HB2222 birth certificates; sex designation change

Plain English Breakdown

The bill amends Section 36-337 but does not define what specific rules or forms will be prescribed by the state registrar beyond requiring notarization.

HB2222: Rules for Changing Sex Designation on Birth Certificates

This bill updates Arizona law to allow people born in the state to change their sex designation on birth certificates using a notarized form without needing medical proof.

What This Bill Does

Allows individuals to request an amended birth certificate by submitting a notarized form that certifies their updated sex designation as male, female, undesignated, or other.
Removes the requirement for surgical or medical documentation when using the new sex designation change form.
Keeps existing rules allowing changes based on adoption certificates, court orders, voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, or proof of a sex change operation and chromosomal count.
Requires the state registrar to seal old birth certificates and supporting documents after an amendment is made.

Who It Names or Affects

People born in Arizona who want to change their sex designation on their birth certificate using the new form or existing methods.
The state registrar responsible for issuing and amending vital records.
Adoptive parents, biological mothers, and fathers involved in requests to retain original parent names during adoption.

Terms To Know

State Registrar: The government official who manages the state's system of recording births and deaths.
Notarized Form: A document that has been signed in front of a notary public to prove it is genuine.
Sealed Certificate: An old birth certificate or supporting paper that is locked away and can only be seen with special permission from the court, state rules under sections 36-322 or 36-340.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify an effective date for when these new rules will begin.
Access to sealed documents depends on other existing laws (sections 36-322 and 36-340) or a court order, which are not detailed in this text.

Official Summary Text

HB2222 - birth certificates; sex designation change

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2222 - 572R - I Ver

PREFILED��� JAN 12 2026

REFERENCE TITLE:
birth certificates; sex designation change

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2222

Introduced by

Representatives
Garcia: Sandoval, Simacek

AN
ACT

Amending section 36-337, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to vital records.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 36-337, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
36-337.

Birth certificates; amendment; required documentation;
evidentiary documents; sealing

A. The state registrar shall amend the birth
certificate for a person born in this state when the state registrar receives
any of the following:

1. Except as provided in subsection D of this
section, an adoption certificate or a court order for adoption required
pursuant to section 36-336.

2. A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity pursuant
to section 25-812.

3. For a person who has undergone a
sex change operation or has a chromosomal count that establishes the sex of the
person as different than in the registered birth certificate, both of the
following:

(a) A written request for an amended
birth certificate from the person or, if the person is a child, from the
child's parent or legal guardian.

(b) A written statement by a physician
that verifies the sex change operation or chromosomal count.

3. A sex designation change form as
prescribed by the state registrar that certifies an updated sex designation of
male, female, undesignated or other and any other identifying information as
requested by the state registrar. The form must be notarized and
signed by the individual submitting the form. The state registrar
may not require surgical or medical documentation in association with this
form.

4. A court order ordering an amendment to
a

the
birth certificate.

B. The state registrar shall change the name of the
father on a registered birth certificate if:

1. The state registrar receives an administrative
order or a court order ordering the state registrar to change the father's name
on the registered birth certificate.

2. Paternity is established through a voluntary
acknowledgement of paternity pursuant to section 25-812.

C. If a registered birth certificate does not exist
for a person born in this state who is requesting to amend a birth certificate,
the person making that request shall comply with the requirements established
by rule.

D. The state registrar shall retain the information
on a person's registered birth certificate after the person's adoption if all
of the following documents are submitted to the state registrar:

1. A written request to retain the information
signed by the adoptive parent or a court order containing a request to retain
the information on the registered birth certificate.

2. A written statement agreeing to retain the
mother's name on the person's registered birth certificate, signed by the
mother, or if the mother is deceased, a certified copy of a registered death
certificate for the mother.

3. If there is a father's name stated on the
registered birth certificate, a written statement agreeing to retain the
father's name on the person's registered birth certificate, signed by the
father, or if the father is deceased, a certified copy of a registered death
certificate for the father.�

E. If the state registrar amends a registered birth
certificate following adoption, the birth certificate shall state the city or
county of birth stated on the existing registered birth certificate and the
date of birth stated on the existing registered birth certificate.� The state
registrar may omit the exact location of birth on the registered birth
certificate.

F. If a local registrar or deputy local registrar
amends a registered birth certificate, the local registrar or deputy local
registrar shall forward all evidentiary documents provided to create the new
birth certificate to the state registrar.

G. If the state registrar amends a registered birth
certificate, the state registrar shall seal the previously registered birth
certificate and the evidentiary documents provided to amend the registered
birth certificate. The state registrar shall provide access to a
sealed certificate or evidentiary documents only pursuant to section 36-322
or 36-340 or a court order issued in this state or as prescribed by rule.

H. If the state registrar receives a court order
annulling an adoption, the state registrar shall unseal the sealed registered
birth certificate and shall seal the new birth certificate and evidentiary
documents.
END_STATUTE