Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill establishes a process for third-party review of single-family residential building permits and inspections when local municipalities fail to act within specific timeframes. If a city does not respond to a permit application within fifteen working days or complete a required inspection within two working days, the applicant may hire a qualified independent engineer, architect, or inspector to perform the necessary tasks. The bill also mandates that municipalities set and publish clear time limits for reviewing various licenses and requires them to notify applicants promptly about any missing information. Additionally, it allows applicants to appeal decisions made by either the municipality or the hired third party, with the application deemed approved if the appeal is not resolved within sixty days.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Arizona laws to strictly prohibit "patient brokering," which involves paying or receiving kickbacks to refer people to sober living homes or substance use treatment facilities. It defines sober living homes as supervised, drug-free housing that supports recovery without providing on-site medical services or medication administration. The legislation requires these homes to obtain state licenses and adhere to specific standards, such as maintaining a safe environment, managing finances properly, and ensuring residents have access to necessary medications. Additionally, the bill mandates that operators cannot require residents to sign documents that would cause them to lose public assistance benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill defines drive-by shooting as intentionally firing a weapon from a moving vehicle at a person, another car, or a building, and classifies the offense as a class 2 felony. It mandates that vehicles used in such incidents be subject to seizure and forfeiture, while also requiring courts to revoke the driver's license of the convicted person for a period of one to five years. The legislation applies to anyone who commits these acts and ensures that the Department of Transportation enforces the license revocation based on the court's order.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to the Arizona Constitution to alter how judges are selected and retained across different court levels. It would require judges on the Supreme Court and intermediate appellate courts to face retention elections, where voters decide whether they keep their positions, while superior court judges in larger counties would also face similar retention votes. Additionally, the bill establishes a new process for filling judicial vacancies, mandating that a commission submit a list of nominees to the governor who must consider merit and diversity before making an appointment. The proposal also includes age limits for nominees and specific rules for handling vacancies in smaller counties, aiming to create a more structured system for judicial appointments and accountability.
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 bill establishes an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact in Arizona to streamline licensure for nurses who practice across state lines. Under the new rules, eligible nurses can obtain a single multistate license that allows them to practice in all participating states without applying for separate licenses in each location. The legislation creates a shared information system for licensing boards to track nurse credentials and share details about disciplinary actions or investigations. While the bill aims to reduce administrative burdens and increase access to care, it maintains that each state retains the authority to regulate nursing practice within its own borders.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Arizona state agencies to enter into public-private partnership contracts to fund technology needs, construction, and various operational services without requiring separate legislative appropriations for the fees involved. Under the new rules, agencies must solicit proposals from private partners and select the best option based on specific performance improvements and the value delivered to the state, rather than just the lowest price. Contracts will require mutual agreement on measurable goals before payments are made, and the state cannot guarantee funding to private partners unless explicitly requested in the solicitation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the director consult with budget committee staff before awarding contracts to assess potential negative fiscal impacts on the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1,000,000 from the state general fund to the Department of Economic Security for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program in fiscal year 2024-2025. The funding is intended to support services for Arizona residents who are both elderly and visually impaired. Once signed into law, the money becomes available to help administer the existing program without creating new eligibility requirements or changing current benefit structures.
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.