Rep. Jeff Weninger

Maddy summaryHB 2874 amends Arizona campaign finance laws to clarify how political committees (including PACs and party committees) can legally terminate operations. It requires committees terminating to file a statement certifying either they received no contributions or that all debts, surplus funds, and reporting obligations are fully resolved. The bill also creates an automatic exemption from late-filing penalties and enforcement actions for committees that file a termination statement claiming they received no contributions. This change ensures committees ending operations without any financial activity avoid ongoing penalties and legal challenges.

Maddy summaryHB 4043 requires Arizona public schools serving grades 9-12 to provide automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at all campuses and school-sponsored athletic events starting August 1, 2026. It also mandates that by August 1, 2027, each school must ensure at least one staff member completes annual training in CPR, first aid, and AED use. The bill specifies AEDs must be in unlocked, clearly marked, accessible locations that follow national emergency care guidelines and be maintained per manufacturer instructions. Schools may accept donations to fund AED purchases and maintenance, and the law defines "school-sponsored athletic event" to include practices, trainings, and competitions.

Maddy summaryHB 4042 amends Arizona law governing when a court may terminate a parent's legal rights to a child. It specifies 12 grounds for termination, including abandonment, neglect or abuse, parental mental illness or substance abuse, certain criminal convictions (like murder of another child), failure to establish paternity, and prolonged out-of-home placement without parental progress. The law requires courts to prioritize the child's best interests and consider whether reunification services were offered to the parent. It also clarifies that the first 60 days of a child's out-of-home placement cannot count toward time requirements for termination under specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 2873 updates Arizona's state purchasing rules for contracts over $100,000. It requires written question-and-answer sessions for bidders before bids open, mandates two weeks of public notice (via newspaper or online), and strictly limits bid evaluation to criteria explicitly stated in the original request. For contracts under $100,000, it requires state agencies to prioritize small businesses when feasible and prohibits splitting contracts to avoid these rules. These changes apply to all state agencies purchasing goods or services, ensuring clearer processes for contractors and public transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 2950 establishes a framework for Arizona municipalities and counties to create "tourism improvement areas" (TIAs) to fund tourism promotion. It requires a petition signed by lodging business owners representing at least 67% of rooms in the proposed area, including specific boundaries, assessment rates (based on property size or room count), and a detailed plan for how funds will be used. Lodging businesses within a TIA must pay an assessment on room rentals, which can be a fixed fee per night or a percentage of sales, with funds strictly limited to advertising, promotion, and business recruitment directly benefiting lodging businesses. The bill prohibits using these funds for physical infrastructure and sets a 30-day deadline to legally challenge the assessment. This directly affects hotels and resorts in designated areas by requiring them to pay a new, locally determined fee.

Maddy summaryHB 2279 protects commercial river outfitters operating in Grand Canyon National Park from liability for injuries or deaths caused by inherent risks of river trips, such as rapids or natural hazards. It allows outfitters to require participants to sign liability waivers for ordinary negligence, making these waivers legally binding. However, outfitters remain liable for gross negligence, intentional acts, or willful misconduct. The bill directly affects both outfitters (defined as federally permitted entities offering guided trips) and participants who sign these waivers before embarking on Grand Canyon river trips.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (HCR 2063), not a substantive bill. It honors Yvonne Glee Lime Fedderson, founder of Childhelp and a global humanitarian dedicated to child welfare, following her death on January 23, 2026. The resolution expresses the Arizona Legislature's sympathy to her family and admirers, and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to her family and Childhelp. It has no policy provisions or impact on legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 2871 is a technical correction bill that updates Arizona's limited partnership law. It fixes the wording in Section 29-360 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to clarify that the state's limited partnership chapter must be applied consistently with the Uniform Limited Partnership Act used by other states. This change ensures Arizona's law aligns with the standard framework adopted by multiple states but does not alter any substantive rules for limited partnerships. The bill directly affects businesses operating under Arizona's limited partnership structure by maintaining legal consistency with other states.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment (HCR 2044) would prohibit Arizona state and local governments from granting preferential treatment or discrimination based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, or contracting. It specifically bans requiring individuals to endorse race-based policies, spending public funds on offices promoting such policies, or implementing disciplinary actions based on race/ethnicity. The amendment directly affects public schools, universities, government agencies, and contractors operating under state authority. If approved by voters, it would become part of Arizona's Constitution, replacing existing antidiscrimination laws in these specific areas.

Maddy summaryHB 2676 allows individuals adjudicated delinquent as juveniles in Arizona to petition a court for restored firearm rights after meeting specific conditions. It directly affects people who were minors when convicted of certain offenses but not adults. The bill establishes two waiting periods: 25 years for those convicted of serious offenses like burglary or arson, or a two-year wait for other felonies after completing probation or court-ordered conditions. The process requires a court application with no filing fee, served to the county attorney, and is handled by juvenile court judges. This changes the legal pathway for juvenile offenders to regain firearm rights under defined circumstances.