State Rep. Chris Lopez authored new legislation in the Arizona House that seeks to update procedures for court-ordered mental health evaluations, according to the Arizona State House.
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.
The bill was co-sponsored by Leo Biasiucci (Republican-30th District), Walt Blackman (Republican-7th District), and Michael Carbone (Republican-25th District), along with 16 other sponsors.
Since the beginning of the session, Lopez has proposed another three bills, with none of them being adopted.
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.
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.
Bills Introduced by Your Representatives in Arizona House During 1st Regular Session of the 57th Legislative Session
| Sponsor(s) | Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Lopez | HB2742 | 02/04/2025 | 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. |
| Chris Lopez | HB2741 | 02/04/2025 | This bill amends Arizona’s regulations on bar, beer and wine bar, or liquor store licenses, setting conditions for issuing new licenses based on population growth. It allows the issuance of one additional license per 10,000-person increase over July 1, 2010, population levels in a county. It specifies the process for reissuing licenses that were surrendered, revoked, or reverted and caps new license issuances if over five of a class have been revoked. Licensees pay an additional issuance fee equal to fair market value, determined by professional appraisal. The bill also outlines conditions under which sampling privileges can be granted to liquor stores, details the supervisory requirements for sampling, and specifies the record-keeping and reporting obligations of licensees. The provision includes the ability to consolidate applications for different types of liquor licenses and stipulates certain limitations and requirements for auxiliary off-sale privileges. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2728 | 02/03/2025 | This bill amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-1381, detailing offenses and penalties related to driving under the influence (DUI). It defines illegal circumstances, including driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or 0.04 for commercial or for-hire vehicles. Individuals convicted of DUI face class 1 misdemeanor charges and penalties such as a minimum ten-day jail sentence, fines starting at $250, and additional assessments for state funds. Convictions may also require community restitution, installation of an ignition interlock device, and completion of a traffic survival course. Judges may reduce sentences for participation in court-ordered alcohol or drug treatment programs. Repeat offenders face harsher penalties, including longer jail time and fines, with provisions to equip vehicles with ignition interlock devices for extended periods and potential revocation of driving privileges. |
| Chris Lopez | HB2725 | 01/31/2025 | This bill mandates that public school districts and charter schools in Arizona display U.S. flags, manufactured domestically and measuring at least two feet by three feet, in each classroom and on or near the school buildings during school hours. For grades seven through twelve, schools must also provide U.S.-manufactured copies of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, displayed next to classroom flags. The bill requires schools to allocate daily time for students who wish to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and inform parents if their child does not participate. Additionally, it stipulates a daily moment of silence lasting one to two minutes for kindergarten through grade 12, during which students cannot disturb others. Teachers are encouraged to prompt parents to talk with their children about how best to use this time. Private, parochial, and home schools are exempt from these requirements. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2701 | 01/28/2025 | This bill amends Section 15-717 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to allow teachers and administrators in Arizona schools to read or post various historical and patriotic materials in school buildings. These materials include the national motto, the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and foundational documents such as the Declaration of Independence and writings of the founding fathers. Additionally, the bill permits teachers and administrators in accommodation schools and county jail education programs to display the Ten Commandments and works related to American patriotism in classrooms. However, accommodation schools established under section 15-465 are excluded from these provisions. The bill aims to broaden the scope of educational content available for promoting American history and heritage. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2700 | 01/28/2025 | This bill mandates updates to Arizona high school graduation requirements, enhancing social studies standards to include personal finance, American civics, geography, and discussions on political ideologies conflicting with U.S. founding principles. It increases the passing requirement for the civics test from 60 to 70 correct answers out of 100 for diplomas from 2026 onward. Schools can offer a separate personal finance course and must require at least half a credit in economics, covering financial literacy. A rigorous computer science course can substitute a math requirement if it includes substantial math content. The state board will adopt rules allowing students to earn credit for demonstrating competency without course enrollment, and transfer students will have their credits evaluated transparently. The bill requires aggregated civics test performance data reporting and ensures it remains free of identifiable student information. The inclusion of instruction on the Gulf of America in geography standards awaits the next social studies update. |
| Chris Lopez | HB2557 | 01/16/2025 | The bill appropriates $16.3 million from the state general fund for fiscal year 2025-26 to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The funds are designated for the widening and improvement of State Route 347, specifically the stretch between Interstate 10 and the city of Maricopa. This effort aims to enhance transportation infrastructure in the specified region, potentially reducing congestion and improving traffic flow on this key corridor. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2342 | 01/16/2025 | This bill mandates that cell phone network carriers in Arizona block spam calls and any calls initiated with dialer software from reaching phones within the state. The attorney general’s consumer protection division will create a website for residents to report violations and register their phone numbers on the Arizona Do Not Call List, which will be distributed to carriers monthly. If a carrier violates these stipulations, the first offense results in a written warning, while subsequent offenses incur a $100 civil penalty per call, with $50 retained by the attorney general’s office to fund the consumer protection division. The bill defines a “cell phone network carrier” as a provider of cellular connectivity to mobile devices and “dialer software” as tools that automate calls. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2341 | 01/16/2025 | The bill mandates that smoke dampers and fire dampers within fire protection systems be inspected in accordance with standards set by a nationally recognized standards developing organization. It allows the state forester and state fire marshal to provide certified inspectors to assist with these inspections upon request from local authorities. Additionally, it amends regulations concerning the adoption and enforcement of building and fire prevention codes by county boards of supervisors. The bill prohibits the imposition of penalties related to the installation of fire sprinklers in certain residential settings and clarifies requirements for fire watch personnel. By Jan. 1, 2026, cities, towns, or counties with adopted fire codes must enforce these updated requirements. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2340 | 01/16/2025 | The bill amends section 13-1105 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to address first-degree murder. It defines first-degree murder as a killing committed with premeditation, including the death of an unborn child, or occurring during the commission or attempted commission of specified felonies, including sexual assault, terrorism, and drug offenses. It specifies that the murder of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty is subject to heightened penalties, including death or natural life imprisonment. The bill clarifies that certain actions, such as legal abortions or medical treatments, are exempt from prosecution under this statute. First-degree murder is classified as a class 1 felony under the bill. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2281 | 01/15/2025 | This bill mandates the creation of a missing indigenous person alert system by the Arizona Department of Public Safety to facilitate swift responses when an indigenous person is reported missing. The system’s activation requires a request from an authorized law enforcement official after exhausting local resources, and when the disappearance involves unexplained or suspicious circumstances suggesting danger or peril. Additionally, the alert is issued only if there is actionable information that could help in locating the missing individual. The alert system must use the federally authorized emergency alert framework, and information should be shared with any other alert entities operating in the state. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2235 | 01/15/2025 | This bill mandates the placement of traffic signs on highways with two or more lanes, directing slower traffic to avoid the farthest left lane. The signs should read “left lane for passing only, slow traffic keep right,” and include a smaller sign indicating a $500 fine for violations, as per the civil penalty imposed by an amendment to Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-721. The law specifies that vehicles must generally drive on the right side of the roadway, except in certain conditions like overtaking or construction zones. It allows golf carts or neighborhood electric vehicles to be driven on paved shoulders in specific residential areas of large counties. Additionally, defensive driving schools and traffic survival schools must incorporate educational content about proper lane use, which the department will also include in its materials. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2234 | 01/15/2025 | This bill mandates the Arizona Department of Transportation to conduct and complete any tier 2 environmental and engineering studies necessary for the construction of Interstate 11. The act becomes effective 18 months after the general effective date, ensuring that preparatory work for the new interstate aligns with environmental and engineering standards before actual construction begins. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2102 | 01/10/2025 | This bill amends section 13-2314.01 of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to the anti-racketeering revolving fund. It specifies the management and permissible use of the fund’s monies, which are derived from recovered prosecution costs, federal agency contributions, and forfeitures related to racketeering. The bill prohibits the transfer of these monies to the state general fund and outlines authorized uses, including gang prevention, substance abuse programs, and victim assistance. Starting Aug. 27, 2025, the attorney general’s office cannot use fund monies to pay salaries for full-time positions. The bill also mandates quarterly reporting by agencies receiving funds, detailing expenditures and sources, and failure to file timely reports can result in withheld expenditures. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission is tasked with compiling these reports, which are then submitted to various state officials. Performance and financial audits by the auditor general are required biennially to ensure proper fund usage. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2101 | 01/10/2025 | The bill appropriates $10 million from the state general fund for the 2025-26 fiscal year to the state match advantage for rural transportation fund, as outlined in section 28-339 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. This funding is intended to support transportation infrastructure and services in rural areas, enhancing connectivity and accessibility for these communities. By allocating these funds, the bill aims to address transportation needs and improve overall infrastructure in less densely populated regions of Arizona. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2100 | 01/10/2025 | This bill establishes the “Made in Arizona” special license plate program in Arizona, wherein a person may pay $32,000 by Dec. 31, 2025, for its implementation. The Department of Transportation will produce the plates, which will include a design provided by the payer, subject to departmental approval. Of the $25 fee for the plates, $8 is allocated to administration, with $17 as an annual donation to the Made in Arizona Special Plate Fund. The funds will support workforce development in the advanced manufacturing sector and foster collaboration with community colleges. The bill also outlines licensing specifics, plate color and design requirements, and fund allocations. The State Highway Fund will manage revenues and expenditures related to this initiative as detailed in Sections 28-6501, 28-6991, and 28-6993. Additionally, the bill includes amendments to related statutes to ensure proper administration and use of the generated funds. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2099 | 01/10/2025 | This bill amends sections 41-101 and 41-192 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, enhancing the roles and responsibilities of the governor and the attorney general with particular emphasis on immigration-related tasks. The governor is required to enforce, administer, and cooperate with federal actions and programs related to federal immigration laws. The bill also grants the governor the authority to appoint certain officials, communicate officially on behalf of the state, and enter intergovernmental agreements to manage federal parks during shutdowns. Additionally, it outlines various duties of the attorney general, which include legal advisory roles, organizing the civil rights division, and enforcing antitrust laws. Both the governor and attorney general must adhere to prescribed procedures regarding appointments, reports, and the handling of official state matters. |
| Teresa Martinez | HB2029 | 01/07/2025 | This bill mandates that, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, Arizona public and charter schools providing internet-connected devices or access to students must offer internet safety instruction for grades five through 12. The instruction will cover best practices for protecting students from online predators, avoiding scams, safeguarding passwords and personal information, and shielding students from opioids like fentanyl. By June 30, 2026, the Arizona Department of Education is tasked with compiling age-appropriate resources to satisfy these instructional requirements. Parents will have the option to opt their children out of this internet safety instruction. |
