New Arizona Law Will Expand Who Can Turn a Felony Into a Misdemeanor (HB 2749)

New Arizona Law Will Expand Who Can Turn a Felony Into a Misdemeanor

On June 5, 2026, Governor Katie Hobbs signed HB 2749 into law. For the first time, Arizona will let people reduce certain class 4, 5, and 6 felonies down to a class 1 misdemeanor years after a case ends. Until now, only a class 6 felony could be designated this way, and usually only at sentencing.

This is a brand-new option under A.R.S. § 13-604.01, and it could change the lives of people who have carried a felony label for years.

What HB 2749 Changes

Before this law, your only path to drop a felony to a misdemeanor was a class 6 felony, designated at or near sentencing, or later if the judge left it undesignated. HB 2749 goes further. It lets you ask the judge to enter a class 1 misdemeanor on a class 4, 5, or 6 felony long after your case closed, as long as you meet every requirement.

Who Will Qualify

The new law sets a high bar. You must meet all of these:

• Your felony was not a dangerous offense.
• You have no prior felony conviction.
• Your case did not involve a victim.
• You finished everything the judge ordered, including paying all fines, fees, and restitution.
• At least five years have passed since you completed your sentence, with no new felony and no new misdemeanor involving a victim during that time.
• The judge agrees it is in the interest of justice.

A few offenses are excluded outright no matter what: cruelty to animals (A.R.S. § 13-2910), misconduct involving weapons (A.R.S. § 13-3102), and any offense that requires sex-offender registration (A.R.S. § 13-3821).

The “no victim” requirement is the one that rules out most cases. Many felonies involve a victim, and those will not qualify. But for non-victim offenses, like certain drug or property cases, this opens a door that did not exist before.

When Does It Take Effect

HB 2749 was signed on June 5, 2026. The Arizona Legislature adjourned on June 13, 2026, and laws without an emergency clause take effect 91 days later. That sets a firm date: HB 2749 takes effect September 12, 2026. You can confirm the date on the Arizona Legislature’s general effective dates page.

Here is what matters for you: no one can file under this law before September 12, 2026, but you can find out now whether you qualify. If you do, we can have your application ready to file the day the law takes effect.

This Law Has an Expiration Date

HB 2749 is temporary. The law it creates, A.R.S. § 13-604.01, automatically ends after September 30, 2028. Lawmakers built it as a two-year test run. Unless they vote to keep it, this option goes away.

That gives you roughly two years, from September 12, 2026 through September 30, 2028, to use it. Judges take time to rule, so do not wait until 2028. If you qualify, file early so your judgment is entered while the law is still active. If lawmakers do not renew it, there is no second window.

Why Dropping a Felony to a Misdemeanor Matters

A felony follows you. It shows up on background checks, blocks jobs and professional licenses, affects housing, and takes away your gun rights. Designating it to a misdemeanor removes the felony label, which can reopen opportunities a felony quietly closed. Pair it with a set aside or sealing, and you move even closer to a clean slate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does HB 2749 erase my record?
No. It changes a felony to a misdemeanor. To go further, you may also qualify to set aside or seal the case.

What if my case had a victim?
Then this law does not apply. You may still have other options, like a set aside, so it is worth a review.

Can I apply right now?
Not before September 12, 2026, the day HB 2749 takes effect. The smart move is to confirm your eligibility now so your application is ready to file on day one.

How long will this law be available?
Until September 30, 2028. After that date the law automatically ends unless lawmakers vote to extend it. Treat it as a two-year window and file early.

Find Out If You Qualify

Take our quick eligibility quiz or reach out, and we will tell you whether HB 2749 will work for your case and what to do next. See if you qualify, or learn more about designating a felony to a misdemeanor.