Arizona House bill by Rep. Lopez expands court-ordered mental health evaluations passes both chambers

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Chris Lopez seeks to amend Arizona law to broaden who may apply for court-ordered mental health evaluations and establish procedures for timely screenings and evaluations, according to the Arizona State House.

It passed both chambers as of May 7, clearing the House by a vote of 56-1 and the Senate by a vote of 26-2.

The bill, introduced as HB2742 on Feb. 4, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘court-ordered evaluations’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning court-ordered mental health evaluations. It allows any responsible person to apply for an evaluation of someone with a mental disorder who may be a danger to themselves or others, or who is unable to voluntarily undergo evaluation. The application must include detailed personal and mental health information about the proposed patient. The screening agency must act on the application within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, and can conduct screenings at the patient’s home if necessary. Those undergoing evaluations can do so on an inpatient or outpatient basis, with procedures and timelines specified. If an individual fails to attend an evaluation, the court and guardian must be notified. Medical directors can release patients if further evaluation isn’t appropriate or file for court-ordered treatment if necessary. Provisions also address cooperation with county attorneys and educational evaluations for nonadjudicated youth.

In the House, 24 Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor while one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, nine Democrats and 17 Republicans voted in favor while two Democrats voted against it.

Lopez introduced the bill in the Arizona House on Feb. 4 during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature.

The bill was co-sponsored by Leo Biasiucci (Republican-30th District), and Walt Blackman (Republican-7th District), and Michael Carbone (Republican-25th District), along with 16 others.

Lopez, a Republican, was elected to the Arizona State House in 2025 to represent the state’s 16th House District, replacing previous state representative Keith Seaman.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs on May 13.

In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.