Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón

Maddy summarySB 1381 requires farmers or ranchers leasing state agricultural land (outside specific groundwater management areas) to pay an annual fee based on their groundwater use. They must report well locations, water volume, and usage annually by March 31. Fees collected go to the state land trust fund, with the legislature stating fees should reflect groundwater's fair market value. This bill directly affects agricultural lessees on state land in areas not covered by active groundwater management zones.

Maddy summarySB 1395 repeals Arizona's existing requirement for abortion providers to report certain data to the state. It directly affects abortion providers who previously had to submit these reports under Title 36, Chapter 20, Article 2 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The bill removes this reporting obligation without creating new requirements or mechanisms. As a procedural repeal, it eliminates a specific administrative rule rather than changing abortion access or policy. This action was introduced in the Arizona Senate on January 26, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1359 amends Arizona law to change how unclaimed firearms are handled and prevents local governments from enacting stricter firearm regulations. It requires that unclaimed firearms be sold to licensed dealers (not destroyed) after 30 days, unless prohibited by law, and allows law enforcement to trade firearms for equipment. The bill also blocks cities or counties from creating rules that conflict with state firearm laws, including bans on local licensing, registration, or more restrictive penalties. Exceptions include limited restrictions on minors in public places and minor tax rules for firearms sales.

Maddy summarySB 1357 requires manufacturers of large electronics (like desktops, laptops, monitors, and TVs over 4 inches) to create statewide recycling programs by 2027. It mandates that these manufacturers register with Arizona’s department, pay annual fees, and label products with their brand. The bill also requires manufacturers to establish convenient collection sites in every county and major city, provide public recycling information, and ensure environmentally sound recycling processes. Retailers cannot sell covered devices without proper labeling and manufacturer registration starting January 1, 2027. This affects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers who purchase these electronics.

Maddy summarySB 1344 modifies Arizona election procedures to exclude voters on the "active permanent early voting list" from receiving mailed sample ballots. Registered voters who have opted into permanent early voting (as established under Section 16-544) will no longer receive these mailed voting materials, while all other registered voters continue to receive them. The bill amends Sections 16-245(D) and 16-411(B)(3) of Arizona Revised Statutes to implement this change in ballot distribution. This affects only voters who have chosen permanent early voting status, altering how election officials provide voting information. The policy change is administrative, focusing on mail distribution rather than altering voting rights or election mechanics.

Maddy summarySB 1382 requires most groundwater users in Arizona’s designated management areas to install approved measuring devices and submit annual reports on their water withdrawals. It primarily affects agricultural users, landowners, and water districts withdrawing groundwater for irrigation or non-irrigation uses in active management zones or the Santa Cruz area. Key exemptions include small users (10 or fewer acre-feet yearly), farms using water on ≤10 contiguous irrigated acres without integrated operations, and certain grandfathered rights. The bill mandates the director to set device specifications and reporting rules, while clarifying which users are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2515 requires lessees of state agricultural land (outside designated active management or irrigation non-expansion areas) to pay an annual fee for groundwater used in irrigation. It mandates that these lessees report well locations, annual groundwater quantities, and specific uses to the state department by March 31 each year. Fees collected must be deposited into the appropriate beneficiary fund, with the legislature intending the fee to reflect groundwater’s fair market value. The bill directly affects agricultural tenants leasing state land for irrigation outside specific water management zones.

Maddy summaryHB 2473 creates a program to fund curbside composting in Arizona cities through grants. It establishes a special fund financed by fees from managing waste classified as hazardous in its state of origin but not in Arizona (e.g., waste transported from other states). Municipalities can apply for grants to start composting programs under rules set by the environmental agency, with the fund also covering administration of both the composting program and the hazardous waste management system. The bill directly affects cities seeking to expand waste reduction efforts, using existing fee structures to support new sustainability initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 2513 creates a new process for Arizona to designate "subsequent irrigation non-expansion areas" where new irrigation development is restricted. It allows the state director to formally identify groundwater areas that lack sufficient water to support additional irrigation at current withdrawal rates, provided an active management area isn't needed. The bill establishes procedures for these designations, including requirements for petitions from either 25 irrigation users (meeting specific land-use criteria) or 10% of registered voters in the affected basin, backed by scientific groundwater models and hydrologic reports. This directly affects farmers and landowners in designated groundwater basins by preventing new irrigation projects in areas with inadequate water resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 1378) amends Arizona's court fee schedule under Section 12-284 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. It updates specific filing fees for court cases, including domestic relations matters (e.g., dissolution petitions at $149.00), but does not address domestic violence or firearm transfers. The bill solely modifies fee classifications for court filings and administrative actions, with no substantive policy changes related to firearm restrictions or domestic violence protections. The title appears misleading, as the actual text contains only fee adjustments.