What Changed for Clearing Your Record in Arizona in 2026

If you have an old Arizona conviction, you have probably wondered whether the law is finally moving in your favor. 2026 brought real movement. Two new record-clearing laws were signed in June, and a third that would have been the biggest change of all did not make it through. Here is a plain-language rundown of what passed, what it does for you, and what you can do to clear your record right now.

We handle Arizona record removal and nothing else, so we track these changes the day they happen. Both new laws were signed on June 5, 2026, and both take effect September 12, 2026. Until that date, they are law but not yet in force.

What does HB 2749 change about felonies and misdemeanors?

HB 2749 creates a new option under A.R.S. § 13-604.01. For the first time, Arizona will let you ask a judge to enter a class 1 misdemeanor on a class 4, 5, or 6 felony years after your case ended. Before this, only a class 6 felony qualified, and usually only at or near sentencing.

The requirements are strict. You have to meet all of them:

• The 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 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 in that time.
• The judge agrees it serves the interest of justice.

A few offenses never qualify, including cruelty to animals, misconduct involving weapons, and any offense that requires sex offender registration.

One more thing to know. HB 2749 is temporary. The law automatically ends after September 30, 2028 unless lawmakers vote to keep it, so the window to use it is roughly two years.

The no-victim requirement is the one that rules most people out. For the right case, though, this turns a felony record into a misdemeanor, which changes what shows up on a background check and what rights you get back. We break the details down in our full guide to HB 2749.

What does HB 2198 change about sealing records?

HB 2198 adds one line to Arizona’s sealing law, A.R.S. § 13-911. Once it takes effect, a petty offense will qualify for sealing with no waiting period, as soon as you finish your conditions and pay everything you owe.

A petty offense is a narrow category. It is an offense punishable only by a fine, with no jail time, and it is rarely charged. So this helps a small group of people, but for them it removes the wait entirely. For everyone else, the normal sealing waiting periods under A.R.S. § 13-911 still apply.

When do these 2026 laws take effect?

September 12, 2026. Arizona laws without an emergency clause start 91 days after the legislative session ends, and the 2026 session adjourned on June 13, 2026. You can confirm the date on the Arizona Legislature’s general effective dates page. Until September 12, neither HB 2749 nor HB 2198 is in force, so no judge will grant relief under them yet. HB 2749 is also temporary. It automatically ends after September 30, 2028 unless lawmakers vote to extend it.

What did not change: general expungement

This is the part most people ask about. A broader proposal that would have created Arizona’s first general misdemeanor expungement was introduced this session. It stalled and did not pass before the legislature adjourned on June 13, 2026.

General misdemeanor expungement is still not available in Arizona. The only expungement Arizona offers is for marijuana offenses under A.R.S. § 36-2862. If you have seen headlines about expunging your record in Arizona, that is the gap between the headline and the law. We will update this page if a general expungement bill returns and passes.

What can you do to clear your record right now?

You do not have to wait for new laws to take effect. Arizona already gives you several ways to clear or limit your record today. The right one depends on your case:

• Marijuana expungement under A.R.S. § 36-2862. If your case involved marijuana possession, the court can expunge it, which fully clears it. Learn more on our expungement page.
• Set-aside under A.R.S. § 13-905. This is the most common relief. The judge sets aside the conviction, releases you from its penalties, and your record shows the case was dismissed. See our set-aside page.
• Sealing your records under A.R.S. § 13-911. Sealing hides your case records from public background checks and covers many arrests, charges, and convictions. See our sealing records page, or how to seal a dismissed case.
• Designation to misdemeanor under A.R.S. § 13-604. If you have an undesignated class 6 felony, the court can designate it a misdemeanor now, without waiting for HB 2749. See designate to misdemeanor.
• Restoration of firearm and civil rights. If you lost gun or civil rights after a felony, you can petition to restore them. See restore firearm rights.
• Early termination of probation under A.R.S. § 13-901(E). Ending probation early moves up your eligibility for the relief above. See terminate probation early.

Who do the 2026 changes actually help?

HB 2749 helps a specific person: someone with a single older class 4, 5, or 6 felony, no victim in the case, a clean record for five years, and every court obligation paid. If that describes you, it is worth a look once the law takes effect. HB 2198 helps the small group with a petty-offense record who want to seal without waiting.

Most people asking about their record fall outside both. That is not bad news. It means the relief you need already exists under Arizona’s set-aside, sealing, and marijuana expungement laws. The job is matching your case to the right one and filing it correctly.

Why people come to us

We handle Arizona record removal and nothing else. We know which relief fits which case, and we file the path most likely to be granted the first time, because a denial can cost you years of extra waiting. We have cleared records across Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, and the rest of the state, and we tell you honestly, before you hire us, whether you qualify.

The bottom line

2026 added two narrow tools and left the biggest one on the table. The laws that passed take effect September 12, 2026, and the general expungement most people want is still not here. Arizona already has real ways to clear your record, though, and the right one depends on your case. Take our free eligibility check or call us, and we will tell you exactly what fits your record.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Arizona’s 2026 record-clearing laws take effect?

HB 2749 and HB 2198 were both signed on June 5, 2026, and take effect September 12, 2026. Until that date they are law but not yet in force. Arizona laws without an emergency clause start 91 days after the legislative session ends, and the 2026 session adjourned on June 13, 2026. HB 2749 is also temporary. It automatically ends after September 30, 2028 unless lawmakers vote to extend it.

Can I expunge a non-marijuana conviction in Arizona in 2026?

No. Arizona’s only expungement is for marijuana offenses under A.R.S. § 36-2862. A general misdemeanor expungement bill was introduced in 2026 but did not pass. For non-marijuana cases, a set-aside under A.R.S. § 13-905 and sealing under A.R.S. § 13-911 are the available options.

Does HB 2749 let me turn any felony into a misdemeanor?

No. HB 2749 (A.R.S. § 13-604.01) applies only to class 4, 5, and 6 non-dangerous felonies, and only if you have no prior felony, no victim in the case, all terms complete, and at least five years since you completed your sentence. The no-victim requirement rules out most cases.

What is the difference between sealing and a set-aside in Arizona?

A set-aside under A.R.S. § 13-905 releases you from the penalties of a conviction and shows the case as dismissed. Sealing under A.R.S. § 13-911 hides your case records from public background checks. Many people qualify for both, and the right choice depends on your goal.