medical records; medical facility; access

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB2879: Rules for Sharing Medical Records with Immigration Officials

This law stops health care providers from giving medical records or access to private areas of a facility for immigration enforcement unless specific legal conditions are met.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new rule that limits when doctors and hospitals can share patient information with immigration officials.
• Requires written permission from the patient before any records can be released for this purpose.
• Allows release only if health care providers receive a valid search warrant signed by a neutral magistrate of competent jurisdiction.
• Permits sharing of records if a specific type of legal order called a subpoena is served under section 12-2294.01.

Who It Names or Affects

• Health care providers in Arizona
• Patients whose medical records are requested for immigration enforcement

Terms To Know

Immigration enforcement

All efforts to investigate, enforce or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal civil or criminal immigration law.

Neutral magistrate

A judge with competent jurisdiction who signs a valid search warrant.

Limits and Unknowns

• The text does not state when this law will officially take effect.
• The bill only covers records requested for immigration enforcement, not other types of government requests.

Official Summary Text

HB2879 - medical records; medical facility; access

Current Bill Text

HB2879 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
medical records; medical facility; access

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2879

Introduced by

Representatives
Sandoval: Tsosie

AN
ACT

Amending title 12, chapter 13, article
7.1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 12-2294.02; relating to
Medical records.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 12, chapter 13, article 7.1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 12-2294.02, to read:

START_STATUTE
12-2294.02.

Release of medical records for immigration enforcement;
definition

A. Notwithstanding any other law, a
health care provider may not provide medical records or access to the nonpublic
areas of a medical facility for the purposes of immigration enforcement unless
one of the following applies:

1. The patient authorizes the release
in writing.

2. The health care provider is
presented with a valid search warrant that includes the signature of a neutral
magistrate of competent jurisdiction.

3. The health care provider is served
with a subpoena pursuant to section 12-2294.01.

B. For the purposes of this section,
"immigration enforcement" means all efforts to investigate, enforce
or assist in the investigation or enforcement of any federal civil or criminal
immigration law, including any federal criminal immigration law that penalizes
a person's presence, employment, entry or reentry in the United States.
END_STATUTE