Sen. Theresa Hatathlie

Maddy summarySB 1521 appropriates $1,000,000 from Arizona's state general fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to Diné College specifically for its remedial education programs. This funding directly supports Diné College students who need academic assistance to succeed in college-level coursework. The bill exempts this appropriation from standard state rules requiring unused funds to lapse, ensuring the money remains available for its intended purpose. The measure focuses solely on providing dedicated state funding for remedial education at Diné College, with no additional policy changes or broader implications.

Maddy summarySB 1532 sets a termination date for the governing board of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB). The board of directors will end on July 1, 2034, and related statutes will be repealed on January 1, 2035. The bill does not change the schools' operations or services but defines the end of the current governance structure. It ensures the schools' educational mission for sensory-impaired children continues until the board's termination date. The bill is procedural, establishing a sunset for the board's authority without altering the schools' purpose or funding.

Maddy summarySB 1524 appropriates $3.2 million from Arizona's general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Department of Transportation to grade, improve drainage, gravel, and stabilize Navajo Route 8070. This funding directly affects the Navajo Route 8070 road and the communities relying on it, particularly those in the Navajo Nation area. The bill includes a specific exemption preventing these funds from lapsing under standard appropriation rules (Arizona Revised Statutes § 35-190). The bill focuses solely on authorizing this infrastructure funding without altering broader policies.

Maddy summarySB 1459 establishes Arizona's Public Employee Bargaining Act, creating a legal framework for collective bargaining between public employees and public employers (state/local government agencies). The bill defines key terms like "exclusive representative" (a union certified to negotiate on behalf of employees), "appropriate bargaining unit," and "impasse," while outlining rights for both employees (to form unions and bargain) and employers (to manage operations). It creates a Public Employee Labor Relations Board (appointed by the governor) to oversee certification of unions, resolve disputes, and enforce rules for bargaining. This law directly affects all public employees (excluding elected officials and board members) and public employers across Arizona state and local government.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1464 creates a state-run family and medical leave insurance program starting in 2029. It provides eligible workers with up to 26 weeks of paid benefits for pregnancy, serious health conditions requiring hospitalization, or 24 weeks for caring for a newborn, family member with a serious health condition, military family leave, or "safe leave" related to domestic violence, sexual violence, abuse, or stalking. To qualify, workers must meet specific wage requirements during their base period (e.g., earning at least $390 per week in a qualifying quarter). Employers must provide at least 12 weeks of leave, with benefits paid biweekly after a claim is filed.

Maddy summarySB 1483 appropriates $8 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to Navajo Technical University (NTU) to survey, design, build, and equip an environmental testing laboratory. This funding directly supports NTU's infrastructure development and will enable the university to provide environmental testing services, primarily benefiting Navajo communities and related environmental initiatives. The bill specifies the funds are exempt from standard appropriation lapse rules under Arizona law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (Senate First and Second Readings as of February 2026).

Maddy summarySB 1467 repeals a provision (Section 41-1519) that previously provided tax relief for data centers in Arizona. This bill directly affects data centers that previously qualified for these tax incentives. The repeal removes the specific tax break program, ending eligibility for this form of tax relief for qualifying data center facilities. The bill does not create new rules but eliminates an existing tax incentive.

Maddy summarySB 1486 allocates $750,000 from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Navajo Nation. This funding covers surveying, design, planning, restoration, and equipment for the Coalmine Canyon youth and community recreation center, which must include a full-size basketball court, an outdoor multiuse facility, and security lights. The bill specifies this appropriation is exempt from standard state rules about unused funds lapsing. This is a procedural funding bill directly affecting the Navajo Nation's recreation center development.

Maddy summarySB 1484 allocates $1 million from Arizona's state general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Navajo Nation for the Sawmill Intergenerational Learning Center. The funds cover the center's design, construction, maintenance, and operations, directly supporting the Navajo Nation's community development efforts. The bill exempts this funding from standard lapsing rules, ensuring the money remains available for the project regardless of fiscal year deadlines. This is a straightforward funding allocation with no policy changes beyond the financial commitment.

Maddy summarySB 1480 prohibits landlords from including in lease agreements any clause that would evict a tenant based on the criminal conviction of the tenant or a guest, specifically targeting "crime-free" lease addendums. This law directly affects landlords who use such addendums and tenants who might have faced eviction under these terms. The key provision makes any eviction clause related to criminal convictions in a "crime-free" lease addendum unenforceable. The bill does not change other eviction reasons but removes this specific practice from lease agreements.