Sen. T.J. Shope

Maddy summarySB 1499 requires most fantasy sports contest operators in Arizona to obtain a license from the Department of Gaming. It mandates fingerprint-based background checks for applicants and key personnel (including owners with 10%+ interest, officers, and directors) to verify criminal history through state and federal databases. The law exempts small, non-public contests (limited to 15 players and $10,000 annual entry fees) and tribal gaming operations under existing compacts. Operators must submit detailed business, ownership, and tax compliance information as part of the licensing process.

Maddy summarySB 1125 allows psychologists in Arizona to prescribe certain medications under specific agreements with physicians, directly affecting psychologists seeking prescribing authority and physicians who collaborate with them. The bill establishes that a physician may enter into a maximum of four collaborative prescription agreements with psychologists at any time. It amends medical board regulations to include investigating prescribing psychologists and defines key terms like "collaborating physician" and "prescribing psychologist" under existing statutes. This policy change modifies how psychologists can legally prescribe medications within a structured, limited partnership framework with physicians.

Maddy summarySB 1305 defines a new "child only case" category for Arizona's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It allows cash assistance to be provided directly to children in two specific situations: (1) children in foster care with unrelated adults or nonparent relatives who aren't receiving cash aid, or (2) children living with nonparent relatives who aren't getting cash assistance. This creates a separate eligibility pathway, distinct from standard "needy family" definitions, ensuring these children can access aid even when no parent or guardian qualifies. The bill amends eligibility rules to explicitly include these cases under TANF.

Maddy summarySB 1446 allocates $3 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to expand training opportunities for nurse anesthetist students in Arizona. It establishes a grant program through the Arizona State Board of Nursing to fund healthcare institutions (licensed under state law) that provide clinical rotations, with priority for obstetrics, pediatrics, cardiovascular, thoracic, and neurological care training. Grants cover direct and indirect costs but cannot replace existing program funding, limit indirect costs to 20% of the award, and require unused funds to be returned. This directly affects healthcare institutions training nurse anesthetist students and aims to increase capacity in high-need specialty areas. The bill passed in March 2025 and exempts the appropriation from standard lapse rules.

Maddy summarySB 1556 creates a new regulatory framework for "adult hemp beverages" in Arizona, defined as drinks containing less than 30 milligrams of THC per liter derived from industrial hemp. It establishes licensing requirements for manufacturers of these beverages, including fingerprint clearance and fees deposited into a dedicated trust fund, while clarifying that existing industrial hemp grower/harvester rules do not apply to manufacturers. The bill also updates Arizona's beverage statutes by renaming Title 4 to include "Adult Hemp Beverages" and defines key terms like "single-serving container" (minimum 200ml) and "multiple-serving container" (minimum 375ml). This directly affects businesses producing and selling hemp-derived beverages intended for adult human consumption.

Maddy summarySB 1126 creates several dedicated funds to support Arizona's equine and agricultural industries. It establishes the Arizona Breeders' Award Fund (using 5% of fantasy sports and event wagering revenue) to pay breeders for winning horses, and the Arizona Stallion Award Fund (using 5% of fantasy sports revenue) to reward stallion owners for top finishes. Both funds contribute $25,000 annually to the Retired Racehorse Adoption Fund, which assists nonprofits promoting horse adoptions. Additionally, the bill creates a County Fairs Racing Betterment Fund to support county fair racing events and a Livestock Promotion Fund managed by the governor to boost agricultural fairs and resources. These funds ensure monies remain available year-to-year without reverting to the general state fund.

Maddy summarySB 1112 allows Arizona probationers on Standard probation enrolled in state or federally recognized apprenticeship programs to work any hours (while maintaining good standing with the program) and travel anywhere within Arizona for their apprenticeship work. It removes prior restrictions on work schedules and travel during probation for these individuals. The bill directly affects probationers participating in qualifying apprenticeships by granting flexibility in work arrangements. This policy change modifies specific probation rules without altering core probation requirements.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1303 creates a new comprehensive service model for young adults aged 17.5 to 21 in the state's extended foster care program. The model requires contracted community providers to offer weekly check-ins, life skills training, mental/physical health support, housing assistance, education enrollment help, career planning, and flexible funding for individual needs. It establishes a dedicated "success coaching" program where each coach serves no more than 20 young adults, focusing on building permanent connections, employment readiness, stable housing, and trauma-informed support. The Department of Child Safety must report annually to legislative committees on program outcomes, including services provided, eligibility, housing, education, and health coverage, while administering a dedicated fund for these services.

Maddy summarySB 1207 amends Arizona's Medicaid program (AHCCCS) to add speech therapy as a covered outpatient service for adults aged 21 and older, and to remove cochlear implants from the exclusion list for prosthetic devices. This directly affects AHCCCS members who require these specific health services. The bill changes the coverage rules by explicitly including speech therapy under outpatient services and ensuring cochlear implants are covered as prosthetic devices, aligning with federal Medicaid requirements. These are concrete policy changes to the list of covered health services under Arizona law.

Maddy summarySB 1297 allocates $6.5 million from Arizona's state general fund to create a grant program for municipal fire departments and fire districts. The grants fund hardware and software to establish a secure, statewide incident management platform meeting federal (FEMA) standards, enabling standardized command structures, common terminology, resource tracking, and secure communication during emergencies - including offline functionality and smartphone apps. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, fully covering costs for three years, but unspent funds must be returned within one year if not fully used. The Department of Administration must report grant recipients and amounts to legislative leaders by December 2025.