sentencing enhancements; vulnerable adults

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact conditions under which early release might still be allowed.

Sentencing Enhancements for Offenses Against Vulnerable Adults

HB2495 increases the sentences and limits early release options for people convicted of certain felonies if the victim is a vulnerable adult.

What This Bill Does

• Increases the presumptive, minimum, and maximum sentences by three years for class 4, 5, or 6 felonies, and five years for class 2 or 3 felonies, if the victim is a vulnerable adult.
• Mandates that people convicted of these offenses are ineligible for most forms of early release until their full sentence is served, except under specific conditions.
• Requires any additional sentence given because the victim was a vulnerable adult to be added to other possible sentences.

Who It Names or Affects

• People convicted of felonies against vulnerable adults
• Judges who will impose these enhanced sentences

Terms To Know

Vulnerable Adult

An adult, 18 years or older, who cannot protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation due to a mental or physical impairment.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact conditions under which early release might still be allowed.
• It is unclear how this will affect existing sentencing guidelines and practices for vulnerable adult victims.

Official Summary Text

HB2495 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House:
JUD DP 8-0-1-0

HB
2495
: sentencing enhancements; vulnerable adults

Sponsor:
Representative Way, LD 15

House
Engrossed

Overview

Establishes
enhanced sentencing guidelines for serious felony offenses if the victim of the
offense is a vulnerable adult.

History

Statute defines
vulnerable adult
to mean an individual
who is 18 years of age or older and who is unable to protect himself from
abuse, neglect or exploitation by others because of a mental or physical
impairment (
A.R.S. �
13-3623
).

Provisions

1.

Increases
the presumptive, minimum and maximum sentences for homicide, assault,
kidnapping, sexual offenses, criminal trespass and burglary, criminal damage to
property, arson, theft, robbery, forgery, credit card fraud, organized crime,
terrorism or family offenses such as domestic violence or abuse, by three years
if the offense is a class 4, 5 or 6 felony or 5 years if the offense is a class
2 or class 3 felony, if the victim is a vulnerable adult. (Sec. 1)

2.

Mandates that
any person convicted of one of the aforementioned offenses is ineligible for most
forms of early release if the victim is a vulnerable adult. (Sec. 1)

3.

Requires
that any additional sentence imposed due to the victim being a vulnerable adult
must be in addition to any other enhancement of sentence that may be applicable.
(Sec. 1)

4.

5.

6.

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2495

8.

02/25/2026����������� Page
0 House Engrossed

9.

10.

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Current Bill Text

HB2495 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

sentencing
enhancements; vulnerable adults

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2495

AN
ACT

Amending title 13, chapter 7, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-722; relating to sentencing.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 13, chapter 7, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-722, to read:

START_STATUTE
13-722.

Special sentencing provisions; offenses committed against
vulnerable adult

A person who is at least eighteen years of age
or who has been tried as an adult, who is convicted of any felony OFFENSE under
CHAPTER 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23 OR 36 OF THIS TITLE AND
who knows or has reason to know that the victim of the offense is a vulnerable
adult as defined in section 13-3623 shall not be eligible for suspension
of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except
as authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence
imposed by the court has been served, the person is eligible for release
pursuant to section 41-1604.07 or the sentence is
commuted. The presumptive, minimum and maximum sentence for the
offense shall be increased by three years if the offense is a class 4, 5 or 6
felony or shall be increased by five years if the offense is a class 2 or 3
felony.� The additional sentence imposed pursuant to this section is in
addition to any enhanced sentence that may be applicable.
END_STATUTE