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SB1669 • 2026

sexual offenses; victim; evidence

SB1669 - sexual offenses; victim; evidence

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Shawnna Bolick
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
House minority caucus
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's summary does not provide specific details on how it will be enforced or monitored.

Sexual Offenses; Victim Evidence

This bill changes the criteria for admitting evidence about a victim's past sexual activity in court when dealing with sexual offenses.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to allow evidence of specific instances of a victim's prior sexual conduct if it shows the source or origin of physical injury, rather than just trauma.
  • Limits judges to only admit such evidence if it is relevant and important for proving something in the case.
  • Requires that any statements about this kind of evidence not be made before a jury unless a judge says they can.
  • Allows courts to hold hearings during trials if new information might make this type of evidence admissible.
  • Sets a high standard, 'clear and convincing,' for admitting such evidence.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Victims in sexual offense cases
  • Defendants in sexual offense cases
  • Judges who decide on the admissibility of evidence
  • Lawyers representing victims or defendants

Terms To Know

Chastity
The state of being chaste, meaning not having had sex.
Prejudicial
Something that might unfairly influence people's opinions or decisions.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify the exact effective date.
  • The bill does not provide details on how it will be enforced or monitored.
  • It is unclear if there are any fiscal impacts associated with this legislation.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 House

    House minority caucus

  2. 2026-03-24 House

    House majority caucus

  3. 2026-03-23 House

    House consent calendar

  4. 2026-03-10 House

    House second read

  5. 2026-03-09 House

    House Rules: C&P

  6. 2026-03-09 House

    House Judiciary: DP

  7. 2026-03-09 House

    House first read

  8. 2026-03-03 House

    Transmitted to House

  9. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate third read passed

  10. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  11. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  12. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate consent calendar

  13. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Senate second read

  14. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  15. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate Judiciary and Elections: DP

  16. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1669 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1669

sexual offenses;
victim; evidence

Purpose

Requires evidence of a victim's specific sexual activity
to show the source or origin of physical injury, rather than trauma, when
considering whether such evidence relating to the victim's prior sexual conduct
is admissible.

Background

Statute limits
the admissibility of evidence relating to a victim's prior sexual conduct in
prosecutions for sexual offenses. Evidence relating to a victim's reputation
for chastity and opinion evidence relating to a victim's chastity are not
admissible. Evidence of specific instances of a victim's prior sexual conduct
may be admitted only if a judge finds that the evidence is relevant, material
to a fact in issue and that its inflammatory or prejudicial nature does not
outweigh its probative value. Such evidence is limited to specific categories,
including: 1) evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct with the defendant;
2) evidence showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy, disease or
trauma; 3) evidence supporting a claim that the victim has a motive in accusing
the defendant; 4) evidence offered for impeachment if the prosecution places
the victim's prior sexual conduct in issue; and 5) evidence of false
allegations of sexual misconduct made by the victim against others.

Evidence of
prior sexual conduct may not be referred to in any statements before a jury or
introduced at trial without a court order following a hearing on written
motions to determine admissibility. If new information arises during trial that
may make such evidence admissible, the court may conduct a hearing to determine
admissibility. The standard for admissibility is clear and convincing evidence
(
A.R.S.
� 13-1421
).

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

Provisions

1.

Requires evidence of a victim's specific sexual activity to show the
source or origin of physical injury, rather than trauma, when considering
whether such evidence relating to the victim's prior sexual conduct is
admissible.

2.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 16, 2026

ZD/MY/ci

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB1669 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

sexual offenses;
victim; evidence

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1669

AN
ACT

AMENDING SECTION 13-1421, ARIZONA
REVISED STATUTES; RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-1421, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
13-1421.

Evidence relating to victim's chastity; pretrial hearing

A. Evidence relating to a victim's reputation for
chastity and opinion evidence relating to a victim's chastity are not
admissible in any prosecution for any offense in this chapter, section 13-3212
or chapter 35.1 of this title. Evidence of specific instances of the
victim's prior sexual conduct may be admitted only if a judge finds the
evidence is relevant and is material to a fact in issue in the case and that
the inflammatory or prejudicial nature of the evidence does not outweigh the
probative value of the evidence, and if the evidence is one of the following:

1. Evidence of the victim's past sexual conduct with
the defendant.

2. Evidence of specific instances of sexual activity
showing the source or origin of semen, pregnancy, disease or
trauma
physical inJury
.

3. Evidence that supports a claim that the victim
has a motive in accusing the defendant of the crime.

4. Evidence offered for the purpose of impeachment
when the prosecutor puts the victim's prior sexual conduct in issue.

5. Evidence of false allegations of sexual
misconduct made by the victim against others.

B. Evidence described in subsection A of this
section shall not be referred to in any statements to a jury or introduced at
trial without a court order after a hearing on written motions is held to
determine the admissibility of the evidence. If new information is
discovered during the course of the trial that may make the evidence described
in subsection A of this section admissible, the court may hold a hearing to
determine the admissibility of the evidence under subsection A of this
section. The standard for admissibility of evidence under subsection
A of this section is by clear and convincing evidence.
END_STATUTE