What Changed for Clearing Your Record in Arizona in 2026

What Changed for Clearing Your Record in Arizona in 2026

2026 has been a busy year for Arizona’s record-clearing laws. Two new laws were signed in June, and a third that could have been the biggest change of all stalled at the capitol. Here is a plain-language rundown of what happened and what it means for you.

HB 2749: More Felonies Can Become Misdemeanors

Signed June 5, 2026, HB 2749 creates a new option (A.R.S. § 13-604.01) to reduce certain class 4, 5, and 6 felonies to a class 1 misdemeanor years after a case ends. It comes with strict requirements: no prior felony, no victim, everything completed, five years clean, and the judge’s agreement that it serves the interest of justice. The law is signed but not yet in effect, since Arizona laws generally start 91 days after the session ends. Read the full breakdown of HB 2749.

HB 2198: Petty Offenses Can Be Sealed Immediately

Also signed June 5, 2026, HB 2198 adds one line to Arizona’s sealing law (A.R.S. § 13-911): a petty offense can now be sealed with no waiting period, once you finish your conditions and pay everything owed. The catch is that a petty offense is a narrow category, an offense punishable only by a fine, with no jail, and it is rarely charged. So this helps a small group, but for those people it removes the wait entirely. Like HB 2749, it takes effect once the 2026 session ends.

SB 1140: The Big One That Stalled

SB 1140 would have created Arizona’s first general misdemeanor expungement, a stronger remedy than sealing that treats a conviction as if it never happened. It passed the Senate 27 to 1, then stalled in a House committee and never reached the governor. As of June 9, 2026 it is not law, and you cannot expunge a general misdemeanor in Arizona. We are watching it closely. If it moves again, we will be ready.

What You Can Do Right Now

While the new laws take shape, the tools that clear records today are still here: sealing records, set asides, and marijuana expungement. Many people qualify for relief right now and do not realize it.

Take our quick eligibility quiz to see which options fit your case, including the new ones as they take effect.