Arizona now splits prostitution into 2 crimes, making paying or offering to pay for sex a class 6 felony with mandatory jail minimums and a $200 assessment for victim services, while selling sex stays a class 1 misdemeanor; sex trafficking victims whose convictions are vacated also get their records sealed.
Official title: prostitution; assessment; anti-human trafficking fund
- September 12, 2026
What changes
BeforeThe law made it a crime to knowingly "engage in prostitution," a class 1 misdemeanor with mandatory jail minimums of 15, 30 and 60 days for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd conviction, and a class 5 felony for a 4th or later.
NowKnowingly offering, agreeing or receiving money or something of value for sexual conduct stays a class 1 misdemeanor with those same penalties. Knowingly offering, agreeing or paying for sexual conduct is a separate class 6 felony with the same 15, 30 and 60 day jail minimums and no probation until the jail time is served. A 4th or later conviction for paying is a class 4 felony with at least 180 days in jail.
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NowA person convicted of paying, agreeing or offering to pay for sexual conduct must be ordered to pay a $200 assessment on top of other assessments. It cannot be waived and has no surcharge. The money goes to the state's anti-human trafficking grant fund and must be used only for services to victims of sex trafficking.
BeforeIt was a defense to a prostitution charge that the person acted as a direct result of being a sex trafficking victim.
NowThis defense applies only to the charge of receiving or agreeing to receive payment for sexual conduct, not to the charge of paying for it.
BeforeWhen a court vacated (canceled) a prostitution conviction of a sex trafficking victim, it noted in records that the conviction was vacated and the person was a crime victim.
NowThe court must also order all records of the person's arrest, conviction and sentence sealed. These people may petition to seal records immediately, and sealed records from a vacated conviction cannot be used for things like proving a prior conviction, impeaching a witness or increasing a later sentence.
BeforeTo get money from the anti-human trafficking grant fund, a program had to either help law enforcement, or provide victim services and training.
NowA program must do 1 of 3 things: help law enforcement, provide services to human trafficking victims, or provide training on preventing and identifying human trafficking. The fund now also receives the new $200 assessments.
Who it affects
- People charged with paying or offering to pay for sex
- People charged with selling sex
- Sex trafficking victims with prostitution convictions
- Programs that serve trafficking victims or work against human trafficking
- Courts, county treasurers and the state treasurer
- The state department that runs the anti-human trafficking grant fund
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- Whether paying for sex was already covered by the earlier phrase "engage in prostitution"
- Whether the new rules apply to offenses committed before the law takes effect
- Whether people already vacated as trafficking victims will have their records sealed automatically
- How much money the $200 assessment is expected to raise
- Which specific programs will receive grant money
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.