Sen. Priya Sundareshan

Maddy summarySB 1802 allows courts to reduce prison sentences for individuals sentenced to over 25 years for crimes committed before age 18. It requires a hearing where courts must consider factors like the defendant's age at the crime, rehabilitation efforts (e.g., completing education programs), family trauma history, and diminished juvenile culpability. The bill creates a presumption of sentence reduction unless the court finds the person poses a public safety threat, and mandates written reasoning for any denial. It also requires courts to appoint attorneys for defendants at hearings and allows for community supervision upon release. The bill does not affect eligibility for other sentence relief options.

Maddy summarySB 1708 prohibits Arizona cities, counties, and state-owned property from being used for civil immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant. It bans local and state governments from allowing immigration officers to use parking lots, garages, or vacant lots as staging areas, processing sites, or bases for enforcement operations. Within 30 days of the law taking effect, all affected government entities must post clear signage at public entrances stating the property cannot host immigration enforcement without a warrant. The law also requires immigration officers to show a warrant before questioning, detaining, or arresting anyone on government property. This directly affects local governments and their property management practices regarding immigration enforcement activities.

Maddy summarySB 1797 prohibits manufacturers and distributors from engaging in "price gouging" on specific essential off-patent or generic drugs, defined as drugs without patent protection, listed by WHO or the U.S. as essential, and sold by few manufacturers. It directly affects drug companies selling these medications in Arizona, requiring them to justify price increases exceeding 50% within a year or exceeding $80 for basic treatment (e.g., 30-day supply). The state’s Medicaid program can trigger investigations for such increases, prompting manufacturers to submit cost breakdowns within 45 days. If violations are confirmed, the attorney general can seek court orders for restitution, injunctions, or civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation. The bill focuses on transparency and accountability for price hikes impacting affordability, not on altering drug approval or insurance coverage.

Maddy summarySB 1791 amends Arizona election laws to clarify ballot handling rules and strengthen penalties for violations. It requires voters to sign mail affidavits for mailed ballots and specifies that only the voter, family members, household members, or designated caregivers may handle ballots - prohibiting others from collecting or returning ballots. The bill explicitly states that violating these rules (e.g., handling another’s ballot or offering compensation for ballots) constitutes a class 5 felony, with stricter delivery instructions for mailed ballots starting in 2026. These changes directly affect voters, election officials, and anyone involved in ballot collection or delivery. The law aims to prevent ballot fraud by defining clear boundaries for ballot handling and emphasizing legal consequences.

Maddy summarySB 1830 establishes Arizona's "turquoise alert" system to quickly notify the public about missing persons under age 65 who are in danger. It requires law enforcement to exhaust local resources and confirm the person is a runaway (especially children), kidnapped, or missing under suspicious circumstances before activating the alert. The system issues public alerts through the emergency alert system when specific recovery information is available, and mandates that the department share alerts with other state notification services. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, the public, and missing persons under 65, particularly children and those at risk. The bill does not change existing Amber Alert protocols but creates a new, separate alert category for runaways and vulnerable missing persons.

Maddy summarySB 1792 in Arizona establishes automatic voter registration for residents when they apply for or renew a driver's license or nonoperating ID at the Department of Transportation, with an opt-out period of 21 days. It also allows same-day voter registration at polling places during the 28 days before an election, requiring proof of residence and issuing provisional ballots for that election only. The law permits registration for federal, statewide, county, and legislative offices but excludes partisan primary elections for 29 days after registration. Key provisions include requiring minimal registration data, automatic data transfer to county recorders, and clear opt-out notices to applicants. The bill takes effect on December 31, 2026.

Maddy summarySCR 1039 proposes a water withdrawal fee for groundwater extracted from state-owned land, including leased school and university properties. The fee, based on fair market value and potentially tiered for large users, would require the director of water resources to collect payments. Ninety percent of collected fees would fund statewide water conservation through the Arizona Water Protection Fund and Water Conservation Grant Fund, while 10% would cover administration. This referendum bill requires voter approval to become law and mandates a fee reassessment every five years.

Maddy summarySB 1660, the "Immigration Safe Zones Act," requires Arizona's Attorney General to create policies within 60 days that limit state agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. These policies must protect specific public facilities - including public schools, community colleges, universities, libraries, courts, and publicly funded healthcare centers - from being used for immigration enforcement actions. The bill also mandates that state agencies remove all questions about immigration status from applications, questionnaires, or forms related to public services or education within 60 days. It defines "immigration enforcement" broadly to include federal efforts targeting individuals' presence, entry, or employment in the U.S. The law directly affects state agencies, public institutions, and residents seeking services at protected facilities.

Maddy summarySB 1577 amends Arizona law to explicitly exempt websites operating as private clubs or religious organizations from certain anti-discrimination requirements. The bill adds "websites" to the existing list of entities (like physical private clubs and religious organizations) already exempt under federal civil rights law. This means websites functioning as private clubs or religious entities would no longer be subject to the same coverage under Arizona's relevant statute. The change applies specifically to websites structured like private clubs or religious entities, not all websites.

Maddy summarySB 1578 sets new standard deduction amounts for Arizona income tax filers for the 2025 tax year. It allows taxpayers to choose this standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions, with specific amounts based on filing status: $15,750 for single filers or married filing separately, $23,625 for heads of household, and $31,500 for married couples filing jointly. The bill directly affects Arizona residents who file individual income tax returns for 2025. These deduction levels apply only to the 2025 tax year, beginning after December 31, 2024. The change simplifies tax filing for eligible individuals by establishing fixed deduction amounts.