HB2853 • 2026

military bases; juvenile delinquency; jurisdiction

HB2853 - military bases; juvenile delinquency; jurisdiction

Children

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Walt Blackman
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: House second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not specify an effective date; it states jurisdiction vests upon completion of conditions (submission and approval).

HB2853: Shared Power Over Juvenile Cases on Military Bases

This law gives the United States shared legal authority with Arizona to handle juvenile delinquency cases that happen on seven specific military bases.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new section (37-620.04) to state laws about jurisdiction over military lands.
Gives the U.S. government shared power to prosecute juveniles for crimes committed on listed military properties, while Arizona keeps its own authority.
Requires the United States to submit a written request and legal maps before this shared power begins.
Allows Arizona to take back its share of jurisdiction three years after notifying the Secretary of Defense in writing.
States that this law only applies as long as the U.S. owns or controls the land.

Who It Names or Affects

Juveniles who commit crimes on specific military bases in Arizona
The United States government and its Department of Defense agencies
Arizona state courts and prosecutors handling juvenile cases
Seven named military installations: Fort Huachuca, Yuma Proving Ground, Camp Navajo Army Base, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and Barry M. Goldwater Range

Terms To Know

Concurrent jurisdiction: A situation where both the state of Arizona and the United States government have legal power to handle a case.
Juvenile delinquency: Crimes or illegal acts committed by people who are under 18 years old, as defined in this context for military lands.
Plat: A detailed map that shows the exact boundaries and location of a piece of land.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not change jurisdiction for any part of these bases that is not owned or controlled by the United States.
Shared power only starts after the U.S. submits a request, legal description, and map to the governor.

Bill History

2026-01-26 House
House second read
2026-01-22 House
House Rules: None
2026-01-22 House
House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections: None
2026-01-22 House
House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2853 - military bases; juvenile delinquency; jurisdiction

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2853 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
military bases; juvenile delinquency; jurisdiction

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2853

Introduced by

Representative
Blackman

AN
ACT

Amending title 37, chapter 2, article 17,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 37-620.04; RELATING to Concurrent
Jurisdiction With the United States.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 37, chapter 2, article 17,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 37-620.04, to read:

START_STATUTE
37-620.04.

Vesting of concurrent juvenile delinquency jurisdiction in the
United States over certain military lands

A. Concurrent Juvenile delinquency
jurisdiction over any lands in this state heretofore reserved from public
domain or acquired by the United States as identified in subsection D of this
section, and any additions made to such lands, is hereby vested in the United
States on completion of the conditions set forth in subsection B of this
section, except that the jurisdiction of this state over such lands shall
continue.

B. Concurrent Juvenile delinquency
jurisdiction vests as to the lands in each area identified in subsection D of
this section when the United States submits to the governor of this state a
formal written request for concurrent juvenile delinquency jurisdiction
accompanied by a satisfactory legal description and plat of the area, and on
approval by the governor granting concurrent jurisdiction the legal description
and plat shall be filed by the governor with the county recorder of each county
in which the land is situated.� This state may withdraw jurisdiction over any
land or area three years after written notification by the governor to the
United States secretary of defense.

C. The concurrent Juvenile
delinquency jurisdiction hereby vested continues only as long as the United
States continues to own or control the lands within those areas.� In the case
of any lands included within the boundaries of the areas set forth in
subsection D of this section that are not owned or controlled by the United
States, the jurisdiction does not change by operation of this section.

D. The lands subject to this section
are all those lands that are owned or controlled by the United States and that
are now or hereafter included within the exterior boundaries of Lands
administered by the United States department of defense, or its successor land
management agency, consisting of:

1. tHE fORT HUACHUCA ARMY BASE.

2. tHE yUMA PROVING GROUND.

3. tHE CAMP nAVAJO ARMY BASE.

4. The Marine corps air station Yuma.

5. The luke air force base,

6. The Davis-Monthan air force
base.

7. The barry M. Goldwater range.
END_STATUTE