Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Apr. 16 that HB 2132, a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for fentanyl traffickers, has been signed into law by Governor Hobbs. The legislation was proposed by the Attorney General’s Office and developed in partnership with Arizona lawmakers to address gaps that allowed traffickers to evade prosecution, especially in rural areas.
The issue is significant as fentanyl continues to impact communities across Arizona, with rural counties facing some of the highest opioid-related death rates. “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 lowers the amount of fentanyl required for enhanced criminal sentencing from 200 grams to 100 grams—equivalent to about 1,000 pills—reflecting patterns where traffickers divide larger quantities into smaller amounts for distribution while avoiding harsher penalties under previous statutes. The law also increases penalties for possessing fentanyl in motor vehicles and expands enhanced sentencing provisions to include both possession and transportation intended for sale.
La Paz County currently leads Arizona with over 46 opioid-related deaths per 100,000 residents, followed by Gila and Graham counties. The Attorney General’s Office plays a key role in community protection efforts throughout the state by addressing issues such as elder abuse, civil rights violations, unsolved crimes through its cold case unit according to the official website.
The office functions as Arizona’s primary legal entity offering advocacy and protective services statewide according to its official website. It also participates in federal lawsuits and supports initiatives including fair housing measures and accountability efforts related to social media companies as reported on its website.
Kris Mayes serves as Arizona’s 27th attorney general—the first mother elected to this position—and oversees an office responsible for comprehensive legal support across all regions of the state according to information from the official site.
