felony conviction; sentence completion; designation.

SB1543 - felony conviction; sentence completion; designation.

Crime

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Kevin Payne
Last action: 2026-02-04
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Felony Convictions; Sentence Completion; Designation

This bill allows courts to change certain felony convictions to misdemeanor convictions under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

Allows a court to change a class 4, 5, or 6 felony conviction to a class 1 misdemeanor if the person meets certain requirements.
Requires that the person has no prior felony convictions and did not harm anyone with their current offense.
Requires that the person completed all terms of their sentence, including paying any fines.
Requires at least five years have passed since the original conviction without any new offenses involving victims.

Who It Names or Affects

People convicted of class 4, 5, or 6 felonies who meet specific conditions can have their convictions changed to misdemeanors.

Terms To Know

Felony: A serious crime that usually results in a prison sentence.
Misdemeanor: A less serious crime than a felony, often punishable by fines or short jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if the conditions are not met.
It is unclear how many people will be affected by this change in law.

Bill History

2026-02-04 Senate
Senate second read
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate Judiciary and Elections: None
2026-02-03 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1543 - felony conviction; sentence completion; designation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1543 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
felony conviction; sentence completion; designation.

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1543

Introduced by

Senator
Payne

AN
ACT

amending Title 13, chapter 6, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-604.01; relating to classifications of
offenses.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section
1. Title
13, chapter 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section
13-604.01, to read:

START_STATUTE
13-604.01.

Class 4, 5 or 6 felony; misdemeanor designation; definition

A. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this title, if a person is convicted of a class 4, 5 or 6 felony
not involving a dangerous offense, the court may enter judgment of conviction
for a class 1 misdemeanor if the court determines all of the following:

1. The person has not previously been
convicted of any felony offense.

2. The offense did not involve a
victim.

3. The person has completed all of
the terms and conditions imposed by the court for the conviction, including
full payment of all monetary obligations.

4. At least five years have passed
since the person was convicted, and the person has not been convicted of a
subsequent misdemeanor offense involving a victim or a subsequent felony
offense during that time.

5. Entering the judgment of
conviction for a class 1 misdemeanor is in the interest of justice.

B. For the purposes of this section,
"victim" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13-4401.

END_STATUTE