Sen. Priya Sundareshan

Maddy summarySB 1251 establishes a system for crediting water stored in long-term storage accounts, primarily affecting water users who store water in designated facilities. It requires the director to credit 95% of qualifying stored water to a storer’s account (with exceptions: 50% for some effluent storage, 100% for water stored near parks or for drought plans), while setting a 15,000 acre-feet annual cap for certain Colorado River drought storage. To qualify, stored water must meet specific criteria, such as not being directly usable or supporting drought contingency plans. This policy directly changes how water credits are calculated and allocated for groundwater management, conservation, and drought response.

Maddy summarySB 1248 requires farmers and ranchers leasing Arizona state agricultural land outside designated water management areas to pay an annual fee for groundwater use and report well details, water volume, and usage by March 31 each year. The fees collected fund the appropriate beneficiary, with the legislature stating the fee should reflect groundwater’s fair market value. This applies specifically to state land users not within active management or irrigation non-expansion zones, as defined by existing law. The bill establishes reporting and fee mechanisms without changing groundwater rights or usage limits.

Maddy summarySB 1250 amends Arizona's water management law to update the director's authority regarding groundwater. It explicitly adds "conservation and priority" to the director's core duties, requiring them to develop plans for managing groundwater resources. The bill expands the director's ability to coordinate with agencies, collect data, and implement conservation measures for aquifers. It directly affects groundwater management practices across Arizona, including how water rights are planned and monitored. The changes focus on strengthening the state's framework for sustainable groundwater use without creating new programs or altering existing water rights.

Maddy summarySB 1194 automatically registers eligible Arizona residents to vote when they apply for or renew a driver's license or nonoperating ID card at a Department of Transportation office. It affects all applicants who meet voting eligibility requirements (citizenship, age, residency) by adding a simple registration step during license processing, with a 21-day window to opt out. Key provisions include electronic transfer of minimal registration data (name, address, date of birth) from DMV to county recorders, mandatory citizenship attestations under penalty of perjury, and confidentiality protections for registration status. The bill takes effect in 2025, streamlining voter registration without altering voting eligibility or requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1193, the Arizona State Voting Rights Act, requires cities, counties, and other local governments with significant language minority populations (e.g., over 2% of voting-age residents in a single language group) to provide voting materials - such as ballots, instructions, and registration forms - in both English and the minority language, along with having election officials fluent in that language at every polling place. Covered areas must correct failures within strict timeframes (e.g., 1 hour on election day) to avoid penalties of up to $250,000 for violations. The law applies to political subdivisions meeting census-based criteria and aims to ensure equal voting access for language minority voters, as defined by the bill. Enforcement can be initiated by affected voters, organizations, or the attorney general.

Maddy summaryHB 2285 prohibits Arizona state agencies and local governments from requiring public works contractors to sign neutrality agreements, project labor agreements, or contribute to apprenticeship programs as a condition of winning or performing public construction, repair, or improvement contracts. It directly affects contractors working on public projects (like roads or buildings) and state/local entities that issue these contracts. The bill amends Arizona law to remove these requirements from public works contracts and environmental review processes, while clarifying that private collective bargaining remains permitted. This changes the standard for public contract terms by banning specific labor-related conditions imposed by public entities.

Maddy summarySB 1192 establishes automatic voter registration for Arizona residents applying for or renewing driver’s licenses or nonoperating ID cards at the Department of Transportation, with an opt-out option within 21 days. It also allows same-day voter registration during the 28 days before an election or on election day at polling places, requiring proof of residence and using provisional ballots for that election. The bill mandates that registration information be sent to county recorders within 5 days, and specifies that new registrations qualify for federal, statewide, county, and legislative races but not partisan primaries for 29 days after registration. It updates Arizona Revised Statutes sections 16-106 (voter registration timing) and 16-112 (driver license registration procedures), effective December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1195 updates Arizona's ballot handling and return procedures to clarify who may collect or deliver ballots and ensure valid submission. It requires election officials to provide clear instructions stating that only voters, family members, household members, or caregivers may handle or return ballots (prohibiting third-party collection). The bill revises mail ballot envelopes to include signature requirements and specifies that ballots must be returned to county offices or polling places by 7:00 p.m. election day (with updated options for 2026). It also reinforces felony penalties for violations, including offering payment for ballots or misrepresenting ballot collection services.

Maddy summaryHB 2283 limits price increases for essential goods and services during declared emergencies in Arizona. It prohibits businesses from raising prices more than 10% above pre-emergency levels for building materials, food, emergency supplies, gasoline, medical items, repair services, hotel rooms, or transportation services during a state/local emergency and for 30 days after. Sellers may justify higher prices if directly tied to increased costs from suppliers or labor, but must provide proof. Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per incident and allow affected consumers to seek triple damages plus legal fees.

Maddy summarySB 1137 sets July 1, 2033, as the termination date for Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program, which provides state-funded scholarships for private school tuition and educational expenses. The bill mandates a comprehensive program review and performance audit to be completed by October 1, 2032, assessing the program's effectiveness, management efficiency, and whether it meets its original goals. This review includes a draft report for the administering department to comment on, a public hearing, and an audit of program outcomes by the state auditor. The legislature must pass and the governor must sign a continuation bill before July 1, 2033, for the program to continue; otherwise, it ends on that date. The law governing the program will be repealed after December 31, 2033.