HB2347 • 2026

reasonable assistance; emergencies; Good Samaritans

HB2347 - reasonable assistance; emergencies; Good Samaritans

Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Stephanie Simacek, Anna Abeytia, Cesar Aguilar, Seth Blattman, Junelle Cavero, Patty Contreras, Brian Garcia, Nancy Gutierrez, Sarah Liguori, Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, Betty J Villegas, Kevin Volk
Last action: 2026-01-20
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not explicitly mention the impact on investigations or prosecutions for crimes unrelated to drug possession or use.

Helping in Emergencies Without Fear of Punishment

This bill amends Arizona's laws to protect people who seek medical help for someone experiencing a drug overdose from being charged with possession or use of drugs or paraphernalia.

What This Bill Does

It requires individuals at the scene of an emergency involving a drug-related overdose to provide reasonable assistance if it can be done safely without danger or peril to themselves or others.
A person who seeks medical help for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose in good faith cannot be charged with possession, use, or preparatory offenses related to controlled substances or paraphernalia if the evidence was gained as a result of seeking such assistance.
Individuals who need medical help due to an overdose and have it sought for them may not face charges for possession or use of drugs or paraphernalia if the evidence was obtained because of their need for medical assistance.
Seeking medical assistance can be used as a mitigating factor in criminal prosecutions.

Who It Names or Affects

People at the scene of emergencies involving drug-related overdoses
Individuals who seek or receive medical help due to a drug overdose

Terms To Know

Good Samaritan: A person who helps someone in an emergency situation.
Reasonable assistance: Help that can be given safely without putting oneself or others at risk.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not affect the admissibility of evidence or the ability to seize contraband or make arrests for crimes unrelated to seeking medical help.
It also doesn't prevent individuals from being offered diversion programs for offenses other than drug possession or use.

Bill History

2026-01-20 House
House second read
2026-01-15 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-15 House
House Judiciary: None
2026-01-15 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2347 - reasonable assistance; emergencies; Good Samaritans

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2347 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
reasonable assistance; emergencies; Good Samaritans

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2347

Introduced by

Representatives
Simacek: Abeytia, Aguilar, Blattman, Cavero, Contreras P, Garcia, Gutierrez,
Liguori, Stahl Hamilton, Villegas, Volk

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-3423, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO DRUG OFFENSES.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-3423, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-3423.

Good Samaritans; emergency assistance; medical assistance
requests; prohibited prosecution; mitigating factor; classification;
definitions

A. A person who is at the scene of an
emergency and who knows that another person is experiencing a drug-related
overdose, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to
self or others, shall give reasonable assistance to the drug-exposed
person. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a petty
offense.

A.

B.
A
person who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for someone
experiencing a drug-related overdose may not be charged or prosecuted for the
possession or use of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia or a
preparatory offense if the evidence for the violation was gained as a result of
the person's seeking medical assistance.

B.
c.
A
person who experiences a drug-related overdose, who is in need of medical
assistance and for whom medical assistance is sought pursuant to subsection
A
B
of this section may not be
charged or prosecuted for the possession or use of a controlled substance or
drug paraphernalia if the evidence for the violation was gained as a result of
the person's overdose and need for medical assistance.

C.

D.
The
act of seeking medical assistance for someone who is experiencing a
drug-related overdose may be used as a mitigating factor in a criminal
prosecution for a violation of this chapter.

D.

E.
This
section does not limit either:

1. The admissibility of any evidence in connection
with the investigation or prosecution of a crime with regard to a defendant who
does not qualify under subsection
A or
B
or
C
of this section or with regard to any other crime.

2. The ability to seize contraband or make an arrest
for any other offense.

E.
F.
This
section does not prohibit a person specified in subsection
A or

B
or C
of this section from being offered a diversion
program for an offense other than the possession or use of a controlled
substance or drug paraphernalia or a preparatory offense.

F.

G.
For
the purposes of this section:

1. "Medical assistance" means aid provided
by a health care professional who is licensed, registered or certified in this
state, who is acting within the health care professional's scope of practice
and who provides a diagnosis, treatment or other medical service.

2. "Reasonable assistance"
includes obtaining or attempting to obtain aid from law enforcement or medical
personnel.

2.

3.
"Seeks
medical assistance" means to call 911 or otherwise contact law
enforcement, poison control or a hospital emergency department.
END_STATUTE