Criminal Justice

signed · Arizona · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 4117: disturbing religious services; worship

HB 4117 makes it a class 1 misdemeanor to knowingly disturb religious services through indecent behavior, profane language, or unnecessary noise near the worship space. It directly affects individuals who disrupt the order and solemnity of religious gatherings, whether inside the venue or nearby. The law specifically targets actions that disturb the "assemblage of persons who have met for religious worship," not general public conduct. This bill, which passed the Arizona House on February 26, 2026, creates a new criminal penalty for such disruptions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by creating new misdemeanor offense for disrupting religious services, increasing penalties rather than advancing reform or reducing criminalization.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Arizona · House Jun 22, 2026

HB 2941: motorcycles; reckless driving

HB 2941 amends Arizona law to classify operating a motorcycle in violation of specific traffic rules (sections 28-903 B/C) as reckless driving. This directly affects motorcycle riders who commit such violations, increasing penalties for repeat offenses within 24 months. For second or subsequent violations, the law mandates a minimum 20-day jail sentence before eligibility for probation and imposes a one-year license suspension, with a restricted license option available after 45 days of suspension. The bill also requires judges to order license surrender and report convictions to the state department.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory 20-day jail time and license suspension for motorcycle traffic violations, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing without reform elements.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationIncreases penalties for motorcycle traffic violations to enhance road safety, directly strengthening transportation safety standards under vehicle regulations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

vetoed · Arizona · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 4056: technical correction; double punishment

HB 4056 amends Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-116 to clarify that when an act violates multiple laws, sentences must run concurrently (served at the same time), not consecutively. It also states that a conviction or acquittal under one law bars prosecution for the same act under another law, aligning with constitutional protections against double jeopardy. This technical correction directly affects criminal defendants in Arizona who face charges under multiple statutes for the same conduct. The bill passed the Arizona House of Representatives on March 3, 2026, and was referred to the Senate.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies concurrent sentencing and double jeopardy protections, preventing multiple punishments for same act, strengthening defendant rights in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

vetoed · Arizona · House Jun 19, 2026

HB 2662: parenting time; expert testimony; qualifications

HB 2662 (Arizona) sets standards for expert testimony in parenting time cases where domestic violence or abuse is alleged. It requires courts to admit only testimony from experts with specific clinical experience supporting victims of domestic violence - not just forensic expertise - and limits evidence to scientifically validated methods. The bill prohibits the use of polygraphs, voice-stress analysis, or unproven psychological measures in these proceedings. This directly affects courts, experts testifying in custody disputes, and parents involved in cases with domestic violence allegations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires scientifically validated evidence in domestic violence cases, protecting victims and ensuring fair court proceedings within criminal justice context.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

vetoed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1326: victims' rights; attorney fees; costs

SB 1326 strengthens victims' rights in Arizona criminal cases by allowing victims to directly enforce their constitutional rights in court without paying filing fees. It gives victims the right to hire their own lawyers (at their expense), recover damages from government entities that violate their rights, and receive court-ordered attorney fees from parties who breach those rights - including fees for free legal aid or pro bono attorneys. The law applies to all pending or new criminal cases after its effective date. This clarifies victims' standing to challenge rights violations and ensures their legal representation is included in relevant court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens victims' rights in criminal cases by removing financial barriers, enabling victim representation, and allowing fee recovery - directly advancing victims' access to justice within the criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

vetoed · Arizona · Senate Jun 19, 2026

SB 1476: child neglect; prenatal substance exposure

SB 1476 modifies Arizona law to address child neglect cases involving prenatal substance exposure. It creates an affirmative defense for mothers who completed alcohol or drug treatment during pregnancy, preventing them from being charged with child neglect for that specific conduct. The bill specifies that child neglect related to untreated prenatal substance use remains a class 6 felony, but the defense applies if treatment was completed. This directly affects mothers facing neglect charges due to substance use during pregnancy who have accessed treatment services. The policy change shifts legal consequences for a defined subset of cases without altering general neglect definitions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates affirmative defense for mothers completing treatment, reducing criminal charges for prenatal substance use and prioritizing rehabilitation over prosecution, aligning with criminal justice reform principles.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates legal incentive for prenatal substance treatment by removing neglect charges for mothers who completed care, encouraging healthcare access without restricting services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

passed · Arizona · Senate Jun 13, 2026

SB 1752: mescaline; possession; sale; commercial use

SB 1752 prohibits harvesting, processing, or selling mescaline for commercial purposes or research in Arizona, with a specific exception for religious use integral to bona fide religious practices that don’t endanger public health or safety. It defines "commercial use" as any profit-seeking activity and limits "research" to medical or pharmaceutical applications. Violating the law is a class 4 felony offense. The bill does not affect personal possession or non-commercial religious use.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes commercial mescaline use with felony penalties, expanding criminalization rather than promoting reform or reducing penalties.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

Track

signed · Arizona · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2557: candidate petitions; felony disclosure

HB 2557 amends Arizona law to allow individuals convicted of certain offenses to petition courts to seal their criminal records after meeting specific requirements. It directly affects people with felony or misdemeanor convictions who have completed sentences, paid all fines/restitution, and waited set periods (e.g., 10 years for serious felonies, 5 years for less serious ones). Key mechanisms include mandatory victim notification, court review for public safety, and restrictions on how sealed records may be used (e.g., still admissible in future criminal cases). The bill does not change eligibility for voting or candidacy, despite its misleading title, and focuses solely on record sealing procedures.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAllows sealing of criminal records for eligible individuals post-sentence, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism barriers - core criminal justice reform.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Arizona · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 2665: manslaughter; online advice; encouragement

HB 2665 amends Arizona's manslaughter law to create a new offense: intentionally providing advice or encouragement to a minor about suicide, knowing the minor intends to die by suicide. This specifically targets adults who engage in direct online communications (like social media posts, texts, or tagged messages) aimed at a minor who is suicidal. The law defines "directed communication" to include specific online interactions with the minor, but excludes general public discussions about suicide. Violating this provision is classified as a class 2 felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new criminal offense for online suicide encouragement, expanding criminalization of communications rather than advancing reform or protecting rights.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice

signed · Arizona · House Apr 13, 2026

HB 2666: sexual extortion; classification

HB 2666 reclassifies threatening to share explicit images or force sexual acts as a felony. It increases penalties based on the victim’s age: a class 3 felony for adults, class 2 for teens aged 15-17 (requiring consecutive sentences with no probation), and class 2 for children under 15. Offenders cannot receive probation, early release, or sentence suspension for these crimes. The bill defines "sexual extortion" as threatening to damage property, harm reputation, or distribute explicit images of the victim.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties and prohibits probation for sexual extortion, expanding criminalization and restricting defendant rights per criminal justice sentencing indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Criminal Justice