Sen. Warren Petersen

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific dates for holding local elections in Arizona, including those for bond measures, to consolidate voting on a limited number of days. It mandates that most local elections, such as those for schools and special districts, occur on the second Tuesday in March, the third Tuesday in May, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The legislation also requires that bond election orders be published or posted at least fifteen to thirty days before the vote and sets a threshold of sixty percent voter approval for issuing tax-secured bonds. Additionally, the bill clarifies that bond election expenses must be paid from current operating funds rather than the bond proceeds themselves.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill prohibits individuals from creating or distributing deceptive deepfake videos or audio of election candidates and political parties within 90 days of an election unless they include a clear disclosure that the content was generated by artificial intelligence. The law applies to anyone using digital tools to make these fake images or recordings but excludes news organizations, websites, and creators of satire or parody from the ban. Violators face criminal penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on whether they have prior convictions or intended to cause violence.

Maddy summaryArizona Senate Bill 1336 would have made it a crime to intentionally share deepfake videos or images that realistically show a person's intimate body parts or sexual acts without their consent. The bill defined specific conditions for the offense, including requirements that the creator knew the person did not agree to the content and that the individual was identifiable. Penalties were set as a class 6 felony, but could be upgraded to a class 4 felony if the act caused financial loss, involved profit-seeking, occurred on a website, or included intent to harass. The legislation also included a provision stating that interactive computer services would not be held liable for content created by others. Although the bill passed both chambers of the Arizona Legislature, it was vetoed by the Governor and did not become law.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill mandates that cities with over 75,000 residents must allow homeowners to build attached and detached accessory dwelling units on their property. It sets specific rules for these units, such as limiting their size to 75% of the main home's area or 1,000 square feet, and requires them to be permitted without needing special approvals. The law also restricts local governments from imposing certain conditions, such as demanding familial relationships between owners and tenants, requiring extra parking, or forcing units to match the exterior design of the primary home. Additionally, the bill preempts local control over vacation rentals by prohibiting cities from banning them entirely, though it allows for basic health, safety, and zoning regulations.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill requires cities with at least 75,000 residents to allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes in specific areas by January 1, 2026. Local governments must permit these middle housing types on all single-family lots near downtown areas and on at least 20% of new developments covering more than 10 contiguous acres. The law also prevents cities from imposing stricter rules on these housing types than those applied to single-family homes, such as requiring owner occupancy or excessive parking. Municipalities that fail to update their zoning regulations by the deadline must automatically allow middle housing on all single-family lots without limitations. Several exceptions exist for unincorporated areas, regions lacking water and sewer services, and lands near airports.