Sen. Mitzi Epstein

Maddy summarySB 1385 requires Arizona public schools serving grades 6-12 to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins in all women's and gender-neutral restrooms. This directly affects students in those grades and school districts, which must distribute the products without charging students or families. The bill appropriates $2.5 million from the state general fund in fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Department of Education for distribution to schools. The law ensures access to feminine hygiene products without cost to students while specifying the types of products covered.

Maddy summarySB 1417 expands Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, allowing parents of eligible students (K-12) to use state funds for approved educational expenses. It requires parents to agree to use funds only for specific items like tuition at participating schools, textbooks, tutoring, approved therapies, and educational technology - while prohibiting use for non-educational items (e.g., video games) or concurrent school tuition organization scholarships. The bill also mandates annual evaluations by independent teams for students nearing age 22 to determine continued eligibility for funding. This directly affects ESA participants and their families, who must adhere to strict spending rules and annual review requirements.

Maddy summarySB 1402 prohibits excessive price increases for "essential off-patent or generic drugs" in Arizona, targeting manufacturers and distributors when price hikes exceed 50% within a year or cost over $80 for a 30-day supply. It requires manufacturers to justify price increases by documenting production costs and public health benefits, with the attorney general investigating potential violations. If a price increase is deemed unjustified, the law allows fines up to $10,000 per violation, refunds to consumers, or mandated lower pricing for state Medicaid program participants. The bill directly affects drug manufacturers and distributors selling these medications and impacts Arizona's Medicaid recipients.

Maddy summarySB 1403 sets Arizona's maximum allowable price for certain prescription drugs at the federal "maximum fair price" established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects pharmacies, insurers, and drug sellers in Arizona by prohibiting them from charging or seeking reimbursement above this federal benchmark for covered drugs during the applicable price period. The bill creates enforcement through the Attorney General for violations, treating them as consumer fraud under state law, and allows affected individuals to file private lawsuits. This aligns Arizona drug pricing with federal standards without creating new state price-setting authority.

Maddy summarySB 1413 amends Arizona law to clarify state authority over firearms regulations and unclaimed property handling. It updates Section 12-945 to specify that unclaimed firearms may be sold to licensed businesses (not just destroyed) and allows law enforcement to trade firearms for equipment. Crucially, it strengthens Section 13-3108 to preempt local ordinances, prohibiting cities from requiring firearm registration, keeping ownership records, or enacting stricter gun rules than state law. The bill directly affects Arizona cities and counties by limiting their ability to regulate firearms locally, while allowing limited exceptions for minor restrictions and commercial shooting ranges.

Maddy summaryArizona's SB 1384 requires pediatric healthcare providers (doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants) to discuss gun safety measures with parents or guardians during well-baby and pediatric visits. The bill mandates the Department of Health Services to create and post a gun safety pamphlet on its website by January 2026, covering proper storage and child safety risks. This information may be shared verbally by providers or directed to the pamphlet. The bill directly affects parents and guardians of children receiving routine pediatric care in Arizona. It focuses on providing educational resources, not restricting gun ownership or access.

Maddy summarySB 1428 requires Arizona school districts to implement "Stop the Bleed" programs starting in the 2025-2026 school year, directly affecting schools, nurses, and students. It mandates schools to place at least one federally endorsed bleed control kit (containing tourniquets, bandages, gloves, and instructional materials) in accessible locations, include kits in safety plans, and inspect them annually. The state will fund the initiative with $180,000 for kit purchases and distribution through the Department of Health Services, with the program ending December 31, 2028. The bill focuses on equipping schools to manage severe bleeding emergencies through standardized first-aid resources and training.

Maddy summarySB 1397 establishes a state-run health insurance consumer assistance program to help Arizona residents resolve disputes with insurers, including denied claims, appeals, and coverage issues. It requires health insurers to prominently display program information on benefit statements and report denial data to the state. Insurers that wrongfully deny valid claims face civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, must pay double damages to affected consumers, and could lose their license. The program also mandates annual state reports tracking denial rates and insurer compliance.

Maddy summaryArizona is allocating $400,000 from the state general fund to help public schools plant low-VOC trees on campuses. The funding prioritizes schools where 75% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches under federal programs, targeting schools in high-poverty communities. Schools must use the funds by December 31, 2025, and may partner with nonprofits for tree planting. The bill specifies that leftover funds after this date will be distributed to other qualifying schools on a first-come basis.

Maddy summarySB 1423 repeals two existing Arizona statutes: Section 9-500.36 (related to energy measuring) and Section 11-269.14 (related to energy reporting). This bill removes specific legal requirements for energy measurement and reporting that were previously in place. It does not create new rules or directly affect any entities, as it only eliminates outdated provisions. The bill is procedural and has no new policy mechanisms.