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HB2966 • 2026

dangerous crimes against children; probation.

HB2966 - dangerous crimes against children; probation.

Children Crime
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Lupe Diaz, Selina Bliss, Pamela Carter, Julie Willoughby
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Senate second read
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about technical changes made by the bill, so this claim was removed.

Dangerous Crimes Against Children; Probation

This bill stops courts from ending or changing probation early for people convicted of dangerous crimes against children.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the court from terminating a person's probation earlier than originally set if they were found guilty of a dangerous crime against a child.
  • Does not allow someone on probation for a dangerous crime against a child to earn time off their probation period through good behavior or work.
  • Applies these rules to people who are already serving lifetime probation and those who will start it after the bill becomes law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People convicted of dangerous crimes against children
  • Courts that handle cases involving dangerous crimes against children

Terms To Know

Dangerous Crime Against Children (DCAC)
A serious crime, including sexual offenses and violent acts, committed against a minor under the age of 15.
Probation
A period after being found guilty where someone is allowed to stay out of jail if they follow certain rules set by the court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify an effective date.
  • There are no expected financial impacts on the state budget from this legislation.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP

  4. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Senate first read

  5. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  6. 2026-02-23 House

    House third read passed

  7. 2026-02-17 House

    House minority caucus

  8. 2026-02-17 House

    House majority caucus

  9. 2026-02-16 House

    House consent calendar

  10. 2026-02-03 House

    House second read

  11. 2026-02-02 House

    House Rules: C&P

  12. 2026-02-02 House

    House Judiciary: DP

  13. 2026-02-02 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2966 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
JUDE������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ FOR
COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2966

dangerous crimes against
children; probation.

Purpose

Prohibits the
early termination or modification of a period of probation that is imposed in a
conviction for a dangerous crime against children (DCAC).

Background

If a person who
has been convicted of an offense is eligible for probation, the court may
suspend the imposition or execution of their sentence and must, without delay,
place the person on intensive probation supervision or supervised or
unsupervised probation on such terms and conditions as the law requires and the
court deems appropriate, including participation in any community punishment
programs. The court, on its own initiative or on application of the
probationer, may terminate the period of probation earlier than the sentence
originally imposed if the court determines that justice will be served, the
conduct of the probationer warrants it, and the prosecuting attorney and victim
have been presented with the opportunity to be heard (
A.R.S.

� 13-901
).

Statute provides
certain probationers the opportunity to have their term of probation modified
or terminated by the court if the probationer: 1) is under 22 years old; 2) was
under 18 years old at the time of the offense; and 3) is required to register as
a sex offender. The court must conduct a hearing at least once a year for such
a probationer if the hearing is requested (
A.R.S.

� 13-923
). The court may also adjust a probation period for earned time
credit or work time credit if a probationer has fulfilled all necessary
obligations, unless the probationer is serving lifetime probation, is required
to register as a sex offender or was convicted of specified offenses (
A.R.S.
� 13-924
).

DCACs include
various serious crimes and sexual offenses committed against a minor who is
under 15 years old, including: 1) second degree murder; 2) aggravated assault;
3) sexual assault; 4) sexual conduct with a minor; 5) sexual abuse; 6) sex
trafficking; and 7) luring and aggravated luring of a minor for sexual
exploitation (
A.R.S.
� 13-705
).

There is no anticipated
fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Prohibits the court from terminating the period of probation or
intensive probation earlier than what was originally imposed if the defendant
was convicted of a DCAC.

2.

Prohibits a probationer from receiving earned time credit or work time
credit toward their period of probation if the probationer is serving probation
for a DCAC.

3.

Applies restrictions on probation termination to persons currently
serving a term of lifetime probation for a DCAC and persons placed on lifetime
probation for a DCAC after the effective date of this act.

4.

Makes technical changes.

5.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 12, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2966 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

dangerous crimes
against children; probation.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2966

AN
ACT

amending sections 13-901, 13-923 and
13-924, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to probation.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-901, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-901.

Probation

A. If a person who has been convicted of an offense
is eligible for probation, the court may suspend the imposition or execution of
sentence and, if so, shall without delay place the person on intensive
probation supervision pursuant to section 13-913 or supervised or
unsupervised probation on such terms and conditions as the law requires and the
court deems appropriate, including participation in any programs authorized in
title 12, chapter 2, article 11. If a person is not eligible for
probation, imposition or execution of sentence shall not be suspended or
delayed.� If the court imposes probation, it may also impose a fine as
authorized by chapter 8 of this title. If probation is granted the
court shall impose a condition that the person waive extradition for any
probation revocation procedures and it shall order restitution pursuant to
section 13-603, subsection C where there is a victim who has suffered
economic loss. When granting probation to an adult the court, as a
condition of probation, shall assess a monthly fee of not less than $65 unless,
after determining the inability of the probationer to pay the fee, the court
assesses a lesser fee. This fee is not subject to any surcharge.� In
justice and municipal courts the fee shall only be assessed when the person is
placed on supervised probation.� For persons placed on probation in the
superior court, the fee shall be paid to the clerk of the superior court and
the clerk of the court shall pay all monies collected from this fee to the
county treasurer for deposit in the adult probation services fund established
by section 12-267. For persons placed on supervised probation
in the justice court, the fee shall be paid to the justice court and the
justice court shall transmit all of the monies to the county treasurer for
deposit in the adult probation services fund established by section 12-267. For
persons placed on supervised probation in the municipal court, the fee shall be
paid to the municipal court. The municipal court shall transmit all
of the monies to the city treasurer who shall transmit the monies to the county
treasurer for deposit in the adult probation services fund established by
section 12-267. Any amount assessed pursuant to this
subsection shall be used to supplement monies used for the salaries of adult
probation and surveillance officers and for support of programs and services of
the superior court adult probation departments.

B. The period of probation shall be determined
according to section 13-902, except that if a person is released pursuant
to section 31-233, subsection B and community supervision is waived
pursuant to section 13-603, subsection K, the court shall extend the
period of probation by the amount of time the director of the state department
of corrections approves for the inmate's temporary release.

C. The court, in its discretion, may issue a warrant
for the rearrest of the defendant and may modify or add to the conditions or,
if the defendant commits an additional offense or violates a condition, may
revoke probation in accordance with the Arizona rules of criminal procedure at
any time before the expiration or termination of the period of
probation. If the court revokes the defendant's probation and the
defendant is serving more than one probationary term concurrently, the court
may sentence the person to terms of imprisonment to be served consecutively.

D. At any time during the probationary term of the
person released on probation, any probation officer, without warrant or other
process and at any time until the final disposition of the case, may rearrest
any person and bring the person before the court.

E. The court, on its own initiative or on
application of the probationer, after notice and an opportunity to be heard for
the prosecuting attorney and, on request, the victim, may terminate the period
of probation or intensive probation and discharge the defendant at a time
earlier than that originally imposed if in the court's opinion the ends of
justice will be served and if the conduct of the defendant on probation
warrants it.
The court may not terminate the period
of probation or intensive probation earlier than that originally imposed if the
defendant was convicted of a dangerous crime against children as defined in
section 13-705.

F. When granting probation the court may require
that the defendant be imprisoned in the county jail at whatever time or
intervals, consecutive or nonconsecutive, the court shall determine, within the
period of probation, as long as the period actually spent in confinement does
not exceed one year or the maximum period of imprisonment allowed under chapter
7 of this title, whichever is the shorter.

G. If the defendant is placed on lifetime probation
and has served one year in the county jail as a term of probation, the court
may require that the defendant be additionally imprisoned in the county jail at
whatever time or intervals, consecutive or nonconsecutive, the court shall
determine, within the period of probation if the defendant's probation is
revoked by the court and the defendant is subsequently reinstated on
probation. The period actually spent in confinement as a term of
being reinstated on probation shall not exceed one year or, when including the
initial one-year period of incarceration imposed as a term of probation,
the maximum period of imprisonment allowed under chapter 7 of this title,
whichever is shorter.

H. If restitution is made a condition of probation,
the court shall fix the amount of restitution and the manner of performance
pursuant to chapter 8 of this title.

I. When granting probation, the court shall set
forth at the time of sentencing and on the record the factual and legal reasons
in support of each sentence.

J. If the defendant meets the criteria set forth in
section 13-901.01 or 13-3422, the court may place the defendant on
probation pursuant to either section. If a defendant is placed on
probation pursuant to section 13-901.01 or 13-3422, the court may
impose any term of probation that is authorized pursuant to this section and
that is not in violation of section 13-901.01.

K. If the court imposes a term of probation, the
court may require the defendant to report to a probation
officer. The court or the defendant's probation officer may allow
the defendant to fulfill a reporting requirement through remote
reporting. The probation officer shall take into consideration and
make accommodations for the probationer's work schedule, family caregiver
obligations, substance abuse treatment or recovery program, mental health
treatment, transportation availability and medical care requirements before
setting the reporting time and location requirements for the probationer.

L. If a probationer makes a written request to the
supervising probation department to courtesy transfer the probationer's
intensive probation supervision or supervised probation to another county in
this state with the intent to reside in that county and provides proof of
family caregiver obligations, employment or housing, or an offer of employment
or housing that will assist in the probationer's positive behavioral change,
the supervising probation department shall do all of the following:

1. Confirm the details of the probationer's
employment, housing or family caregiving plans.

2. Review any victim safety concerns and ensure
compliance with the victims' bill of rights.

3. Submit the request for permission to proceed to
the receiving county within seven business days after receipt.

M. After verifying the information submitted by the
sending probation department pursuant to subsection L of this section, the
receiving probation department shall provide the sending probation department
with permission for the probationer to proceed to the receiving county within
seven business days after receipt unless the receiving probation department
finds the basis for the plan is not factual or the transfer will endanger the
victim.

N. If a probationer's intensive probation
supervision or supervised probation is courtesy transferred to another county
pursuant to subsection L of this section and the probationer subsequently
violates the terms of the probationer's probation or commits an additional
offense while on probation, the probation department in the county in which the
probation violation or additional offense occurred may not return the
probationer's intensive probation supervision or supervised probation back to the
county in which the probationer's probation was originally imposed except for
revocation hearings or an order of the court.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 13-923, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-923.

Persons convicted of sexual offenses; annual probation review
hearing; report; notification

A. If requested by the probationer, the court shall
conduct a probation hearing at least once a year for a probationer who is under
twenty-two years of age and who was convicted of an offense that occurred
when the person was under eighteen years of age and that requires the
probationer to register pursuant to section 13-3821.

B. This section does not preclude the court from
conducting more than one probation review hearing each year.

C. The probation department that is supervising the
probationer shall prepare a probation report and submit the report to the court

prior to
before
the hearing.

D. The following individuals shall be notified of
the hearing:

1. A prosecutor.

2. An attorney for the probationer.

3. Any victim or victim's attorney who has a right
to be present and heard pursuant to the victims' bill of rights, article II,
section 2.1
,

of the
Constitution of
this state
Arizona
,
title
13,
chapter 40
of this title
or court rule.

4. The probation officer supervising the
probationer.

E. At the hearing, after hearing from those present
pursuant to subsection D of this section, the court shall consider the
following:

1. Whether to continue, modify or terminate
probation.
� The court may not terminate the period of probation
earlier than that originally imposed if the probationer was convicted of a
dangerous crime against children as defined in section 13-705.

2. Whether to continue to require, to suspend or to
terminate the probationer's registration pursuant to section 13-3821.

3. Whether to continue, defer or terminate community
notification pursuant to section 13-3825.

F. The court may hold a prehearing involving the
persons listed in subsection D of this section to discuss and advise the court
concerning the issues listed in subsection E of this section.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 13-924, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-924.

Probation; earned time credit; work time credit; applicability;
definitions

A. The court may adjust the period of a
probationer's supervised probation on the recommendation of an adult probation
officer for earned time credit or work time credit.

B. Earned time credit equals twenty days for every
thirty days that a probationer does all of the following:

1. Exhibits positive progression toward the goals
and treatment of the probationer�s case plan.

2. Is current on payments for
court
ordered
court-ordered
restitution and is in
compliance with all other nonmonetary obligations.

3. Is current in completing community restitution.

C. Work time credit equals thirty days for every
thirty days that a probationer does all of the following:

1. Is engaged in eligible employment. A
probationer must provide supporting documentation to the supervising probation
officer within five business days after completing thirty days of eligible
employment. The supervising probation officer must verify the
probationer's employment through the supporting documentation that is provided
by the probationer and by any other means that the court determines is
necessary to verify the work, including site visits and telephonic verification. The
probation officer must document any request for work time credit that is
denied.

2. Exhibits positive progression toward the goals
and treatment of the probationer's case plan.

3. Is current on payments for court-ordered
restitution and is in compliance with all other nonmonetary obligations.

4. Is current in completing community restitution.

D. Any earned time credit and work time credit
awarded pursuant to this section shall be revoked if a probationer is found in
violation of a condition of probation.

E. This section does not apply to a probationer who
is currently:

1. On lifetime probation.

2. On probation for any class 2 or 3 felony.

3. On probation exclusively for a misdemeanor
offense.

4. Required to register pursuant to section 13-3821.

5. On probation for a dangerous crime
against children as defined in section 13-705.

F. This section has no effect on the ability of the
court to terminate the period of probation or intensive probation pursuant to
section 13-901, subsection E at a time earlier than originally imposed.

G. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Eligible employment" means any
occupation or combination of occupations for which a person can provide
supporting documentation verifying at least one hundred thirty wage-earning
hours in any thirty-day period.

2. "Supporting documentation" means an
employment record, pay stub, employment letter, contract or other reliable
means of verifying employment.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 4.
Applicability

This
act applies to a person who is currently serving a term of lifetime probation
for a dangerous crime against children on the effective date of this act and to
a person who commits an offense involving a dangerous crime against children
and who is placed on lifetime probation on or after the effective date of this
act.

(ENACTED
WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY)

Sec. 5.
Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that
is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative
immediately as provided by law.