Sen. David Gowan

Maddy summarySB 1154 would establish new rules for write-in candidates in Arizona elections, directly affecting individuals seeking office without a formal party nomination. It requires candidates to file nomination papers 150 days before elections (with specific exceptions), provide personal details like address and age, and prove they have no $1,000+ in unpaid fines or penalties. The bill also mandates presidential write-in candidates to designate a running mate and electors, with their paperwork filed alongside the candidate’s. Though passed by the Arizona legislature in February 2025, the bill was withdrawn before becoming law.

Maddy summarySB 1623 allocates $10 million from Arizona’s state general fund and $18.77 million in expenditure authority for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support graduate medical education programs. This funding directly assists hospitals and medical training programs across Arizona by covering both direct and indirect costs of residency training, including start-up expenses for new programs. The bill ensures state funds supplement, but do not replace, existing voluntary payments from local governments to hospitals running these programs. It also exempts these appropriations from standard budget lapse rules under Arizona law.

Maddy summaryHB 2736 establishes a five-year pilot program requiring Arizona state agencies to implement and upgrade data encryption systems meeting strict security criteria. It directly affects the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, Department of Administration, and the Legislature, each implementing the system in sequential fiscal years starting in 2026. The bill mandates that encryption systems must be U.S.-owned, quantum-proof, use U.S. patents, allow key resets without third-party access, and include detailed audit trails. The Department of Administration must report annually on progress and security, with a final evaluation due in 2031, and the program expires June 30, 2032.

Maddy summarySB 1152 modifies Arizona's early voting ballot mailing timeline. It requires counties to mail early ballots within five days of receiving them from ballot preparers, but no earlier than 21 days before an election and no later than 18 days before. Voters requesting ballots must submit complete requests by 5:00 p.m. on the 11th day before an election to receive mail delivery within 48 hours. The bill directly affects Arizona voters who request early ballots and county election officials responsible for ballot distribution and processing. It does not change voter eligibility or ballot content, only the timing and procedures for mailing ballots.

Maddy summarySB 1442 allocates $25 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to fund new or retrofitted secure behavioral health residential facilities. It directly affects licensed facilities serving two specific populations: individuals with serious mental illness who are chronically treatment-resistant (court-ordered under A.R.S. § 36-550.09) or those committed via court order (A.R.S. § 13-4521). Funds must be used solely for facility construction or retrofitting, with recipients required to measure clinical outcomes, independent living skills, program participation, and physical health metrics. Facilities must report these results annually to state leadership, and the appropriation is exempt from standard funding lapsing rules. The bill requires a request for proposals by January 2026, prioritizing facilities that can open within 12 months and meet geographic needs.

Maddy summarySB 1704 establishes a Veterans' Donations Fund to collect public contributions for Arizona veterans. It requires the Department of Veterans' Services to annually transfer 15% of all donations to a subaccount supporting state veterans' homes for equipment, maintenance, and resident needs. The bill also creates specific subaccounts for: the enduring freedom memorial (Section C), shelter for homeless women veterans (Section D), and two scholarship foundations supporting military families (Sections E-F). These subaccounts fund defined purposes like memorial construction, women veterans' services, and need-based scholarships for children of active-duty and fallen military members. The fund is exempt from annual appropriation lapsing, ensuring continuous use of donated funds.

Maddy summarySB 1306 allocates $2,594,840 from Arizona's general fund for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to the existing Law Enforcement Crime Victim Notification Fund. This fund, established under Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-2414, directly supports crime victim notification services provided by law enforcement. The bill provides dedicated funding to ensure consistent support for notifying victims of criminal cases, without creating new programs or altering eligibility. The appropriation is exempt from standard state budget lapse rules, guaranteeing the funds remain available for the specified purpose.

Maddy summarySB 1439 allocates $400,000 annually from Arizona's general fund to the state Department of Corrections for its braille transcription program, doubling the current $200,000 yearly budget. This funding directly supports incarcerated individuals who rely on braille materials for access to reading and educational resources. The bill establishes this increased amount as ongoing funding for future fiscal years, ensuring sustained support beyond the current allocation. It does not create new requirements but secures stable financial resources for an existing program serving inmates with visual impairments.

Maddy summaryHB 2601 exempts minors under 18 years old from Arizona income tax on their first $50,000 of Arizona gross income for any tax year. This directly affects young workers earning up to $50,000 annually in Arizona, regardless of income source (e.g., wages, self-employment). The bill adds this exemption to existing tax code sections (43-403 and 43-1043), requiring the tax department to verify eligibility. The policy change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1701 terminates the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board on July 1, 2033, directly affecting the board and its management of state fairgrounds and the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The bill preserves the board's current duties - maintaining facilities, hosting state fairs, and generating operating funds - through its termination date. Key provisions include setting the board's end date (July 1, 2033) and repealing related statutes on January 1, 2034, with retroactive effect from July 1, 2025. This is a procedural bill governing the board's timeline, not a new policy.