AZ HB2835

Requires mandatory settlement conferences for eviction cases involving unpaid rent or material breach of lease, scheduled five days after eviction notice is served on the tenant.

Landlord and tenant must appear at settlement conferences with relevant documents (lease, past due rent notices, receipts); failure of landlord to appear results in case dismissal and failure of tenant to appear results in default judgment.

If case is not settled at conference, eviction hearing is scheduled for the fifth business day after the settlement conference.

Elected justices of the peace preside over settlement conferences, with referral to another elected justice in same or adjacent county if unable to preside.

Courts must track and report data on mandatory eviction settlement conference results to the administrative office of the courts.