Attorney General Mayes' Push To Protect Arizonans From Fentanyl Trafficking Becomes Law

PHOENIX — Attorney General Kris Mayes today celebrated the signing of HB 2132 into law, new legislation that the Attorney General’s Office proposed and worked alongside Arizona legislators to pass. The law directly targets fentanyl traffickers who have exploited gaps in Arizona statute, particularly in rural communities hit hardest by the crisis. Governor Hobbs signed the legislation into law this week.

"Fentanyl is killing Arizonans in every corner of our state and for too long, traffickers have found ways to evade the full weight of our laws," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "My office proposed this legislation because the data made clear that rural communities were being particularly hard hit while traffickers evaded accountability. This new law will give tools to prosecutors and law enforcement across our state to keep our communities safe."

HB 2132 reduces the fentanyl threshold that triggers enhanced criminal sentencing from 200 grams to 100 grams — roughly 1,000 pills. The change reflects the realities of how fentanyl moves through Arizona: traffickers routinely break large supplies into smaller quantities for redistribution across rural communities, staying just below the old threshold to avoid stiffer penalties.

La Paz County leads the state in opioid-related deaths at over 46 per 100,000 residents, followed by Gila and Graham counties. The law also strengthens sentencing for fentanyl possession in motor vehicles and expands enhanced sentencing to cover both possession and transportation for sale.