SB1170 • 2026

narcotic drugs; sales; minor; sentencing

SB1170 - narcotic drugs; sales; minor; sentencing

Children Crime Healthcare

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Carine Werner, Hildy Angius, Matt Gress
Last action: 2026-04-15
Official status: House committee of the whole
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide specific details on how much funding will be allocated for additional medical examiner duties or follow-up autopsies.

Sentencing for Narcotic Drug Sales Contributing to Minor Deaths

This bill modifies sentencing requirements for individuals convicted of selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to minors, especially if the sale leads to the minor's death.

What This Bill Does

Expands the definition of crimes against children (DCAC) to include selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to minors that contribute to their deaths.
Requires harsher sentences for those convicted of transporting dangerous or narcotic drugs intended for sale, if these actions result in a minor's death due to drug intoxication or overdose.
Specifies that individuals who sell methamphetamine or fentanyl must receive the maximum sentence under enhanced sentencing laws.
Imposes the highest possible sentence for selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to minors under 15 years old.
Adds duties to county medical examiners to determine if a drug contributed to a minor's death and requires follow-up autopsies when necessary.

Who It Names or Affects

People convicted of selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to minors who die as a result of the sale.
County medical examiners responsible for investigating deaths involving minors.
Law enforcement agencies involved in prosecuting drug offenses against children.

Terms To Know

Dangerous Crime Against Children (DCAC): A serious crime that involves harming or exploiting a minor, which can lead to severe legal consequences for the perpetrator.
Noah's Law: The name given to this legislation in Arizona, focusing on harsher penalties for drug sales contributing to minors' deaths.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how much funding will be provided for additional medical examiner duties or follow-up autopsies.
Does not address the impact of these changes on existing diversion programs for drug offenders.
The effective date is not specified in the bill text.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SENATE - Werner flr amend (ref Senate Engrossed Bill) adopted (Adopted)

Adopted

Plain English: Amendment explanation prepared by Zach Dean 03/11/2026 Bill Number: S.B.

Amendment explanation prepared by Zach Dean 03/11/2026 Bill Number: S.B.
1170 Werner Floor Amendment Reference to: Senate engrossed bill Amendment drafted by: Leg.
Council FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 1.
Applies new enhanced sentencing requirements to the sale of both dangerous and narcotic drugs, and expands the dangerous crimes against children (DCAC) statute to include selling dangerous or narcotic drugs to a minor that contribute to the minor's death.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-04-15 House
House committee of the whole
2026-03-31 House
House minority caucus
2026-03-31 House
House majority caucus
2026-03-30 House
House consent calendar
2026-03-19 House
House second read
2026-03-18 House
House Rules: C&P
2026-03-18 House
House Judiciary: DP
2026-03-18 House
House first read
2026-03-17 House
Transmitted to House
2026-03-17 Senate
Senate third read passed
2026-03-11 Senate
Senate amended committee of the whole
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate passed
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate third read failed
2026-02-24 Senate
Senate committee of the whole
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate minority caucus
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate majority caucus
2026-02-02 Senate
Senate consent calendar
2026-01-21 Senate
Senate second read
2026-01-20 Senate
Senate Rules: PFC
2026-01-20 Senate
Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP
2026-01-20 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1170 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
JUDE��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� AS
PASSED BY ADD COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1170

narcotic
drugs; sales; minor; sentencing

Purpose

Modifies sentencing requirements for persons convicted of selling a dangerous
or narcotic drug if the narcotic drug sold contributed to the death of a minor.

Background

A person is guilty
of a class 2 felony if they knowingly transport, import, offer to transport or
import, sell, transfer or offer to sell or transfer a narcotic drug. A class 2
felony for a

non-dangerous offense carries a minimum sentence of 4 years, a presumptive
sentence of 5 years, a maximum sentence of 10 years and an aggravated sentence
of 12.5 years. A class 2 felony for a non-dangerous, category two repetitive
offense carries a minimum sentence of 6 years, a presumptive sentence of 9.25
years, a maximum sentence of 18.5 years and an aggravated sentence of 23 years (A.R.S.
��
13-702
;

13-703
;
and
13-3408
).

A person who is at least 18 years old and who is convicted of a
dangerous
crime against children
(DCAC) involving or using minors in drug offenses
faces a minimum sentence of 13 years, a presumptive sentence of 20 years and a
maximum sentence of 27 years (
A.R.S.
� 13-705
).

A person convicted
of knowingly transporting, importing, offering to transport or import, selling,
transferring or offering to sell or transfer fentanyl in an amount of at least
200 grams is subject to a specific sentencing range, consisting of a minimum
term of imprisonment of 5 calendar years, a presumptive term of 10 calendar
years or a maximum term of 15 calendar years. A person who has previously been
convicted of this offense faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 calendar
years, a presumptive term of 15 calendar years or a maximum term of 20 calendar
years. A person is subject to the same sentencing ranges for a violation
involving the possession of at least 200 grams of fentanyl in a motor vehicle (
A.R.S.
� 13-3408
).

Proposition 314,
passed by the voters in 2024, established a separate criminal classification
penalizing the sale of lethal fentanyl if the fentanyl causes the death of
another person. A person convicted of the sale of lethal fentanyl is guilty of
a class 2 felony, which carries a presumptive sentence of 5 years, except that
the minimum, presumptive and maximum sentences must be increased by 5 years (
A.R.S.
� 13-3424
).

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

Provisions

Expands the DCAC statute to include selling a dangerous or narcotic drug
to a minor if the drug that was sold contributed to the death of the minor, as
specified.

Requires
a person to be sentenced to the aggravated term of imprisonment for
transportation
of a dangerous or narcotic drug for sale
if all of the following apply:

the victim was a minor;

an initial autopsy by the county medical examiner finds that the cause
of the minor's death resulted from complications of drug intoxication, overdose
or the presence of a dangerous drug;

a
required follow up autopsy performed by another county medical examiner or an
independent medical examiner licensed as a physician concludes that the
dangerous or narcotic drug contributed to the minor's death and that the minor
would not have died but for the dangerous or narcotic drug sold.

Requires the convicted person to be sentenced to the maximum term of
imprisonment under a different enhanced sentencing scheme for drug offenses if
the drug involved was either methamphetamine or fentanyl.

Requires the convicted person to be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed
under the corresponding DCAC offense if the minor was under 15 years old.

Expands the statutory duties of the county medical examiner to include
determining whether a dangerous or narcotic drug contributed to a minor's
death, as well as the requirement to order a second autopsy from another county
medical examiner or licensed independent medical examiner in the event of a
positive determination.

Designates this legislation as
Noah's Law
.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by Additional
Committee of the Whole

Applies new enhanced sentencing requirements to the sale of both
dangerous and narcotic drugs and expands the DCAC statute to include selling
dangerous or narcotic drugs to a minor that contribute to the minor's death.

Requires a medical examiner who performs an initial autopsy on a minor,
and who finds that the minor's death resulted from complications from dangerous
or narcotic drug intoxication or overdose, to order a second autopsy by another
county medical examiner or independent medical examiner who is a licensed
physician.

Specifies that, if the second autopsy concludes that a dangerous or
narcotic drug sold to the minor contributed to the minor's death, and that the
minor would not have died if not for the drug, then new sentencing ranges apply
for the person who sold the drug.

Modifies the new sentencing requirements for persons convicted of
selling a dangerous or narcotic drug that contributes to the death of a minor
by removing the minimum, presumptive and maximum sentences, and instead
requiring the person be sentenced to the corresponding aggravated term of
imprisonment for the offense.

Specifies that if the dangerous or narcotic drug sold is meth or
fentanyl, the person must be sentenced to the corresponding maximum sentence
for sale of a dangerous or narcotic drug involving meth or fentanyl.

Specifies that, if the minor who dies was under 15 years old, the person
must be given the maximum sentence for a DCAC involving the sale of a dangerous
or narcotic drug to a minor that contributes to the minor's death.

Adds determining whether a dangerous or narcotic drug contributed to the
death of a minor to the statutory duties of the county medical examiner.

Makes technical and conforming changes.

Senate Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

March 11, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1170 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

narcotic drugs;
sales; minor; sentencing

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1170

AN
ACT

amending sections 11-594, 13-705,
13-3407 and 13-3408, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to drug
offenses.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 11-594, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
11-594.

Powers and duties of county medical examiner

A. The county medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner shall direct a death investigation and, on a determination that the
circumstances of the death provide jurisdiction pursuant to section 11-593,
subsection B, shall:

1. Take charge of the dead body.

2. Determine if an autopsy is required.

3. Certify to the cause and manner of death
following completion of the death investigation,

reduce
the findings to writing and promptly make a full report on forms prescribed for
that purpose.

4. Have subpoena authority for all documents,
records and papers deemed useful in the death investigation.

5. Execute a death certificate provided by the state
registrar of vital statistics indicating the cause and the manner of death for
those bodies for which a death investigation has been conducted and
jurisdiction is assumed.

6. Give approval for cremation or alkaline
hydrolysis of a dead body after a death investigation and record the approval
on the death certificate.

7. Notify the county attorney or other law
enforcement authority when death is found to be from nonnatural causes.

8. Carry out the duties specified under section 28-668.

9. Carry out the duties specified under title 36,
chapter 7, article 3.

10. Provide a blood sample from a deceased person
for the purpose of communicable disease testing pursuant to sections 13-1210
and 36-670 if the blood is available and the collection or release will
not interfere with a medical examination, autopsy or certification of death.

11. Observe all policies adopted by the board of
supervisors regarding conflicts of interest and disclosure of noncounty
employment.

12. Carry out the duties specified under section
13-3407, subsection F and section 13-3408, subsection J.

B. The county medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner may:

1. Assign to a medical death investigator or other
qualified personnel all aspects of a death investigation except performing
autopsies.

2. Authorize forensic pathologists to perform
examinations and autopsies. The medical examiner or alternate
medical examiner may authorize medical students or residents and fellows in
pathology training to perform autopsies under the supervision of a licensed
physician who is board certified in forensic pathology, pursuant to procedures
adopted by the county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner.
Authorization and the amount to be paid by the county for pathology services are
subject to approval of the board of supervisors.

3. Authorize pathologist assistants to assist with
performing autopsies under the direct supervision of a licensed physician who
is board certified in forensic pathology, pursuant to procedures adopted by the
county medical examiner or alternate medical examiner. A pathologist assistant
may not certify a cause of death or independently perform an autopsy.

4. Delegate any power, duty or function, whether
ministerial or discretionary, vested by this chapter in the medical examiner or
alternate medical examiner to a person meeting the qualifications prescribed in
this chapter who is employed by or who has contracted with the county to
provide death investigation services. The medical examiner or
alternate medical examiner shall be responsible for the official acts of the
person designated pursuant to this section and shall act under the name and
authority of the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner.

5. Authorize the taking of organs and tissues as
they prove to be usable for transplants, other treatment, therapy, education or
research if all of the requirements of title 36, chapter 7, article 3 are
met. The medical examiner or alternate medical examiner shall give
this authorization within a time period that allows a medically viable
donation.

6. Authorize licensed physicians, surgeons or
trained technicians to remove parts of bodies provided they follow an
established protocol approved by the medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner.

7. Limit the removal of organs or tissues for
transplants or other therapy or treatment if, based on a review of available
medical and investigative information within a time that allows a medically
viable donation, the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner makes an
initial determination that their removal would interfere with a medical
examination, autopsy or certification of death. Before making a
final decision to limit the removal of organs, the medical examiner or alternate
medical examiner shall consult with the organ procurement organization. After
the consultation and when the organ procurement organization provides
information that the organ procurement organization reasonably believes could
alter the initial decision and at the request of the organ procurement
organization, the medical examiner or alternate medical examiner shall conduct
a physical examination of the body. If the medical examiner or
alternate medical examiner limits the removal of organs, the medical examiner
or alternate medical examiner shall maintain documentation of this decision and
shall make the documentation available to the organ procurement organization.

C. A county medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner shall not be held civilly or criminally liable for any acts performed
in good faith pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 10 and subsection B,
paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of this section.

D. If a dispute arises over the findings of the
medical examiner's report, the medical examiner, on an order of the superior
court, shall make available all evidence and documentation to a
court-designated licensed forensic pathologist for review, and the results of
the review shall be reported to the superior court in the county issuing the
order.

E. For providing external examinations and autopsies
pursuant to this section, the medical examiner may charge a fee established by
the board of supervisors pursuant to section 11-251.08.

F. The county medical examiner or alternate medical
examiner is entitled to all medical records and related records of a person for
whom the medical examiner is required to certify cause of death.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 13-705, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-705.

Dangerous crimes against children; sentences; definitions

A. A person who is at least eighteen years of age
and who is convicted of a dangerous crime against children in the first degree
involving commercial sexual exploitation of a minor or child sex trafficking
and the person has previously been convicted of a dangerous crime against
children in the first degree shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the custody
of the state department of corrections for natural life. A person who is
sentenced to natural life is not eligible for commutation, parole, work furlough,
work release or release from confinement on any basis for the remainder of the
person's natural life.

B. A person who is at least eighteen years of age
and who is convicted of a dangerous crime against children in the first degree
involving sexual assault of a minor who is twelve years of age or younger or
sexual conduct with a minor who is twelve years of age or younger shall be
sentenced to life imprisonment and is not eligible for suspension of sentence,
probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except as
specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A or B until the
person has served thirty-five years or the sentence is commuted. This
subsection does not apply to masturbatory contact.

C. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a
person who is at least eighteen years of age or who has been tried as an adult
and who is convicted of a dangerous crime against children in the first degree
involving attempted first degree murder of a minor who is under twelve years of
age, sexual assault of a minor who is under twelve years of age, sexual conduct
with a minor who is under twelve years of age or manufacturing methamphetamine
under circumstances that cause physical injury to a minor who is under twelve
years of age may be sentenced to life imprisonment and is not eligible for
suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any
basis except as specifically authorized by section 31-233, subsection A
or B until the person has served thirty-five years or the sentence is
commuted. If a life sentence is not imposed pursuant to this subsection, the
person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment as follows: