medical records; medical facility; access

HB 2879 prohibits Arizona healthcare providers from sharing patient medical records or granting access to medical facilities for immigration enforcement purposes, directly affecting patients (especially immigrant communities), providers, and federal immigration agencies. The bill allows exceptions only if a patient signs a written authorization, a neutral magistrate issues a valid search warrant, or a subpoena is served under existing law. It explicitly defines "immigration enforcement" to include all federal efforts investigating or penalizing immigration status, employment, or entry into the U.S. The law aims to protect patient privacy by preventing healthcare settings from being used for immigration investigations. This bill does not alter existing medical privacy laws but adds specific restrictions for immigration-related requests.