medical records; medical facility; access

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Medical Records Access for Immigration Enforcement

This bill restricts health care providers from releasing medical records to immigration enforcement agencies without patient consent, a valid search warrant, or a specific subpoena.

What This Bill Does

• Health care providers cannot give out medical records or let immigration officers into nonpublic areas of a medical facility unless the patient gives written permission.
• If a provider is given a valid search warrant signed by an independent judge, they may release medical records for immigration purposes.
• Providers can also release records if served with a subpoena under specific Arizona law.

Who It Names or Affects

• Health care providers
• Patients seeking medical treatment
• Immigration enforcement agencies

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.

search warrant

A legal document signed by a judge that allows law enforcement to search for specific items or evidence in a location.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a provider violates the rules.
• It is unclear how this will affect existing federal laws on medical record access.

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