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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
criminal justice; 2026-2027.
Purpose
Makes statutory and session law changes relating to criminal justice necessary to implement the FY 2027 state budget.
Background
The Arizona Constitution prohibits substantive law from being included in the general appropriations, capital outlay appropriations and supplemental appropriations bills. However, it is often necessary to make statutory and session law changes to effectuate the budget. Thus, separate bills called budget reconciliation bills (BRBs) are introduced to enact these provisions. Because BRBs contain substantive law changes, the Arizona Constitution provides that they become effective on the general effective date, unless an emergency clause is enacted.
S.B. 1851 contains the budget reconciliation provisions for changes relating to criminal justice.
Provisions
1. Prohibits, retroactive to January 1, 2026, state agencies, boards, commissions and departments from using monies from any fund or source other than the Erroneous Convictions Fund (Fund) to pay for any reimbursements or compensation awarded for successful erroneous conviction claims.
2. Establishes, retroactive to January 1, 2026, that the state is not liable to pay for any amount of reimbursement or compensation awarded for successful erroneous conviction claims in excess of the monies available in the Fund.
3. Increases, from $2,500,000 to $12,500,000, the monies that the Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) must annually transfer from the Corrections Fund to the Corrections Building Renewal Fund.
4. Consolidates reporting requirements for the ADCRR Transition Program and specifies that the Director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee must receive a copy of the full consolidated report.
5. Requires the full consolidated ADCRR Transition Program report to be submitted by November 30 of each year, rather than by July 31 of each year.
6. Repeals the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board within the Attorney General's Civil Rights Division.
7. Delays the implementation of the Major Incident Division within the Department of Public Safety until July 1, 2028, rather than July 1, 2027.
8. Makes technical and conforming changes.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with retroactive provisions as noted.
Prepared by Senate Research
June 8, 2026
ZD/ci