Sen. John Kavanagh

Maddy summarySB 1047 is a procedural appropriations bill that allocates specific state funds to pay pre-existing claims from named entities. It directs $400,000+ from various state funds (like the IT fund, general fund, and veterans' trust fund) to cover settled claims for services or goods provided to the state, including payments to companies like World Wide Technology, Arizona Correctional Industries, and Xerox Corporation. The bill does not create new policies or obligations - it simply authorizes payment of existing, documented claims as specified in the appropriations. All listed claimants will receive the exact amounts detailed in the bill.

Maddy summarySB 1123, titled "watermark; paper ballots," requires ballot paper vendors in Arizona to hold specific ISO certifications (27001, 17025, or 9001:2015) and include at least three of ten specified security features - such as unique watermarks, holographic foils, specialized inks, or voter-tracked barcodes - in paper ballots. The bill directly affects ballot vendors and election officials responsible for ballot procurement, aiming to enhance ballot security through standardized anti-fraud measures. It repeals an existing statute and adds new requirements to Arizona Revised Statutes § 16-504. The bill passed the legislature in April 2025 but was vetoed by the Governor on April 18, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 2733 grants legal immunity to Arizona government agencies and employees (like law enforcement) who intercept, disable, or destroy unmanned aircraft (drones) within 30 miles of the state's international border. It protects them from liability for injuries caused during these actions unless they intentionally harmed someone or were grossly negligent. The law specifically applies to drone operators (defined as anyone controlling a drone, including owners or groups acting together) and covers contractors working for government entities. This bill directly affects border enforcement practices and drone operators operating near Arizona's international border.

Maddy summarySB 1035 sets a maximum hourly rate of $100 for attorneys appointed to represent indigent defendants in capital postconviction relief proceedings in Arizona, with counties allowed to approve higher rates through their board of supervisors. Payment is required only if a petition is filed on time or a notice of no meritorious claims is submitted, and it mandates that appointed attorneys meet specific qualifications, including five years of Arizona bar membership and three years of criminal appeals experience. The bill also establishes a state-supervised list of qualified attorneys for capital cases and requires counties to seek state reimbursement for these costs, capped at the annual budget allocation for indigent capital defense. This law directly affects counties, the state supreme court, and defense attorneys handling capital postconviction cases.

Maddy summarySB 1106, titled "Ava's Law," modifies Arizona's public entity liability rules regarding sexual offenses. It clarifies that public entities (like schools or government agencies) generally cannot be held liable for sexual offenses committed by employees against minors or children with disabilities, **unless** the entity violated a duty to check employee backgrounds or failed to report known risks. The law applies only to offenses occurring on or after December 31, 2027, and does not affect liability for vehicle-related incidents or emergency care. This bill focuses on defining specific circumstances where public entities may face liability, not broader policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 1006 creates the "Arizona trial and digital evidence fair jury improvement fund" to support jurors serving in superior court. It establishes a new fee on court filings (collected monthly by clerks and deposited into the fund) to pay jurors who earn less than full compensation during service - providing at least $40 but no more than $300 per day to cover the difference between their court-ordered fee and actual earnings. The fund also covers digital evidence management costs when sufficient funds remain after juror payments. The bill includes sunset provisions, repealing the fund and related fee rules by December 31, 2030 (for court fees) and June 30, 2031 (for the fund).

Maddy summarySB 1041 creates a secure online system for collecting nomination petitions for candidates running for school board, city/town, county, and precinct committeeman offices in Arizona. Qualified voters can sign petitions electronically through a verified portal managed by the Secretary of State, with signatures transmitted directly to election officials. Until 2024, candidates could use this system for the full required signatures; starting in 2025, they may collect up to 110% of the required signatures online. The bill directly affects candidates for these local elected offices by providing an alternative to traditional paper petition collection.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1495 requires the state's National Guard to stay within Arizona unless Congress formally declares war or takes specific action under the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 15) to call the Guard for specific purposes like enforcing federal law or repelling invasion. The bill defines "active duty combat" as participating in armed conflict, performing hazardous duties related to conflict abroad, or using "instrumentality of war." It mandates the governor to ensure compliance with these requirements before deploying the Guard. This bill directly affects Arizona's National Guard deployment decisions and the governor's authority to release troops. The measure is procedural, focusing on constitutional requirements for Guard mobilization.

Maddy summarySB 1039 requires Arizona homeowner associations to hold all meetings of the board and unit owners' association open to members, with limited exceptions (like legal advice, pending lawsuits, or personal health information). It explicitly allows members to audiotape or videotape open meetings without needing board permission and mandates associations to keep unedited recordings for six months, making them available to members upon request. The bill also specifies that boards must state which exception they’re using when closing a meeting and sets notice requirements for meetings, including a 48-hour advance notice for board meetings after full owner control. This directly affects all HOAs in Arizona and their members by increasing transparency and access to decision-making processes.

Maddy summarySCR 1003 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how Arizona's elected state officials are paid. It requires legislative salaries to automatically adjust each January based on inflation (using the Consumer Price Index), while establishing a Commission on Salaries to recommend pay for other elected officials like the governor and judges. The Commission, appointed by state leaders, would propose salary changes for non-legislative offices, with the governor then submitting these recommendations to the legislature. For legislative salaries specifically, the Commission's recommendations would go directly to voters in the next general election for approval, bypassing the legislature if approved. If passed by voters, this amendment would replace current salary laws for all elected state offices.