Your legal cheat sheet
New laws incoming … Tall order for top Dem … And laughing beats crying.
Arizona’s annual law-refresh is almost here.
Many of the bills you heard about this spring from Arizona lawmakers that were signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs are about to take effect.
It’s known as the general effective date, the day when new or revised legislation quietly snaps into effect. By law, that date falls 90 days after the legislative session adjourns sine die.
This year, it’s Sept. 26.
There are hundreds of new laws that will take effect. Others already kicked in because they were tied to the budget or carried emergency clauses. Still others are set for later start dates in the new year.
But, by and large, Sept. 26 is when you’ll start seeing all sorts of rules you’re now supposed to follow, along with a bunch of technical changes that you probably won’t ever notice.
From now until then, we’re going to highlight some of those new laws in a “Laws Landing” section in our daily newsletters.
We’re hoping these cheat sheets will help you understand what you will (or won’t) be able to do, and maybe stay out of trouble.
To kick off the countdown to the general effective date, we used Skywolf, our legislative intelligence service, to pull a few measures that could pop up in your day-to-day life come the end of September.
Underage smokers, beware
Older siblings won’t be the go-to people for youngsters trying to buy cigarettes. At least, that’s what lawmakers are hoping will happen with SB1247.
The state is catching up with federal law by raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products, vapor products and related paraphernalia to 21. Before SB1247, Arizona’s age was set at 18. And Arizona’s new law adds a prohibition on even possessing those products before you turn 21.
The bill from Republican Sen. David C. Farnsworth was signed by the governor near the end of the legislative session to bridge the gap of legislation that didn’t clearly prohibit anything other than retail sales.
“We know the data is clear: Raising the age to access cigarettes reduces youth access to cigarettes,” Matt Gress told Arizona Capitol Times. “Most underage smokers get their tobacco from slightly older friends.”
Let your (political) freak flag fly
Thanks to SB1378, your HOA won’t be able to hassle you as much about the political flags you put in your yard.
The bill expands protections for political signs in neighborhoods and planned communities with homeowners’ associations to include flags.
The legislation was proposed by Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard to let residents of cookie-cutter neighborhoods have political signs or flags up as early as 71 days before the day of a primary election and 15 days after the general election.
Previously, HOAs and condo associations had more leeway to regulate what residents put outside their homes.
By the end of September, if your municipality allows political signs and flags, then your HOA will have to live with it, too.
Protecting your privacy
Victims of crime should get more peace of mind with a new law that seeks to protect their privacy.
Crime victims and witnesses will more frequently be able to request redaction of their names from public records with HB2653.
The bill from Republican Rep. Jeff Weninger allows name removal if there is a reasonable expectation that disclosure may lead to harassment, threats or witness tampering.
The bill is a change from current cases that often leave the victim’s name, address, phone number and email in court documents, which can end up in public records requests.
Right now, prosecutors can seek protective orders, but if they don’t, that information would circulate within court documents by default.
After the Sept. 26 general effective date, prosecutors will be able to redact identifying information before disclosing case materials.
The law will exempt records shared between law enforcement agencies, disclosed to the defendant or their attorney, or involving deceased victims.
Want to watch porn? Better show ID
Arizona is joining the growing list of states where people will have to prove they’re adults if they want to explore pornography websites.
HB2112 will require pornography websites to require users to submit a government-issued ID or use an age-verification system.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Rep. Nick Kupper, who said he was inspired by similar legislation in Texas.
Internet service providers that do not create or control the content are exempt from the requirements.
Companies that violate the law will incur fines of up to $10,000 per day and additional penalties if minors access restricted content.
“Arizona families have had enough,” Kupper said in a press release. “Hardcore pornography has been just one click away from kids for too long, and the companies behind it have looked the other way while cashing in. This law forces them to take responsibility and keeps minors off their platforms.”
Arizona’s next top Dem: On Saturday, Arizona Democrats tapped former state Rep. Charlene Fernandez as their new party chair. She secured 57 percent of the vote at the state committee meeting and will be steering the party through the 2026 election cycle. Fernandez told our sister newsletter, the Tucson Agenda, that her top priority is getting Democrats mobilized statewide ahead of 2026.
Freedom of speech: State lawmakers aren’t going to take any action after Rep. John Gillette called Muslims “f**ing savages” and “terrorists” from “sh*t hole” countries, the Arizona Capitol Times Jakob Thorington reports. House Democrats filed an ethics complaint against the Republican lawmaker, but the GOP-led House Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Lupe Diaz said the committee traditionally doesn’t deal with complaints about lawmakers’ remarks or opinions. And, “in light of recent events, it is imperative that government institutions protect the freedom of speech,” Diaz said.
Musical chairs: After everybody else said “no,” Coconino County officials agreed to investigate accusations that Rodney Glassman violated campaign finance law in his run for Arizona attorney general, the Arizona Mirror’s Caitlin Sievers reports. This type of case normally would go to the attorney general, but Attorney General Kris Mayes said the fact that she is running against Glassman meant she had a conflict of interest. Officials in other counties said they already had large caseloads and not enough staff. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said she couldn’t take the case because she and Glassman are personal friends.
Odd bedfellows: Republican lawmakers joined Hobbs in asking the federal government to reimburse Arizona for $744 million the state spent on border security, the Mirror’s Gloria Rebecca Gomez reports. The recent federal spending bill set up a $13 billion fund to reimburse states, and nearly $11 billion is expected to go to Texas.
It’d be great if some of that $13 billion would go to save local journalism, but that’s not gonna happen. It’s up to you to click that button and keep journalism alive.
Fed up: After a July meeting to discuss federal oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office turned into chaos, a federal judge said he might move future meetings to the federal courthouse in Phoenix, where U.S. Marshals can screen anyone who wants to attend to make sure they’re not carrying a weapon, Phoenix New Times’ Morgan Fischer reports.
In other, other news
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk will be held in the stadium used by the Arizona Cardinals football team on Sept. 21 (Elena Santa Cruz and Wren Smetana / Republic) … A 19-year-old man was arrested for trespassing and destroying a community memorial near the Turning Point headquarters in Phoenix (Payne Moses / KTAR) … After tabling the idea earlier this month, the Scottsdale City Council took the first steps toward filing a lawsuit over a state law that stopped Scottsdale residents from trying to block Axon’s new headquarters (Wayne Schutsky / KJZZ) … Colorado River states continue to negotiate over water, but they’re doing it without a Senate-confirmed federal overseer, due to Democratic senators blocking President Donald Trump’s nominee for Bureau of Reclamation chief, Ted Cooke (Adam Klepp / ABC15) … A federal judge extended a restraining order until Sept. 26 to block the Trump administration from deporting Guatemalan and Honduran children (Danyelle Khmara / Arizona Public Media)
The political world is overheating right now. That’s making it a little difficult to come up with something to laugh at.
But we know all of you, our dear readers, still have a sense of humor.
So, let’s crowdsource today’s laugh: Help brighten everyone’s day by leaving a comment with a laugh-worthy nugget.
Sorry, you’re right the funny left the room last week. Justine Wadsack.
You aren't trying hard enough. If you can't find something to laugh at in Arizona, that might be the end of comedy as we know it. I'll just say Justine Wadsack.