Sen. David Gowan

Maddy summarySB 1807 requires Arizona state agencies to reserve funds before making most purchases by mandating encumbrance documents that verify sufficient budget balances. It directly affects state budget units and local governments (counties, cities, towns) that receive state appropriations. The bill creates a process where Arizona’s Attorney General can sue local governments misusing funds and, if they fail to repay, withhold future state shared revenues until repayment is complete. Key provisions include strict budget certification for expenditures and a new enforcement mechanism to recover improperly spent public monies.

Maddy summarySB 1804 requires Arizona law enforcement officers to delete all body-worn and dash camera footage 30 days after recording, unless the footage is needed for active criminal cases, potential civil liability claims, or ongoing criminal prosecutions. This rule applies directly to all Arizona law enforcement officers and their agencies. The bill mandates automatic deletion of routine footage after 30 days, with the three specified exceptions preserving footage for legal proceedings. The law would change current data retention practices for law enforcement video evidence in Arizona, focusing on limiting storage duration for non-essential recordings.

Maddy summarySB 1812 amends Arizona's tax code to define "ready-to-drink spirits products" as distilled spirits mixed with other beverages (under 10% alcohol by volume, in ≤16-ounce sealed containers sold in original packaging). This creates a new category for tax purposes under existing spirituous liquor tax rates ($3 per gallon). It directly affects manufacturers and retailers of these specific mixed products, requiring them to pay tax under this classification. The bill does not change tax rates but clarifies which products fall under the existing spirituous liquor tax.

Maddy summarySB 1505 establishes a $7 million military transitional housing grant program funded through the Arizona state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027. It provides grants to veteran-owned and veteran-operated nonprofit organizations in Arizona to construct or rehabilitate housing facilities specifically for military members separating from service and homeless or at-risk veterans. The program prohibits using funds for unoccupied hotels/motels and requires the Arizona Department of Housing to administer the grants, with annual reports detailing facility locations, costs, and beneficiaries. Key provisions include supporting on-site medical/behavioral health services and requiring local government input before construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 2679 creates a presumption that certain heart-related, perivascular, or pulmonary injuries, illnesses, or deaths in firefighters are work-related occupational diseases if they occur within 24 hours of a known incident during duty. To qualify, firefighters must have passed pre-employment physicals (without pre-existing conditions), followed NFPA 1582 medical standards, and been exposed to a specific event. Employers can only rebut this presumption with clear evidence of a pre-existing non-work condition that independently caused the issue, excluding factors like age, family history, or lifestyle. The bill explicitly states that tobacco use outside work duties cannot be used to challenge the presumption.

Maddy summarySB 1622 defines "behavioral health technician" in Arizona law as an employee of a licensed behavioral health facility who provides services under the supervision of a licensed professional. The bill sets minimum qualifications (18+ years old, high school diploma, background checks) and requires specific training in areas like crisis response, trauma-informed care, and confidentiality. It details permitted duties including implementing treatment plans, providing supportive counseling, documenting care, assisting with medication, and supporting crisis teams - while explicitly prohibiting technicians from diagnosing conditions or prescribing medications. This law directly affects behavioral health facilities, technicians, and the licensed professionals who supervise them.

Maddy summarySB 1625 restricts who can issue moving traffic violation citations in Arizona, limiting this authority exclusively to peace officers. The bill amends Arizona law to specify that only peace officers may issue moving violation citations, removing the ability for other authorized personnel to do so. This change directly affects traffic enforcement officers and individuals receiving moving violation tickets, as it clarifies that citations for moving violations must be issued by certified peace officers only. The bill does not alter existing timeframes for filing traffic cases or other procedural rules.

Maddy summarySB 1619 would require Arizona municipalities to establish a maximum density for residential zoning, limiting the number of housing units per acre in residential areas. This bill directly affects local governments, which must revise zoning codes to include this cap, and residential developers and property owners building or purchasing homes in these zones. The key mechanism is a mandatory density cap, preventing more than a specified number of units from being constructed on a given parcel. The bill does not specify an exact density level but mandates that municipalities set one in their zoning regulations.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1623 caps credit card interest rates at 15% for all purchases and limits late fees to $10, regardless of account balance. It prohibits merchants from adding credit card surcharges to transactions and gives the attorney general authority to enforce these rules under existing statutes. The law applies retroactively to cover interest accrued within the past 12 months and takes immediate effect as an emergency measure. This bill directly affects credit card companies operating in Arizona and their customers by changing key fee structures.

Maddy summaryHB 2961 creates "returning warrior" special license plates for Arizona vehicle owners who pay a $32,000 one-time fee to design the plate. The department issues these plates after receiving the fee, with the plate design subject to department approval. Annual fees include a $17 donation to the "returning warrior special plate fund" (established by this bill), while $8 covers administration. This affects veterans or others who choose this plate option, directing funds to the specified fund rather than general state revenue.