Sen. David Gowan

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1161 updates fee schedules for sheriffs and constables handling civil court services. It specifies exact charges for tasks like serving summonses ($16), levying attachments ($48), and executing writs of possession ($48 plus $40/hour for overtime). The bill also establishes a mileage rate of $2.40 per mile (minimum $16 per service, one-way) and requires constables to maintain public daily activity logs tracking all served processes, case details, and mileage. These changes directly affect sheriffs, constables, and court participants who use their services for civil matters.

Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill amends constable regulations to require constables to report deputy appointments to county boards of supervisors. It prohibits constables from working as private process servers outside their official duties and bans them from owning interests in private process-serving businesses. These changes directly affect elected and appointed constables in Arizona counties by clarifying their scope of work and preventing conflicts of interest. The law strengthens oversight of constable offices and aligns their restrictions with private process-serving industry rules. The bill was signed into law by the governor in July 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1281 amends Arizona law to clarify and update the duties of the state's Adjutant General, who leads the Arizona National Guard and serves as the governor's military chief of staff. The bill specifies responsibilities including organizing and training the National Guard, managing military property (including disposal procedures), appointing National Guard members as peace officers under certain conditions, and establishing "Project Challenge" - an educational program for at-risk youth under 20 to earn a GED in a paramilitary setting. It also details reporting requirements for the Adjutant General to the governor and legislature regarding National Guard operations, finances, and property. The bill directly affects the Adjutant General's office, National Guard personnel, and the youth participating in the educational program.

Maddy summaryHB 2091 allows the Arizona Department of Water Resources to review pending applications for a "certificate of assured water supply" for land in the Phoenix Active Management Area (AMA) submitted between January 2021 and August 2023. It requires municipal water providers to annually report excess groundwater and offer 25% of it as water storage credits to the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD), reducing their annual replenishment tax obligation. The bill also permits applications using older groundwater models (2006-2009) to meet physical availability requirements and retroactively dates approved certificates to 2023 for future water rights. The law expires on December 31, 2028.

Maddy summaryHCR 2055 is a voter referendum (not enacted law) proposing that Arizona declare drug cartels "terrorist organizations" under state law and direct the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to address this threat. It defines "drug cartel" as groups engaging in human smuggling, drug trafficking, or terrorism, and states that this declaration does not affect asylum claims under federal law. The resolution cites voter-approved Proposition 314 and findings about border security concerns, including fentanyl trafficking and border crossings by individuals on terrorist watchlists. This measure failed to pass in the June 27, 2025, vote and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 2704 redirects 82% of certain tax revenues to county stadium districts starting in 2026. Specifically, it directs the state treasurer to transfer these funds annually from tax revenues reported under Section 43-209, subsection D to the county stadium district fund established under Section 48-4231. This allocation applies to tax revenues collected under Title 42, Chapter 5 (transaction privilege tax) and runs from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2056. The bill directly affects county stadium districts by creating a dedicated, long-term funding source for stadium-related projects and operations.

Maddy summarySB 1057 (misnamed as "working animal; harm; classification" in the title, but actually about scrap metal transactions) requires scrap metal dealers to maintain detailed records of all transactions, including sellers' photos, physical descriptions, fingerprints, and ID verification. It bans on-site cash payments (requiring mailed checks instead), limits sellers to one cash transaction per day, and mandates dealers retain used catalytic converters in original form for seven days. The bill directly affects scrap metal dealers and sellers (requiring them to be at least 16 years old), with specific rules for transactions over $300 or involving certain materials like aluminum containers. The bill failed in the legislature on June 23, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1151 would have created kidney disease awareness special license plates in Arizona, requiring a $32,000 upfront payment to the state by a qualifying organization (e.g., advocacy group) to initiate the program. Each plate purchased by a resident would cost $25, with $17 of that fee automatically donated annually to a kidney disease awareness fund. The bill was introduced in 2025 but failed to pass before the legislative session ended.

Maddy summarySB 1621 increases penalties for certain drug offenses in Arizona, specifically targeting fentanyl sales and drug-related deaths. It mandates minimum prison sentences of 5 years (up to 15) for selling fentanyl in amounts of 200 grams or more, and 15 years (up to 25) if the sale contributes to another person's death. The bill also prohibits probation or suspended sentences for these offenses until the full term is served, and requires a minimum $2,000 fine or three times the drug's value. It directly affects individuals convicted of selling narcotics under these specific circumstances, particularly fentanyl distributors and those whose actions cause fatalities.

Maddy summarySB 1350 requires Arizona's Supreme Court to oversee defensive driving schools used by courts for traffic violation diversion programs. It mandates public disclosure of court diversion fees and school costs, creates a non-public statewide database tracking course completions (excluding driver education courses), and limits class durations to 4.5 hours. The bill also establishes payment plans for court fees, school fees, and related costs over 120 days, while setting certification standards for schools and instructors. It directly affects drivers completing court-ordered defensive driving courses and the schools providing them.