Sen. Eva Diaz

Maddy summarySB 1535 requires courts to collect a $200 assessment from individuals convicted of specific prostitution offenses under Arizona law (ARS 13-3214), with no waiver allowed. The funds collected flow directly to Arizona’s Anti-Human Trafficking Grant Fund, established under ARS 41-1736. This fund supports programs that assist trafficking victims, provide law enforcement support, or offer public education on preventing and identifying human trafficking. The bill does not change prostitution prohibitions but directs penalties toward funding anti-trafficking initiatives.

Maddy summarySB 1487 extends the deadline for implementing Hopi Tribe special license plates in Arizona from December 31, 2025, to December 31, 2026. It requires individuals to pay $32,000 to the state for these plates, with the payer designing the plates (subject to state approval). The bill specifies that $17 of the $25 plate fee goes directly to the Hopi Tribe’s public safety department for road maintenance and traffic control on tribal reservation roads. This program affects drivers purchasing Hopi plates and directs funds to tribal infrastructure, with retroactive application starting December 30, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 1603 amends Arizona law to clarify eligibility for temporary cash assistance by defining "child only case" in Section 46-101. This specifically covers children in foster care with unrelated adults or nonparent relatives not receiving cash assistance, or placed under court order with such caregivers. The bill ensures these cases are treated separately from "needy families" (which require a parent or relative receiving aid), as stated in Section 46-292. It directly affects children in foster care settings where caregivers do not qualify for cash assistance themselves. The change refines existing eligibility rules without creating new programs or altering benefit amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 4135 creates a new child care tax credit for Arizona taxpayers with children under five who use certified child care providers. The credit provides $2,000 per child for families with federal adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less, and $1,000 for incomes between $75,000 and $150,000 annually. A total of $15 million in credits is available each year on a first-come, first-served basis, with excess credits paid as refunds. The credit applies to tax returns filed for 2026 and later, supporting working families seeking quality early childhood care.

Maddy summarySB 1685 establishes the Arizona Commission on Latino Affairs, a body tasked with advising state leadership and supporting Latino communities. The commission includes nine voting members (seven Latino, two non-Latino, appointed by the governor) and eight advisory members with expertise in education, health, civil rights, social services, and small business. Its key duties include advising the governor on policies affecting Latinos, developing recommendations for health, education, and economic programs, and producing an annual report to the legislature. The bill also creates a dedicated fund for the commission’s operations and mandates an annual "Latino Legislative Day" to honor community contributions and discuss issues.

Maddy summarySB 1608 sets specific indoor temperature requirements for rental properties in Arizona, mandating that landlords maintain rooms at no more than 82°F in warm weather and no lower than 68°F during extreme cold, measured mid-room at 3 feet above ground. It shortens tenant notice periods for heating/cooling failures affecting health to 2 days (from 10 days) and prohibits evictions during weeks with two or more days exceeding 90°F outdoor temperatures. The bill directly affects landlords (requiring compliance with temperature standards and maintenance) and tenants (providing stronger remedies for unsafe conditions and eviction protection). Key provisions include precise temperature measurements, accelerated tenant remedies for critical failures, and a heat-related eviction ban.

Maddy summarySB 1694 requires Arizona charter schools receiving state funding to develop emergency response plans and conduct school safety assessments every five years using approved providers. It updates transparency rules to mandate posting meeting notices and public records online for all charter schools. The bill also prohibits for-profit organizations from establishing new charter schools after January 1, 2027. These provisions directly affect all Arizona charter schools operating under state funding programs.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1691 requires annual statewide testing in reading, writing, and math for students in designated grades, with additional testing in social studies and science permitted but not mandatory. It directly affects public schools, nonpublic online learning programs charging tuition, and all students in these settings, mandating test administration and data collection on graduation/dropout rates by ethnicity. Key provisions include ensuring uniform, objective tests; collecting non-test data only with public approval; requiring schools to use demographic data when evaluating scores; and setting strict deadlines for test results to be delivered to schools. The bill also mandates that test data must comply with federal privacy laws (FERPA) and be shared transparently via a public website.

Maddy summarySB 1698 expands Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to cover specific educational services for students with disabilities. It allows ESA funds to pay for educational therapies, psychological evaluations, assistive technology, and vocational training when a student meets disability criteria under the law. The bill also requires annual education plans for students aged 21-22 to continue receiving funds, with reviews conducted by independent evaluation teams. This directly affects students with disabilities enrolled in the ESA program who qualify under the specified criteria. The policy change modifies allowable expenses under the existing ESA framework to include these disability-related services and extends eligibility through age 22.

Maddy summarySB 1721 requires state construction contracts to pay prevailing wages and fringe benefits based on local collective agreements, directly affecting contractors and subcontractors working on state-financed projects. It mandates that contractors post wage rates at job sites, maintain payroll records, and prohibits retaliation against workers reporting violations. The Arizona Department of Administration determines prevailing rates, and violations carry a $5,000 civil penalty or liability for lost wages. The bill ensures workers on state projects receive locally negotiated compensation standards while providing enforcement mechanisms for compliance.