Arizona House bill by Rep. Payne establishes new felony arrest warrant process

Passed bill authored by State Rep. Kevin Payne seeks to establish a standardized process for issuing arrest warrants in felony cases, requiring magistrate review and adherence to a Supreme Court–adopted form, according to the Arizona State Senate.

It passed both chambers as of June 19, clearing the House by a vote of 37-21 and the Senate by a vote of 19-11.

The bill, introduced as SB1232 on Jan. 22, during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature, was formally listed with the short title: ‘issuance; affidavit; arrest warrant’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Arizona Revised Statutes to establish a new process for issuing arrest warrants for felony offenses. A magistrate is required to issue an arrest warrant after reviewing and affirming an affidavit from a peace officer, which must contain sufficient facts to establish probable cause that a specific felony has been committed and that a particular individual is responsible. The arrest warrant must conform to a form adopted by the Arizona Supreme Court. The definition of an “arrest warrant” is detailed as a written order issued in the state’s name, signed by a magistrate, and directed to a peace officer to arrest the named individual and present them before a magistrate according to Supreme Court rules.

In the House, five Democrats and 32 Republicans voted in favor while 20 Democrats and one Republican opposed it.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, three Democrats and 16 Republicans voted in favor while 10 Democrats and one Republican voted against it.

Payne introduced the bill in the Arizona Senate on Jan. 22 during the first regular session of the 57th Legislature.

Payne, a Republican, was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 2025 to represent the state’s 27th Senate District, replacing previous state senator Anthony Kern.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs on June 27.

In Arizona, the legislative process begins when a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then assigned to one or more committees for discussion and possible amendment. If approved by committee, the bill proceeds to floor debate and voting in both chambers. If both chambers pass the bill, it is sent to the governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without a signature. The Arizona Legislature convenes annually in regular session starting the second Monday in January. Lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each session, though only a portion make it into law. You can learn more about the legislative process on the Arizona State Legislature website.