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HB2167 • 2026
attorney general; nuisance action; damages
HB2167 - attorney general; nuisance action; damages
Vetoed
The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.
- Sponsor
- Lupe Diaz
- Last action
- 2026-04-13
- Official status
- Governor vetoed
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
Attorney General; Damages for Unjust Nuisance or Consumer Fraud Actions
This bill establishes rules that make the attorney general liable for damages and penalties if they file a public nuisance action or consumer fraud case that is dismissed by court or found to have no merit, under certain conditions.
What This Bill Does
- Adds new section 41-197 in Arizona Revised Statutes to set rules for when the attorney general must pay damages and penalties.
- Requires the attorney general to pay damages if a public nuisance action or consumer fraud case is dismissed by court or found not to have merit, under certain conditions.
- Specifies that damages include reasonable legal fees and costs of litigation.
- Sets a civil penalty three times the amount of any damages suffered by the defendant as a result of an unjust action.
Who It Names or Affects
- The Attorney General
- People or businesses injured by public nuisance actions or consumer fraud cases filed by the attorney general
Terms To Know
- Public Nuisance Action
- A legal case brought to stop something that harms the community.
- Consumer Fraud Action
- A legal case against someone who tricks or deceives consumers.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill was vetoed by the governor on April 13, 2026.
- It is unclear if lawmakers will override the governor's veto.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: GG
2/20/2026
(602) 926-3848
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION
57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session
Majority Research Staff
HB 2167: attorney general; nuisance action; damages
DIAZ FLOOR AMENDMENT
Extends the imposed liability on the Attorney General for damages resulting from
public nuisance actions to include damages resulting from consumer fraud actions,
subject to the same conditions.
- GG
2/20/2026
(602) 926-3848
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION
57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session
Majority Research Staff
HB 2167: attorney general; nuisance action; damages
DIAZ FLOOR AMENDMENT
Extends the imposed liability on the Attorney General for damages resulting from
public nuisance actions to include damages resulting from consumer fraud actions,
subject to the same conditions.
- Fifty-seventh Legislature Diaz
Second Regular Session H.B.
- 2167
DIAZ FLOOR AMENDMENT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
- 2167
(Reference to printed bill)
The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1
Section 1.
- This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
Bill History
-
2026-04-09
V
Governor vetoed
-
2026-04-08
House
Transmitted to House
-
2026-04-08
Senate
Senate third read passed
-
2026-04-08
Senate
Senate committee of the whole
-
2026-03-17
Senate
Senate minority caucus
-
2026-03-17
Senate
Senate majority caucus
-
2026-03-03
Senate
Senate second read
-
2026-03-02
Senate
Senate Rules: PFC
-
2026-03-02
Senate
Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP
-
2026-03-02
Senate
Senate first read
-
2026-02-24
Senate
Transmitted to Senate
-
2026-02-24
House
House third read passed
-
2026-02-23
House
House committee of the whole
-
2026-02-10
House
House minority caucus
-
2026-02-10
House
House majority caucus
-
2026-02-09
House
House consent calendar
-
2026-01-14
House
House second read
-
2026-01-13
House
House Rules: C&P
-
2026-01-13
House
House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs: DP
-
2026-01-13
House
House Judiciary: W/D
-
2026-01-13
House
House first read
Official Summary Text
HB2167 - attorney general; nuisance action; damages
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB2167 - 572R - H Ver
House Engrossed
attorney general;
nuisance action; damages
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HOUSE BILL 2167
AN
ACT
amending title 41, chapter 1, article 5,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-197; relating to the
attorney general.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section
1.
1.
Title 41, chapter 1, article 5, Arizona Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding section 41-197, to read:
START_STATUTE
41-197.
Nuisance actions; consumer fraud actions; damages; civil penalty
A. If the attorney general files a
public nuisance action
or a consumer fraud action, the
attorney general is liable for damages to any person who is injured by the
action if both of the following apply:
1. The nuisance action
or consumer fraud action is either:
(
a
) Dismissed
by the court.
(
b
) Found to
not have merit.
2. The attorney general either:
(
a
) Knew or
should have known that the nuisance action
or consumer
fraud action lacked a sufficient legal or factual basis.
(
b
) publicized
the filing of the nuisance action
or consumer fraud
action.
B. Damages that are awarded under
this section shall include reasonable attorney fees and the costs of the
litigation.� The attorney general shall pay a civil penalty that is three times
the amount of any damages that the defendant has suffered as a result of the
nuisance action
or consumer fraud action.� If the
defendant is a business, the damages may include lost sales and business, lost
profits and loss in value of the business.
C. The attorney general shall pay any
damages and civil penalty awarded under this section from monies in the
attorney general's general operating fund.
END_STATUTE