New Arizona Laws 2026: What Changed and When Each Law Takes Effect

Higher fines for repeat distracted driving

A second or later violation of Arizona's handheld-phone ban while driving now carries a $400 civil penalty, replacing the old range of $150 to $250. A violation that results in an accident with a motorcycle adds another $150.

Bill:

HB 2109 (Laws 2026, ch. 81)

A.R.S.:

§ 28-914

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Motorcycle lane splitting and same-lane passing become reckless driving

Riding a motorcycle in violation of § 28-903, subsection B or C is now reckless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor. Those subsections bar a motorcycle from passing in the same lane occupied by the vehicle it is overtaking and from riding between lanes of traffic or between adjacent rows of vehicles, subject to the exceptions written into § 28-903.

Bill:

HB 2941 (Laws 2026, ch. 261)

A.R.S.:

§ 28-693, § 28-903

Effective:

September 12, 2026

DUI: psychotherapy option and no 45-day wait for interlock licenses

For DUI cases, evidence-based psychotherapy can now be ordered or accepted alongside alcohol or drug screening, education or treatment. The law also drops the 45-day revocation period that a second-time DUI driver had to complete before qualifying for a special ignition interlock restricted license.

Bill:

HB 2573 (Laws 2026, ch. 99)

A.R.S.:

§ 28-1381, § 28-1382, § 28-1383, § 28-3319

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Lending a car to a driver who must use an interlock device

Knowingly lending a vehicle to someone who is required to use an ignition interlock device is now a class 6 felony if that driver is in a collision that causes death or serious physical injury. Otherwise the violation remains a class 1 misdemeanor.

Bill:

HB 2800 (Laws 2026, ch. 259)

A.R.S.:

§ 28-1464

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Driver license photo update interval goes from 12 to 16 years

ADOT's requirement that a driver update the license photograph, or provide a vision-test report, now applies when a license has not been updated in the preceding 16 years, up from 12 years. The director may still require an update at any time during that 16-year period.

Bill:

SB 1552 (Laws 2026, ch. 232)

A.R.S.:

§ 28-3173

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Drones near ticketed events

It is now unlawful to intentionally fly a civil drone within 5,280 feet of, or within 5,280 feet above, a ticketed entertainment event unless an exception applies. A ticketed entertainment event is a music, sporting or performing-arts event with gated entry and proof of the right to enter, held outdoors, at a venue with a retractable roof, or in a facility with capacity for at least 1,000 attendees. Exceptions include written consent from a person with legal authority over the event, a venue or utility employee on official business, and flying your own drone above your own private property consistently with federal law and without commercial use.

Bill:

SB 1160 (Laws 2026, ch. 215)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3729

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Drones over schools

It is now unlawful to fly a drone for hobby or recreational purposes and intentionally photograph or loiter 200 feet or less above a non-residential property used to teach kindergarten through grade 12 while school is in session or school activities are happening. It applies once reasonable no-entry notice is posted and a peace officer, the owner or a person in lawful control has told the operator of the prohibition and asked them to leave.

Note: azleg.gov's published text of § 13-3729(D)(4) appears to omit words; see the statute page for both wordings.

Bill:

SB 1627 (Laws 2026, ch. 236)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3729

Effective:

September 12, 2026

HOAs cannot ban backyard shade structures

A planned-community association may not prohibit the backyard installation or use of a shade structure, such as an umbrella, awning, shade sail, gazebo, pergola or canopy, whatever the community documents say. It may adopt reasonable rules on size, placement or appearance that do not prevent installation, impair function, restrict use or unreasonably raise cost, and that are no more restrictive than the city or town's zoning rules on height and setbacks for single-family homes.

Bill:

HB 2342 (Laws 2026, ch. 90)

A.R.S.:

§ 33-1816.01

Effective:

September 12, 2026

More flags HOAs cannot prohibit

Planned-community and condominium associations may not prohibit the outdoor display of division flags of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force or Coast Guard, which are added to the protected uniformed-services flags. They also may not prohibit a flag from a nation allied with the United States as a major non-NATO ally that was established on May 14, 1948.

Bill:

SB 1184 (Laws 2026, ch. 154); SB 1808 (Laws 2026, ch. 243)

A.R.S.:

§ 33-1808, § 33-1261

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Photo ID to record a document in person; § 12-524 repealed

A person recording a document in person at the county recorder's office or a recording kiosk must now show valid photo identification, unless the document is submitted by an escrow officer or office, a title insurance agent or insurer, a state- or federally chartered bank or credit union, an active State Bar of Arizona member, or a governmental entity. The recorder may not keep a copy of the ID, and the ID details it notes are not a public record. The same law repeals § 12-524, the city-lot adverse-possession limitation.

Bill:

SB 1479 (Laws 2026, ch. 31)

A.R.S.:

§ 11-472, § 11-1133, § 12-524, § 33-420

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Property tax: veterans rated 100% disabled

The primary residence of a veteran whose service-connected disability is rated 100 percent by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is fully exempt from property tax, and a surviving spouse may keep claiming it for the spouse's own primary residence as long as the spouse uses it as a primary residence and does not remarry. The change applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Bill:

HB 2792 (Laws 2026, ch. 2)

A.R.S.:

§ 42-11111

Effective:

In effect since signing on February 12, 2026 (emergency clause)

Fentanyl sales: enhanced sentences start at 100 grams

The amount of fentanyl in a sale that triggers enhanced prison terms drops from 200 grams to 100 grams. A sale of at least 100 grams carries a minimum of 5 years, a presumptive term of 10 years and a maximum of 15 years, or 10, 15 and 20 years for someone previously convicted of a qualifying offense.

Bill:

HB 2132 (Laws 2026, ch. 46)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3408

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Cade's Law: encouraging a minor's suicide is manslaughter

A person who is at least 18 commits manslaughter by intentionally providing advice or encouragement, including through a directed communication, that a minor uses to die by suicide, knowing the minor intends to die by suicide. The act is titled "Cade's Law: If You See Something Say Something."

Bill:

HB 2665 (Laws 2026, ch. 60)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-1103

Effective:

September 12, 2026

New crime: interfering with a religious service

Intentionally blocking or impeding someone's entry to or exit from a place of religious worship, or making a protracted commotion, utterance or display there that disrupts a religious service or activity, is now a class 1 misdemeanor. It becomes a class 6 felony for a repeat offender, when force, threats of force or physical intimidation are used, or when the person acts together with two or more other people to block entry or exit. Peaceful picketing, protesting or other expressive activity, and officials acting within their duties, are excluded.

Bill:

HB 4117 (Laws 2026, ch. 264)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-2925

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Paying for sex is now a felony

Paying, or offering or agreeing to pay, for sexual conduct is a class 6 felony, with a mandatory jail term of at least 15 consecutive days for a first violation, 30 for a second and 60 for a third; a fourth or later violation is a class 4 felony with at least 180 days. The court must also impose a $200 assessment that cannot be waived. Receiving payment remains a class 1 misdemeanor.

Bill:

HB 2720 (Laws 2026, ch. 108)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3214

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Mandatory reporters must report child abuse personally

A mandatory reporter with direct knowledge that a minor is or has been the victim of abuse or neglect must report it immediately to the Department of Child Safety and may not delegate the report to someone else. Employees and agents of health care institutions may still delegate the report when that is reasonably required to continue patient care or meet applicable standards.

Bill:

SB 1127 (Laws 2026, ch. 143)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3620

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Alec and Lydia Act: domestic violence in custody cases

Courts must treat domestic violence, including child abuse, as contrary to a child's best interests and make specific written findings before entering a legal decision-making or parenting-time order. A claim is proved by a preponderance of the evidence, and if a parent is found to have committed domestic violence a mandatory rebuttable presumption applies against awarding that parent legal decision-making or parenting time. The parent cannot receive sole or joint legal decision-making, or unsupervised parenting time, without overcoming the presumption by clear and convincing evidence. The act was passed with an emergency clause.

Bill:

HB 2995 (Laws 2026, ch. 263)

A.R.S.:

§ 25-403.03, § 25-411

Effective:

In effect since signing on June 22, 2026 (emergency clause)

Protective orders and bail in domestic violence cases

After a hearing, a court may require a defendant under an order of protection to give the plaintiff identifying information, including residence, place of employment or vehicle information, if the defendant has a history of harming the plaintiff and not disclosing creates a risk of physical harm. For felony domestic violence charges that resulted in physical harm, a court may also require electronic monitoring or bar contact with the victim as a condition of bail.

Bill:

SB 1723 (Laws 2026, ch. 242)

A.R.S.:

§ 13-3602, § 13-3967

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Name-change applicants must disclose sex-offense convictions

Anyone applying for a legal name change must now state whether they have been convicted in any state of an offense that requires sex offender registration.

Bill:

HB 2223 (Laws 2026, ch. 22)

A.R.S.:

§ 12-601

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Andy Groseta Act: cell-cultured food labels

The manufacturer, packager or retailer of a food product derived from cultivated cells must put a label on the product's packaging that states "cell-cultivated" or "cell-cultured."

Bill:

HB 2762 (Laws 2026, ch. 204)

A.R.S.:

§ 36-917

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Vape and alternative nicotine products: packaging, marketing and ID checks

It is a class 3 misdemeanor to market, advertise or sell an alternative nicotine product in a container that shows a cartoon-like character, imitates a trademark or trade dress aimed at minors, carries a symbol used to market to minors, uses a celebrity's image or name, or is shaped to disguise the product as a school or office supply, smartphone, headphones, clothing, backpack, cosmetic, toy or food or beverage. Sellers must check identification when they have reason to question whether a buyer is under 21. The new licensing requirements for distributors and manufacturers apply from and after December 31, 2027.

Bill:

HB 4001 (Laws 2026, ch. 124)

A.R.S.:

§ 4-403, § 4-404, § 4-401, § 4-402, § 13-3622

Effective:

Packaging and ID rules: September 12, 2026. Licensing (§§ 4-401 and 4-402): from and after December 31, 2027 (January 1, 2028).

Lemon law now covers lessees

Under Arizona's lemon law, a lessee of a motor vehicle who is entitled to enforce the warranty now counts as a consumer, alongside a purchaser.

Bill:

HB 2323 (Laws 2026, ch. 56)

A.R.S.:

§ 44-1261

Effective:

September 12, 2026

Cash rounding to the nearest five cents

If a seller does not have or use one-cent coins, the final total of a cash transaction, after taxes, fees and other charges, must be rounded to the nearest five cents: totals ending in one or two cents round down, three or four round up, six or seven round down, and eight or nine round up. Card, electronic and other non-cash payments are not rounded, and the seller must post a notice.

Bill:

HB 2938 (Laws 2026, ch. 5)

A.R.S.:

§ 44-7952

Effective:

In effect since signing on March 13, 2026 (emergency clause)