foreign law; sharia law; prohibition

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how foreign laws will be identified or enforced, leaving some aspects of implementation unclear.

Prohibiting Sharia Law and Certain Foreign Practices

This bill stops courts, arbitrators, administrative agencies, or other enforcement authorities from enforcing foreign laws that conflict with Arizona or U.S. law, especially Sharia law and harmful cultural practices.

What This Bill Does

• Defines 'foreign law' to include Sharia law and specific religious or cultural customs that allow harmful practices like honor killings, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and domestic violence.
• Stops courts, arbitrators, administrative agencies, or other enforcement authorities from enforcing foreign laws if they conflict with Arizona or U.S. laws or violate constitutional rights.

Who It Names or Affects

• Courts, arbitrators, administrative agencies, and other enforcement authorities in Arizona
• People involved in legal disputes or cases that might involve foreign laws

Terms To Know

Sharia law

A religious legal system based on Islamic principles.

Foreign law

Any law, rule, or legal code from another country that is not part of U.S. or Arizona laws.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how foreign laws will be identified or what happens if a court finds a conflict between a foreign law and Arizona or U.S. laws.
• It's unclear how this legislation might affect international business or diplomatic relations in Arizona.

Official Summary Text

SB1018 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1018

foreign law;
sharia law; prohibition

Purpose

Specifies that
the definition of
foreign law
includes Sharia law and outlined foreign,
religious or cultural laws, customs or practices.

Background

A court, arbitrator, administrative agency or other adjunctive, mediation
or enforcement authority may not enforce a foreign law if doing so would: 1)
conflict with Arizona law or U.S. law; or 2) violate a right guaranteed by the
Arizona Constitution or U.S. Constitution.
Foreign law
means any law,
rule or legal code or system other than: 1) the U.S. Constitution; 2) the laws
and ratified treaties of the United States and the territories of the United
States; 3) the Arizona Constitution; and 4) Arizona law (A.R.S. ��

12-3101

and
13-3103
).

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

Provisions

1.

Specifies
that the definition of
foreign law
includes:

a)

Sharia law; and

b)

a foreign, religious or cultural law, custom or practice that allows,
condones or excuses:

i.

the honor killing of a person or honor-based violence;

ii.

a forced or coerced marriage;

iii.

a marriage involving a minor that violates Arizona law;

iv.

female genital mutilation or cutting;

v.

the physical punishment of a minor that constitutes abuse pursuant to
Arizona law;

vi.

domestic violence or spousal abuse that is justified by cultural,
religious or family authority;

vii.

restricting a person's liberty or rights based on gender, religion or
family honor;

viii.

denying
a person equal protection or due process;

ix.

polygamy where prohibited by Arizona law; or

x.

�any conduct that violates Arizona criminal law.

2.

Makes technical changes.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendment Adopted by Committee
of the Whole

1.

Expands the definition of
foreign law.

2.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

Senate Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 2, 2026

AN/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1018 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

foreign law; sharia
law; prohibition

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1018

AN
ACT

amending section 12-3101, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to the application of foreign laws.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 12-3101, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
12-3101.
Definition of
foreign law

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires,
"foreign law"
:

1.
Means
either
of the following:

(
a
) Sharia law.

(
b
)
Any
law, rule or legal code or system other than the constitution, laws and
ratified treaties of the United States and the territories of the United States
,
or the constitution and laws of this state.

2. Includes a foreign, religious or
cultural law, custom or practice that allows, condones or excuses any of the
following:

(
a
) The honor
killing of a person or honor-based violence.

(
b
) A forced or
coerced marriage.

(
c
) A marriage
involving a minor that violates a law in this state.

(
d
) Female
genital mutilation or cutting.

(
e
) The
physical punishment of a minor that constitutes abuse pursuant to the laws of
this state.

(
f
) Domestic
violence or spousal abuse that is justified by cultural, religious or family
authority.

(
g
) Restricting
a person's liberty or rights if based on gender, religion or family honor.

(
h
) Denying a
person equal protection or due process.

(
i
) Polygamy
where prohibited by the laws of this state.

(
j
) Any conduct
that violates a criminal law in this state.
END_STATUTE