obstructing criminal investigations; homeowner exemption

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers, but no effective date is listed in the provided text.

HB2922: Obstructing Criminal Investigations and Homeowner Exemption

This bill defines obstructing criminal investigations as a felony but creates an exception for homeowners who refuse to open their doors to police officers.

What This Bill Does

• Defines obstruction as using bribery, lies, threats, or force to stop someone from sharing information about a crime with law enforcement officials.
• Classifies injuring someone because they gave testimony or information about a crime as an act of obstruction.
• Sets the penalty for these acts at a class 5 felony.
• Increases the penalty to a class 3 felony if the person commits the offense to help a criminal street gang.
• Creates an exemption stating that this law does not apply when a homeowner refuses to open their door to a peace officer.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who try to stop others from talking to police, prosecutors, or grand juries about crimes.
• Homeowners of residential properties in Arizona.
• Peace officers and other law enforcement officials investigating criminal cases.

Terms To Know

Class 5 felony

A serious crime that carries a specific level of punishment under state law, which is less severe than a class 3 felony in this context.

Peace officer

An official with the authority to enforce laws and make arrests, such as a police officer or sheriff's deputy.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not explain what happens if a homeowner opens their door but then refuses to answer questions.
• The text provided does not state when this law will officially take effect after passing the legislature.
• The exemption only mentions refusing to open a door and does not cover other ways of blocking access.

Official Summary Text

HB2922 - obstructing criminal investigations; homeowner exemption

Current Bill Text

HB2922 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
obstructing criminal investigations; homeowner exemption

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2922

Introduced by

Representatives
Hernandez C: Abeytia, Aguilar, Austin, Crews, Gutierrez, Hernandez A,
Hernandez L, M�rquez, Mathis, Simacek, Travers, Tsosie

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-2409, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO OBSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-2409, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-2409.

Obstructing criminal investigations or prosecutions;
classification; exemption

A.
A person who knowingly
attempts by means of bribery, misrepresentation, intimidation or force or
threats of force to obstruct, delay or prevent the communication of information
or testimony relating to a violation of any criminal statute to a peace officer,
magistrate, prosecutor or grand jury or who knowingly injures another in his
person or property on account of the giving by the latter or by any other
person of any such information or testimony to a peace officer, magistrate,
prosecutor or grand jury is guilty of a class 5 felony, except that it is a
class 3 felony if the person commits the offense with the intent to promote,
further or assist a criminal street gang.

B. This section does not apply to the
owner of a residential property who refuses to open a door to the property for
a peace officer.
END_STATUTE