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HB2131 • 2026

trafficking weapons or explosives

HB2131 - trafficking weapons or explosives

Firearms
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Quang H Nguyen
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Chapter 21
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on updates to other parts of the law related to weapons and explosives, nor does it mention changes in the definition of trafficking that do not require financial gain or multiple items.

HB2131 - Trafficking Weapons or Explosives

This law makes it illegal for someone convicted of trafficking three or more weapons or explosives to be eligible for sentence suspension, probation, pardon, or release until the full sentence is served.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits a person who is convicted of trafficking three or more weapons or explosives in one offense or multiple offenses consolidated into one trial from being eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon, or release on any basis until the sentence is served.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are convicted of trafficking weapons or explosives.
  • The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

Terms To Know

trafficking
Buying, selling, transporting, or moving weapons or explosives illegally.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact date it will take effect.
  • It only affects people convicted after the effective date of the new law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Governor signed

  2. 2026-04-01 House

    Transmitted to House

  3. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  5. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  6. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  7. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate second read

  8. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  9. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP

  10. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate first read

  11. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  12. 2026-02-10 House

    House third read passed

  13. 2026-02-04 House

    House committee of the whole

  14. 2026-01-27 House

    House minority caucus

  15. 2026-01-27 House

    House majority caucus

  16. 2026-01-26 House

    House consent calendar

  17. 2026-01-13 House

    House second read

  18. 2026-01-12 House

    House Rules: C&P

  19. 2026-01-12 House

    House Judiciary: DP

  20. 2026-01-12 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2131 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2131

trafficking weapons
or explosives

Purpose

Prohibits a
person who is convicted of trafficking three or more weapons or explosives in
one or multiple offenses from being eligible for suspension of sentence,
probation, pardon or release on any basis until the sentence is served.

Background

A person commits

misconduct involving weapons
by knowingly engaging in various illegal
acts involving weapons, including discharging a firearm at an occupied
structure in furtherance of gang activity, defacing a deadly weapon, possessing
a deadly weapon on a premises where such possession is prohibited, and
trafficking in weapons or explosives for financial gain in order to assist,
promote or further the interests of a criminal street gang, a criminal
syndicate or a racketeering enterprise.
Misconduct involving weapons
involving
the trafficking of weapons or explosives is classified as a class 3 felony (
A.R.S.
� 13-3102
). A class 3 felony carries a presumptive sentence of 3.5 years
for first time offenders and a fine of not more than $150,000 (A.R.S. ��
13-702

and
13-801
).

The Director of
the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry may authorize
the temporary removal of a prisoner from custody for outlined reasons,
including:

1) work release; 2) medical research; 3) compassionate leave; 4) preparatory
community reentry purposes; and 5) for disaster aid (
A.R.S.
� 31-233
).

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

Provisions

1.

Prohibits a person who is convicted of a completed or preparatory
offense involving trafficking a weapon or an explosive from being eligible for
suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any
basis, except as specifically authorized, if the offense involved three of more
weapons or explosives in one offense or all offenses that are consolidated for
trial.

2.

Specifies
that, in order to commit trafficking a weapon or explosive, a person:

a)

does not need to engage in trafficking the weapon or explosive for
financial gain; and

b)

only
needs to engage in trafficking of a single weapon or explosive, rather than
multiple.

3.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

4.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Senate Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

February 26, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Chapter 0021 - 572R - H Ver of HB2131

House Engrossed

trafficking weapons
or explosives

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

CHAPTER 21

HOUSE BILL 2131

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-3102, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-3102, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-3102.

Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification;
definitions

A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by
knowingly:

1. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife
concealed on his person or within his immediate control in or on a means of
transportation:

(a) In the furtherance of a serious offense as
defined in section 13-706, a violent crime as defined in section 13-901.03
or any other felony offense; or

(b) When contacted by a law enforcement officer and
failing to accurately answer the officer if the officer asks whether the person
is carrying a concealed deadly weapon; or

2. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife
concealed on his person or concealed within his immediate control in or on a
means of transportation if the person is under twenty-one years of age; or

3. Manufacturing, possessing, transporting, selling
or transferring a prohibited weapon, except that if the violation involves dry
ice, a person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly possessing the
dry ice with the intent to cause injury to or death of another person or to
cause damage to the property of another person; or

4. Possessing a deadly weapon or prohibited weapon
if such person is a prohibited possessor; or

5. Selling or transferring a deadly weapon to a
prohibited possessor; or

6. Defacing a deadly weapon; or

7. Possessing a defaced deadly weapon knowing the
deadly weapon was defaced; or

8. Using or possessing a deadly weapon during the
commission of any felony offense included in chapter 34 of this title; or

9. Discharging a firearm at an occupied structure in
order to assist, promote or further the interests of a criminal street gang, a
criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise; or

10. Unless specifically authorized by law, entering
any public establishment or attending any public event and carrying a deadly
weapon on his person after a reasonable request by the operator of the
establishment or the sponsor of the event or the sponsor's agent to remove his
weapon and place it in the custody of the operator of the establishment or the
sponsor of the event for temporary and secure storage of the weapon

pursuant to section 13-3102.01; or

11. Unless specifically authorized by law, entering
an election polling place on the day of any election carrying a deadly weapon;
or

12. Possessing a deadly weapon on school grounds; or

13. Unless specifically authorized by law, entering
a nuclear or hydroelectric generating station carrying a deadly weapon on his
person or within the immediate control of any person; or

14. Supplying, selling or giving possession or
control of a firearm to another person if the person knows or has reason to
know that the other person would use the firearm in the commission of any
felony; or

15. Using, possessing or exercising control over a
deadly weapon in furtherance of any act of terrorism as defined in section 13-2301
or possessing or exercising control over a deadly weapon knowing or having
reason to know that it will be used to facilitate any act of terrorism as
defined in section 13-2301; or

16. Trafficking
in weapons

a weapon
or
explosives for financial gain

explosive
in order to assist, promote or further the interests
of a criminal street gang, a criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise.

B. Subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section shall
not apply to:

1. A person in his dwelling, on his business
premises or on real property owned or leased by that person or that person's
parent, grandparent or legal guardian.

2. A member of the sheriff's volunteer posse or
reserve organization who has received and passed firearms training that is
approved by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board and who is
authorized by the sheriff to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to section 11-441.

3. A firearm that is carried in:

(a) A manner where any portion of the firearm or
holster in which the firearm is carried is visible.

(b) A holster that is wholly or partially visible.

(c) A scabbard or case designed for carrying weapons
that is wholly or partially visible.

(d) Luggage.

(e) A case, holster, scabbard, pack or luggage that
is carried within a means of transportation or within a storage compartment,
map pocket, trunk or glove compartment of a means of transportation.

C. Subsection A, paragraphs 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 12 and
13 of this section shall not apply to:

1. A peace officer or any person summoned by any
peace officer to assist and while actually assisting in the performance of
official duties; or

2. A member of the military forces of the United
States or of any state of the United States in the performance of official
duties; or

3. A warden, deputy warden, community correctional
officer, detention officer, special investigator or correctional officer of the
state department of corrections or the department of juvenile corrections; or

4. A person specifically licensed, authorized or
permitted pursuant to a statute of this state or of the United States.

D. Subsection A, paragraph 10 of this section does
not apply to an elected or appointed judicial officer in the court facility
where the judicial officer works if the judicial officer has demonstrated
competence with a firearm as prescribed in section 13-3112, subsection N,
except that the judicial officer shall comply with any rule or policy adopted
by the presiding judge of the superior court while in the court
facility. For the purposes of this subsection, appointed judicial
officer does not include a hearing officer or a judicial officer pro tempore
who is not a full-time officer.

E. Subsection A, paragraphs 3 and 7 of this section
shall not apply to:

1. The possessing, transporting, selling or
transferring of weapons by a museum as a part of its collection or an
educational institution for educational purposes or by an authorized employee
of such museum or institution, if:

(a) Such museum or institution is operated by the
United States or this state or a political subdivision of this state, or by an
organization described in 26 United States Code section 170(c) as a recipient
of a charitable contribution; and

(b) Reasonable precautions are taken with respect to
theft or misuse of such material.

2. The regular and lawful transporting as
merchandise; or

3. Acquisition by a person by operation of law such
as by gift, devise or descent or in a fiduciary capacity as a recipient of the
property or former property of an insolvent, incapacitated or deceased person.

F. Subsection A, paragraph 3 of this section shall
not apply to the merchandise of an authorized manufacturer of or dealer in
prohibited weapons, when such material is intended to be manufactured,
possessed, transported, sold or transferred solely for or to a dealer, a
regularly constituted or appointed state, county or municipal police department
or police officer, a detention facility, the military service of this or
another state or the United States, a museum or educational institution or a
person specifically licensed or permitted pursuant to federal or state law.

G. Subsection A, paragraph 10 of this section shall
not apply to shooting ranges or shooting events, hunting areas or similar
locations or activities.

H. Subsection A, paragraph 12 of this section shall
not apply to a weapon if
such
the

weapon is possessed for the purposes of preparing for, conducting or
participating in hunter or firearm safety courses.

I. Subsection A, paragraph 12 of this section shall
not apply to the possession of a:

1. Firearm that is not loaded and that is carried
within a means of transportation under the control of an adult provided that if
the adult leaves the means of transportation the firearm shall not be visible
from the outside of the means of transportation and the means of transportation
shall be locked.

2. Firearm for use on the school grounds in a
program approved by a school.

3. Firearm by a person who possesses a certificate
of firearms proficiency pursuant to section 13-3112, subsection T and who
is authorized to carry a concealed firearm pursuant to the law enforcement
officers safety act of 2004 (P.L. 108-277; 118 Stat. 865; 18 United
States Code sections 926B and 926C).

J. Subsection A, paragraphs 2, 3, 7 and 13 of this
section shall not apply to commercial nuclear generating station armed nuclear
security guards during the performance of official duties or during any
security training exercises sponsored by the commercial nuclear generating
station or local, state or federal authorities.

K. The operator of the establishment or the sponsor
of the event or the employee of the operator or sponsor or the agent of the
sponsor, including a public entity or public employee, is not liable for acts
or omissions pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 10 of this section unless the
operator, sponsor, employee or agent intended to cause injury or was grossly
negligent.

L. If a law enforcement officer contacts a person
who is in possession of a firearm, the law enforcement officer may take
temporary custody of the firearm for the duration of that contact.

M. Misconduct involving weapons under subsection A,
paragraph 15 of this section is a class 2 felony. Misconduct
involving weapons under subsection A, paragraph 9, 14 or 16 of this section is
a class 3 felony. Misconduct involving weapons under subsection A, paragraph 3,
4, 8 or 13 of this section is a class 4 felony.� Misconduct involving weapons
under subsection A, paragraph 12 of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor
unless the violation occurs in connection with conduct that violates section 13-2308,
subsection A, paragraph 5, section 13-2312, subsection C, section 13-3409
or section 13-3411, in which case the offense is a class 6 felony.�
Misconduct involving weapons under subsection A, paragraph 1, subdivision (a)
of this section or subsection A, paragraph 5, 6 or 7 of this section is a class
6 felony.� Misconduct involving weapons under subsection A, paragraph 1,
subdivision (b) of this section or subsection A, paragraph 10 or 11 of this
section is a class 1 misdemeanor.� Misconduct involving weapons under
subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 3 misdemeanor.

N. A person who is convicted of a
violation of subsection a, paragraph 16 of this section, whether completed or
preparatory, involving three or more weapons or explosives in one offense or
all offenses that are consolidated for trial is not eligible for suspension of
sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as
specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence
imposed by the court has been served.

N.

O.
For
the purposes of this section:

1. "Contacted by a law enforcement
officer" means a lawful traffic or criminal investigation, arrest or
detention or an investigatory stop by a law enforcement officer that is based
on reasonable suspicion that an offense has been or is about to be committed.

2. "Public establishment" means a
structure, vehicle or craft that is owned, leased or operated by this state or
a political subdivision of this state.

3. "Public event" means a specifically
named or sponsored event of limited duration that is either conducted by a
public entity or conducted by a private entity with a permit or license granted
by a public entity.� Public event does not include an unsponsored gathering of
people in a public place.

4. "School" means a public or nonpublic
kindergarten program, common school or high school.

5. "School grounds" means in, or on the
grounds of, a school.
END_STATUTE

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR APRIL 7, 2026.

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE APRIL 07, 2026.