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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 bill text does not specify that Arizona can unilaterally withdraw jurisdiction after three years; instead, it mentions a notification process involving both states and the U.S. government.

Military Bases Juvenile Jurisdiction Act

This act allows the U.S. government to have shared authority with Arizona for dealing with young people who break the law on specific military bases in Arizona, subject to approval by the governor.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new section to Arizona's laws that allows the U.S. government to have shared authority with Arizona for dealing with young people who break the law on certain military lands in Arizona.
  • Requires the U.S. government to ask the Governor of Arizona for permission before taking over this shared authority.
  • Specifies which military lands in Arizona are covered by this new rule, including Fort Huachuca, Yuma Proving Ground, Camp Navajo, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Luke Air Force Base, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and Barry M. Goldwater Range.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The U.S. government
  • Arizona's governor
  • Military bases in Arizona

Terms To Know

Concurrent Jurisdiction
When two or more governments have the authority to make and enforce laws over the same area.
Juvenile Delinquency
Behavior by young people that breaks the law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The exact timing of when the U.S. government can take over jurisdiction is not clear.
  • It's unclear what happens if the military lands are no longer owned or controlled by the United States.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-26 House

    House second read

  2. 2026-01-22 House

    House Rules: None

  3. 2026-01-22 House

    House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections: None

  4. 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