places of worship; unlawful imprisonment

HB2677 - places of worship; unlawful imprisonment

Crime Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Alma Hernandez, Leo Biasiucci, Lupe Contreras, Patty Contreras, Lupe Diaz, Matt Gress, Gail Griffin, Consuelo Hernandez, Lydia Hernandez, Elda Luna-Nájera, Teresa Martinez, Michele Peña, Mae Peshlakai, Tony Rivero, Myron Tsosie, Kevin Volk, Julie Willoughby, Justin Wilmeth, Hildy Angius, Eva Diaz, Sally Ann Gonzales, David Gowan, Kevin Payne
Last action: 2026-01-21
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not provided in the source material.

HB2677: New Rules for Unlawful Imprisonment at Places of Worship

This bill makes it a crime for adults to intentionally block people from entering or leaving places of worship using force, threats, or physical barriers.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new type of unlawful imprisonment where an adult over age eighteen blocks someone trying to enter or leave a place of worship.
Defines this act as physically blocking, detaining, or hindering passage by force or threat of force against people intending religious activities.
Keeps the existing rule that knowingly restraining another person is also unlawful imprisonment.
Requires courts to consider specific serious factors when sentencing if the offense involving a place of worship becomes a felony.
Updates legal definitions for 'detention officer' and refers to another law section for the definition of 'place of worship'.

Who It Names or Affects

People aged eighteen or older who block others from entering or exiting religious buildings using force or threats.
Individuals intending to engage in religious activities at places of worship.
Courts that must apply specific sentencing rules for these offenses.

Terms To Know

Place of worship: A location defined by another state law section (13-1422).
Detention officer: An employee of a city, town, or county who supervises inmates in correctional institutions but is not an elected official.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not state the exact date it will become effective law.
The specific sentencing factors mentioned are located in a separate statute (section 13-701) and are not listed here.
The full definition of 'place of worship' is found in another section of the code.

Bill History

2026-01-21 House
House second read
2026-01-20 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-20 House
House Government: None
2026-01-20 House
House Public Safety & Law Enforcement: W/D
2026-01-20 House
House Judiciary: W/D
2026-01-20 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2677 - places of worship; unlawful imprisonment

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2677 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
places of worship; unlawful imprisonment

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2677

Introduced by

Representatives
Hernandez A: Biasiucci, Contreras L, Contreras P, Diaz, Gress, Griffin,
Hernandez C, Hernandez L, Luna-N�jera, Martinez, Pe�a, Peshlakai, Rivero,
Tsosie, Volk, Willoughby, Wilmeth;� Senators Angius, Diaz, Gonzales, Gowan,
Payne

AN
ACT

amending section 13-1303, Arizona Revised
Statutes; relating to unlawful imprisonment.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-1303, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-1303.

Unlawful imprisonment; classification; definitions

A. A person commits unlawful imprisonment by
either:

1.
Knowingly restraining

another person.

2. If the person is at least eighteen
years of age, Intentionally preventing another person who intends to engage in
religious activities from entering or exiting a place of worship by physically
blocking or detaining the other person or by obstructing, impeding or hindering
the other person's passage by force or threat of force.

B. In any prosecution for unlawful imprisonment, it
is a defense that:

1. The restraint was accomplished by a peace officer
or detention officer acting in good faith in the lawful performance of his
duty; or

2. The defendant is a relative of the person
restrained and the defendant's sole intent is to assume lawful custody of that
person and the restraint was accomplished without physical injury.

C. For the purpose of determining the
sentence for a violation of subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, if the
offense is a felony the trier of fact shall determine and the court shall
consider the aggravating circumstance under section 13-701, subsection D,
paragraph 26.

C.

D.
Unlawful
imprisonment is a class 6 felony unless the victim is released voluntarily by
the defendant without physical injury in a safe place before arrest in which
case it is a class 1 misdemeanor.

D.

E.
For
the purposes of this section
:
,

1.
"Detention
officer" means a person other than an elected official who is employed by
a county, city or town and who is responsible for the supervision, protection,
care, custody or control of inmates in a county or municipal correctional
institution.� Detention officer does not include counselors or secretarial,
clerical or professionally trained personnel.

2. "Place of worship" has
the same meaning prescribed in section 13-1422.

END_STATUTE