Maddy summaryThis bill (SB 1753) expands Arizona’s anti-discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public education, housing, and public accommodations. It defines "gender identity" as a person’s gender-related expression regardless of sex assigned at birth and requires public entities to provide gender-neutral restrooms in new public building constructions or major renovations. The law bans businesses from denying services, such as in restaurants or hotels, based on these protected characteristics, while allowing sex-segregated facilities for restrooms/locker rooms and permitting exclusions for safety reasons like intoxication or violence. It also mandates the state division to monitor discrimination and report annually to the legislature on enforcement.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis Arizona bill requires health insurers to cover clozapine medication for patients with psychiatric disorders without denying, discontinuing, or rationing it. Insurers must also provide access to alternative blood monitoring methods - like mobile services or in-home testing - upon patient request, without denying coverage based on cost or location. Patients can legally waive or modify routine blood tests after receiving risk counseling and written consent, and providers cannot withhold clozapine for this reason unless an immediate medical risk exists. The bill applies to both private health insurance and county jails/state prisons, ensuring consistent access for inmates prescribed clozapine.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits price gouging on essential goods and services during a declared state of emergency in Arizona. It makes it unlawful to sell items like food, water, electricity, medical supplies, or rent at prices 10% higher than the highest price charged 30 days before the emergency was declared. Violations are classified as felonies: selling for $500+ in 24 hours is a class 5 felony, while smaller amounts are class 6 felonies. The attorney general enforces these rules under existing consumer protection laws. The bill directly affects businesses selling essential items during emergencies.
Maddy summarySB 1692 clarifies eligibility requirements for Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which provides state-funded tuition assistance for students attending private schools. It directly affects students with disabilities (per IDEA or state disability definitions), children from schools rated "D" or "F," military-connected children, foster youth, and those from low-income households eligible for free lunch. Key provisions update definitions to specify how students qualify (e.g., requiring online students to log minimum instructional hours) and ensure schools receiving funds meet safety and non-discrimination standards. The bill modifies existing statutes without creating new funding, focusing on administrative clarity for the current ESA program.
Maddy summarySB 1699 establishes Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (AESA) to provide public funds for K-12 education outside public schools. It directly affects parents of qualifying students who choose to withdraw from public school districts or charter schools and use AESA funds. The bill specifies that account monies can cover tuition at qualified schools, textbooks, educational therapies (for students meeting specific disability criteria), tutoring, approved curricula, and other education-related expenses like transportation and assistive technology. Parents must agree not to enroll students in public schools, accept concurrent private scholarships, or homeschool while using AESA funds.
Maddy summarySB 1731 allocates $2 million from Arizona's state general fund for the Office of Indian Education within the Department of Education during fiscal year 2026-2027. This funding is specifically designated for the office's personnel and operations as outlined in Arizona law (A.R.S. §15-244). The bill exempts this appropriation from standard rules requiring annual re-approval, ensuring the funds remain available for the office's ongoing work. This is a procedural funding measure that directly supports the existing Office of Indian Education.
Maddy summarySB 1706 establishes standards for Arizona's online instruction programs. It requires online schools to meet specific criteria for curriculum, student safety, and teacher qualifications before approval, and places new online schools on probation for up to three years until they demonstrate academic improvement. The bill mandates annual reporting to the state education department on student performance and daily attendance logs, and sets funding rules: full-time online students receive 95% of standard funding, while part-time students receive 85%. It directly affects online schools, students enrolled in virtual programs, and school districts managing hybrid enrollment. The bill does not relate to full-day kindergarten as implied by its title, but instead focuses on online education accountability and funding.
Maddy summarySB 1708 prohibits Arizona cities, counties, and state-owned property from being used for civil immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant. It bans local and state governments from allowing immigration officers to use parking lots, garages, or vacant lots as staging areas, processing sites, or bases for enforcement operations. Within 30 days of the law taking effect, all affected government entities must post clear signage at public entrances stating the property cannot host immigration enforcement without a warrant. The law also requires immigration officers to show a warrant before questioning, detaining, or arresting anyone on government property. This directly affects local governments and their property management practices regarding immigration enforcement activities.
Maddy summarySB 1739 allocates $15 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund domestic violence shelters and beds. The funds will be distributed as grants to tribal nations: 25% to the Navajo Nation, 25% to the Hopi Tribe, and 50% to other federally recognized tribes in Arizona. This funding covers surveying, designing, constructing, and operating shelters and beds. The appropriation is exempt from standard funding lapse rules under Arizona law. The bill directly affects tribal nations by providing dedicated resources for domestic violence shelter services.
Maddy summarySB 1693 (correcting the title discrepancy) primarily updates teacher certification rules, not superintendent requirements. It requires all teachers providing literacy instruction in kindergarten through grade 5 to obtain a literacy endorsement by specific deadlines (2028 for current teachers, within three years of certification for new teachers starting August 2025). The endorsement mandates evidence-based science of reading training covering foundational skills, high-quality materials, and interventions for reading deficiencies (including dyslexia). Teachers may bypass formal coursework through local district verification using classroom observations and student data, and the bill explicitly prohibits requiring a master's degree for certification.