Sen. Shawnna Bolick

Maddy summarySB 1140 would allow eligible individuals to petition a court to remove certain misdemeanor arrest or conviction records from public access. This applies to people who were arrested without charges filed, had charges dismissed, received a not guilty verdict, or completed a misdemeanor conviction (after waiting three years, or five years for specific offenses like violations of Section 13-1805). To qualify, petitioners must have no pending legal cases or unpaid fines, and the court must approve the request after reviewing the petition. If approved, the court orders records sealed, making them inaccessible to the public but still available to the individual, their attorney, and law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summarySB 1141 amends Arizona law to clarify procedures for presidential electors when a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before electors cast their votes. The bill requires electors to vote for the successor candidate nominated by the candidate's political party, following the party's rules. Additionally, it states that if an elector refuses to vote as required or is absent, their position becomes vacant and must be filled by an appointment from the state committee chair of the elector's party, with the replacement filing necessary paperwork promptly. This bill directly affects Arizona's presidential electors and ensures the state's electoral votes are cast for a party-designated candidate in these specific circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 1720 establishes a legal presumption that equal parenting time is in a child's best interests when both parents are fit and live within 25 miles of the child's school or educational setting. Courts must now consider specific factors like domestic violence, substance abuse, parental mental health, and geographic location before denying equal time, and must provide detailed written reasons for any deviation. The bill also requires parenting plans to include standardized elements such as communication procedures, exchange logistics, and dispute resolution methods to ensure consistent child care. This law directly affects parents involved in Arizona custody disputes and child welfare courts, shifting focus toward cooperative parenting arrangements while maintaining child safety as the priority.

Maddy summarySB 1748 requires Arizona law enforcement agencies to provide crime victims with clear materials allowing them to "opt in" to receive notifications about their case, including arrests, court dates, and case updates. Once a victim opts in (only once), they automatically receive notifications from all relevant state agencies without needing to repeat the request. Victims can also opt out at any time, and agencies must share this change across all departments. The bill streamlines communication while preserving existing victim rights under Arizona law, directly affecting all crime victims in Arizona who interact with law enforcement.

Maddy summarySB 1209 creates a nonoperating identification license for Arizona residents without a valid driver's license (e.g., due to suspension or homelessness) and exempts specific groups from associated fees. It allows homeless veterans and those using shelter addresses to qualify for fee-free licenses, while also providing special markings for veterans and enrolled Native Americans. The license, valid for eight years, is strictly for identification purposes - never for driving - and requires no driving exam. It includes provisions for minors, emancipated youth, and individuals under 21, with clear labeling to distinguish age groups.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1747 requires social media platforms to obtain parental consent for users under 14 to create accounts and mandates account termination for minors under 14 without consent, with a 90-day dispute period. For 14- to 15-year-olds, platforms must secure parental consent to maintain accounts or face termination, allowing parents 10 days to request account deletion. The law applies to platforms meeting specific criteria, including those with algorithms, infinite scrolling, or significant minor user engagement. It prohibits platforms from targeting minors with content or ads without verified parental consent, aiming to limit exposure to potentially harmful online content.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1284 amends traffic laws to require drivers who fail to stop completely at red lights (violating A.R.S. § 28-645(A)(3)(a)) to attend a state-approved driver safety education program instead of facing standard fines. This applies to violations resulting in serious injury or death (covered under A.R.S. § 28-672), where courts must order the program and community restitution. The bill updates penalty structures for red-light running offenses, replacing typical citations with mandatory education for repeat or severe violations. It directly affects drivers convicted of red-light violations causing injury or death, shifting focus from fines to safety education.

Maddy summarySB 1585 requires courts to impose additional fees on individuals convicted of sex offenses in Arizona, ranging from $75 for class 3 misdemeanors to $2,000 for class 1 felonies. These fees, collected directly from offenders, will be deposited into a new Sex Offender Surcharge Fund established under state law. The fund will support state programs for evaluating and managing sex offenders, including treatment and monitoring services. This bill directly affects people convicted of sex offenses under Arizona law, mandating these fees as part of their court-ordered penalties.

Maddy summarySCR 1001 proposes an Arizona constitutional amendment that would require U.S. citizenship for voting, ban foreign campaign contributions, and mandate government-issued ID at polling places. It sets specific voting rules: early voting must end by 7:00 PM Friday before general elections, and voters must show ID to cast a ballot. Qualified voters with citizenship proof would be offered mail-in ballots upon request, while in-person voting on election day would remain available. This amendment, if approved by voters, would become "The Arizona Secure Elections Act" and would affect all Arizona voters and election campaigns.

Maddy summarySB 1665, the "State Agency Hiring Reform Act," standardizes hiring practices for Arizona state agencies by requiring a transparent, three-part grading system (weighted experience/education/skills, interview panel score, and overall score out of 100) for all positions. It mandates that agencies complete the full hiring process within 90 days and provides candidates eliminated after both the weighted and interview scores a 3-day window to appeal if the process was violated or the hiring decision was arbitrary. The State Personnel Board reviews appeals and can order agencies to reopen hiring, modify job postings, or reconsider decisions. The law excludes the governor’s office and governor-appointed boards but allows direct hires only for candidates scoring 90+ (with appeal rights for all candidates).