The Overview

Families of deceased minors in Arizona now have new protections over images and recordings of their children under House Bill 2406, titled "minors; victims' rights; public records." The law limits what the public and media can obtain through public records requests when a child has died, a question that has drawn attention in states across the country as families have fought to keep graphic images of their children out of courtrooms, news reports, and the internet. ​

The bill started as a study of the Department of Veterans' Services but was substantially rewritten during the legislative process before it was signed into law.

What the Law Does

The law restricts access to images and recordings depicting a deceased minor, placing new limits on what can be released as public records. Before this law, Arizona's public records rules did not specifically shield such materials from disclosure, meaning images or recordings of a deceased child could potentially be obtained through a standard records request.

The law brings Arizona's public records rules in line with its existing victims' rights framework, extending those protections to cover minors who have died. Families who have lost a child now have a clearer legal basis to object to the release of images or recordings of their child, whether those materials come from law enforcement, medical examiners, or other government agencies.

The chaptered version of the law is available at the Arizona Legislature's website.

Legislative Status

Rep. Julie Willoughby (R-AZ-13) sponsored the bill. The Arizona House passed it 56 to zero on Feb. 24. The unanimous House vote signaled broad early support across party lines.

The Senate passed it 17 to 12 on June 12. The House then passed the amended version 36 to 17 on June 13. The closer margins in both chambers on the amended bill reflect the changes made during the Senate's consideration of the measure.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) signed the bill on June 22, making it Chapter 250.

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