisions apply to all surrogacy arrangements where at least one party is an Arizona resident or the birth occurs in Arizona.