2026-2027; criminal justice.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status is Vetoed, meaning it has not become law unless a veto override occurs.

HB4143: Annual Report on Prison Bed Capacity

This bill requires state officials to send a yearly report about prison bed numbers and plans for changing them.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the department to submit an annual report by November 1 each year.
• Asks for data on total beds, rated beds, temporary beds, and special use beds at state correctional facilities and private prisons.
• Includes bed counts from the last two fiscal years and projections for the current fiscal year with reasons for changes.
• Explains why permanent beds are removed instead of reducing temporary beds.
• Requires a plan to be reviewed before opening or closing 100 or more rated beds at state correctional facilities or private prisons.

Who It Names or Affects

• The department that runs correctional facilities
• State correctional facilities and private prisons in Arizona
• The joint legislative budget committee

Terms To Know

Rated beds

Beds officially counted as part of the standard capacity.

Temporary beds

Extra sleeping spaces included in the total bed count but not permanent.

Security classification

The safety risk level used to group prisoners for reporting purposes.

Limits and Unknowns

• This bill was vetoed by the governor on May 5, 2026.
• It is not clear if lawmakers will override the veto and make this law active.
• The text does not say what happens if the department misses the November 1 deadline.

Official Summary Text

HB4143 - 2026-2027; criminal justice.

Current Bill Text

HB4143 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

2026-2027; criminal
justice.

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 4143

an
act

Amending title 41, chapter 11, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1604.21; relating to
CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 11, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1604.21, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1604.21.

Bed capacity; annual report

On or before November 1 of each year, the
department shall provide a report on bed capacity to the joint legislative
budget committee. The report must:

1. Reflect the bed capacity for each
security classification by gender at each state correctional facility and private
prison, divided by rated and total beds.

2. Include bed capacity data at the
end of the previous two fiscal years and the projected capacity at the end of
the current fiscal year, as well as the reasons for any change within that time
period. Within the total bed count, the department shall provide the
number of temporary and special use beds.

3. Address the department's rationale
for eliminating any permanent beds rather than reducing the level of temporary
beds.

4. Include any plans to vacate beds
but not permanently remove the beds from the bed count. If the
department develops a plan after the department submits the report to open or
close one hundred or more state correctional facility or private prison rated
beds, the department shall submit a plan detailing the proposed bed changes for
review by the joint legislative budget committee before implementing these
changes.
END_STATUTE