Arizona State Representative Pamela Carter said on April 13 that new legislation known as Cade’s Law expands legal accountability for targeted online communications involving minors in Arizona. The statement follows the signing of House Bill 2665, which was developed after advocacy related to an Arizona teen suicide case involving online posts, according to a press release from the State Capitol in Phoenix. The bill extends existing statutes on assistance in suicide to cover specific forms of digital communication aimed at minors, reflecting efforts by state lawmakers to address gaps in prior legal frameworks, according to the Arizona House GOP.
The issue is significant as Arizona reports a teen suicide rate of 13.8 deaths per 100,000 adolescents ages 15 to 19, placing the state at rank 33 nationally and standing 22.6 percent higher than the overall U.S. rate for the same age group. American Indian or Alaska Native teenagers face nearly five times the risk compared with Hispanic teenagers in the state, and rural areas show elevated rates particularly among older youth. These patterns highlight ongoing regional challenges with youth mental health and self-harm, according to America’s Health Rankings.
“Teen suicide is a crisis, and we cannot ignore it. Cade Keller was only 16. He loved welding and had plans to attend Mesa Community College. Then his life was cut short. Cade’s Law makes this a crime. If you see warning signs, do not wait. Make the call. Get help. Step in,” Carter said.
Nationally, suicide ranks as the third leading cause of death among U.S. high school youth ages 14 to 18 with 1,952 related deaths recorded in 2021 according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis. Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness affected over 42 percent of high school students during the prior year while nearly 30 percent reported poor mental health most or all of the time in the past month. The overall youth suicide rate for ages 10 to 24 rose 62 percent between 2007 and 2021 reaching 11 deaths per 100,000.
Carter serves as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 4 in Phoenix and was elected in 2025 replacing previous representative Laura Terech, according to her official biography and election records.
