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HB2043 • 2026

felony murder; unborn child

HB2043 - felony murder; unborn child

Abortion Children Crime Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Selina Bliss
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Senate committee of the whole
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Felony Murder Law for Unborn Children

This law makes it a first-degree felony murder to cause the death of an unborn child during or after certain serious crimes.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines causing the death of an unborn child as first-degree felony murder if it happens while committing, attempting to commit, or fleeing from specific serious crimes.
  • Includes any stage of development for an unborn child in these definitions.
  • Specifies that a person cannot be prosecuted under this law if they were performing a legal abortion with proper consent.
  • States that medical treatment on the pregnant woman or her unborn child is not covered by this law.
  • Exempts the mother of the unborn child from prosecution.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit certain serious crimes and cause the death of an unborn child during those crimes.
  • Law enforcement agencies that will enforce these laws.
  • Legal professionals involved in prosecuting or defending cases under this law.

Terms To Know

Unborn Child
A developing human from conception until birth, regardless of the stage of development.
Felony Murder
When someone dies during or after a serious crime, even if death was not intended by the person committing the crime.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how it will be enforced or funded.
  • It is unclear what specific impact this law will have on current legal practices and court cases.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Senate committee of the whole

  2. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  3. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  4. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  5. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate second read

  6. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  7. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP

  8. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate first read

  9. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  10. 2026-02-23 House

    House third read passed

  11. 2026-02-05 House

    House committee of the whole

  12. 2026-01-27 House

    House minority caucus

  13. 2026-01-27 House

    House majority caucus

  14. 2026-01-26 House

    House consent calendar

  15. 2026-01-13 House

    House second read

  16. 2026-01-12 House

    House Rules: C&P

  17. 2026-01-12 House

    House Judiciary: DP

  18. 2026-01-12 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2043 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
JUDE������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ FOR
COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2043

felony murder; unborn
child

Purpose

Specifies that
causing the death of an unborn child in the course of, furtherance of or
immediate flight from an offense is considered first degree felony murder.

Background

A person commits
first degree murder if the person, intending or knowing that the person's
conduct will cause death, causes the death of another person, including an
unborn child, with premeditation. A person also commits first degree murder if,
as a result of causing the death of another person with premeditation, the
person also causes the death of an unborn child. Premeditated first degree
murder applies to an unborn child in the womb at any stage of development.

A person commits
first degree felony murder by acting either alone or with one or more other
persons in the commission of specified criminal acts, and while in the course
of and in furtherance of the offense or the immediate flight from the offense,
causes the death of any person.

First degree
murder is classified as a class 1 felony, punishable by death or life
imprisonment (
A.R.S.
� 13-1105
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund
associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Specifies that causing the death of an unborn child in the course of,
furtherance of or immediate flight from an offense is considered first degree
felony murder.

2.

Specifies that first degree felony murder applies to an unborn child in
the womb at any stage of development.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

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Read��������� 2/23/26����������������� 32-25-3

Prepared by Senate Research

March 2, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2043 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

felony murder; unborn
child

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2043

AN
ACT

amending section 13-1105, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to homicide.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 13-1105, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-1105.

First degree murder; classification

A. A person commits first degree murder if:

1. Intending or knowing that the person's conduct
will cause death, the person causes the death of another person, including an
unborn child, with premeditation or, as a result of causing the death of
another person with premeditation, causes the death of an unborn child.

2. Acting either alone or with one or more other
persons the person commits or attempts to commit sexual conduct with a minor
under section 13-1405, sexual assault under section 13-1406,
molestation of a child under section 13-1410, terrorism under section 13-2308.01,
marijuana offenses under section 13-3405, subsection A, paragraph 4,
dangerous drug offenses under section 13-3407, subsection A, paragraphs 4
and 7, narcotics offenses under section 13-3408, subsection A, paragraph
7 that equal or exceed the statutory threshold amount for each offense or
combination of offenses, involving or using minors in drug offenses under
section 13-3409, drive by shooting under section 13-1209, kidnapping
under section 13-1304, burglary under section 13-1506, 13-1507
or 13-1508, arson under section 13-1703 or 13-1704, robbery
under section 13-1902, 13-1903 or 13-1904, escape under
section 13-2503 or 13-2504, child abuse under section 13-3623,
subsection A, paragraph 1 or unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle
under section 28-622.01 and, in the course of and in furtherance of the
offense or immediate flight from the offense, the person or another person
causes the death of any person
, including an unborn child
.

3. Intending or knowing that the person's conduct
will cause death to a law enforcement officer, the person causes the death of a
law enforcement officer who is in the line of duty.

B. Homicide, as prescribed in subsection A,
paragraph 2 of this section, requires no specific mental state other than what
is required for the commission of any of the enumerated felonies.

C. An offense under subsection A, paragraph 1
or 2
of this section applies to an unborn child in the womb at
any stage of its development.� A person shall not be prosecuted under
subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section if any of the following applies:

1. The person was performing an abortion for which
the consent of the pregnant woman, or a person authorized by law to act on the
pregnant woman's behalf, has been obtained or for which the consent was implied
or authorized by law.

2. The person was performing medical treatment on
the pregnant woman or the pregnant woman's unborn child.

3. The person was the unborn child's mother.

D. First degree murder is a class 1 felony and is
punishable by death or life imprisonment as provided by sections 13-751 and 13-752.

END_STATUTE