The Public Advocacy Division is made up of Consumer Protection and Environmental Enforcement. The Division pursues those who prey upon the public and threaten the economic and environmental well-being of Arizonans. The Division’s attorneys provide legal advice to the State’s Banking, Real Estate, and Insurance Departments.

The Consumer Protection Section enforces consumer protection laws and educates consumers on how to avoid becoming victims of fraud.  The Section’s Antitrust Unit protects competition and consumer welfare in Arizona by enforcing state and federal antitrust laws.  The Antitrust Unit investigates and, when warranted, files suit against businesses and individuals engaged in price fixing; bid rigging; concerted refusals to deal with customers, suppliers or rivals; allocating territories or customers; monopolization and attempted monopolization.  Pursuant to a mandate from the Arizona Legislature, in addition to the activities described above, the Antitrust Unit also tracks and analyzes gasoline prices within the State.  If you believe you have evidence that individuals or businesses have engaged in anticompetitive behavior, please file a written Complaint.

The Tobacco Enforcement Unit of the Consumer Protection Section helps regulate the sale of tobacco in Arizona with an underlying commitment to public health. The Unit ensures that tobacco manufacturers comply with state laws and enforces groundbreaking tobacco settlements that benefit state health programs. The Unit also administers the Arizona Youth Tobacco Counterstrike Program, a cooperative effort with the Arizona Department of Health Services, which targets underage tobacco sales

The Environmental Enforcement Section prosecutes criminal activity and civil violations related to Arizona's environmental laws and serious industrial injuries.  The mission of the Environmental Enforcement Section is to provide the highest quality legal advice and representation to client agencies for the fair enforcement of civil environmental law and of civil natural resources law.  The Section provides advice, enforcement and representation activities related to state and federal environmental and natural resources law.  The Section is divided into three components:  The Civil Unit; Air and Tanks Unit; and the Superfund Programs Unit.  The Civil Unit advises, represents and litigates on behalf of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for various programs in ADEQ, including water quality, safe drinking water, hazardous waste and solid waste, as well as waste management practices.  The Unit also represents the Department of Agriculture, as well as other state agencies and boards.  The Air and Tanks Unit advises, represents and litigates on behalf of ADEQ’s air and underground storage tanks programs, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Commission.  The Superfund Programs Unit advises, represents, and litigates on behalf of ADEQ involving matters arising under state and federal Superfund laws.