Arizona 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 1344 — felony murder; fentanyl; sentencing

Last action — House Second Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Senate Bill 1344 introduced new language defining the criteria under which felony murder can be charged, particularly when the crime is connected to illegal drug dealings involving minors and other serious offenses. It simplifies the mental state required for homicide by stating that no specific intent is necessary beyond what is needed for the underlying crimes listed. This change is significant as it potentially broadens the circumstances under which individuals can be prosecuted for felony murder, especially in relation to drug-related activities and violence, which could lead to harsher penalties for those involved in such enterprises.

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Latest
Fifty-sixth Legislature Judiciary Second Regular Session S.B.
Senate Engrossed felony murder;
1344 PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS TO S.B.
fentanyl;
1344 (Reference to printed bill) Page 1, line 19, after "FENTANYL" insert ", THE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED AS PART OF THE PERSON'S ASSOCIATION WITH AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CONDUCT OF AN ENTERPRISE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 13-2301, SUBSECTION D, PARAGRAPH 2 THAT IS ENGAGED IN DEALING IN ILLEGAL DRUGS AND THE PERSON ORGANIZED, MANAGED, DIRECTED, SUPERVISED OR FINANCED THE ENTERPRISE WITH THE INTENT TO PROMOTE OR FURTHER ITS CRIMINAL OBJECTIVES" Amend title to conform ANTHONY KERN 1344KERN.docx 02/14/2024 10:47 AM C:
sentencing State of Arizona Senate Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session SENATE BILL 1344 AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 13-1105, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES;
AS
RELATING TO HOMICIDE.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) - i - S.B.
1344 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1.
Section 13-1105, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
13-1105.
First degree murder;
classification A.
A person commits first degree murder if:
1.
Intending or knowing that the person's conduct will cause death, the person causes the death of another person, including an unborn child, with premeditation or, as a result of causing the death of another person with premeditation, causes the death of an unborn child.
2.
Acting either alone or with one or more other persons the person commits or attempts to commit sexual conduct with a minor under section 13-1405, sexual assault under section 13-1406, molestation of a child under section 13-1410, terrorism under section 13-2308.01, marijuana offenses under section 13-3405, subsection A, paragraph 4, dangerous drug offenses under section 13-3407, subsection A, paragraphs 4 and 7, narcotics offenses under section 13-3408, subsection A, paragraph 7 that equal or exceed the statutory threshold amount for each offense or combination of offenses, NARCOTICS OFFENSES UNDER SECTION 13-3408, SUBSECTION A, PARAGRAPHS 2, 4 AND 7 IF THE NARCOTIC INVOLVED IS FENTANYL, THE OFFENSE WAS COMMITTED AS PART OF THE PERSON'S ASSOCIATION WITH AND PARTICIPATION IN THE CONDUCT OF AN ENTERPRISE AS DEFINED IN SECTION 13-2301, SUBSECTION D, PARAGRAPH 2 THAT IS ENGAGED IN DEALING IN ILLEGAL DRUGS AND THE PERSON ORGANIZED, MANAGED, DIRECTED, SUPERVISED OR FINANCED THE ENTERPRISE WITH THE INTENT TO PROMOTE OR FURTHER ITS CRIMINAL OBJECTIVES, involving or using minors in drug offenses under section 13-3409, drive by shooting under section 13-1209, kidnapping under section 13-1304, burglary under section 13-1506, 13-1507 or 13-1508, arson under section 13-1703 or 13-1704, robbery under section 13-1902, 13-1903 or 13-1904, escape under section 13-2503 or 13-2504, child abuse under section 13-3623, subsection A, paragraph 1 or unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle under section 28-622.01 and, in the course of and in furtherance of the offense or immediate flight from the offense, the person or another person causes the death of any person.
3.
Intending or knowing that the person's conduct will cause death to a law enforcement officer, the person causes the death of a law enforcement officer who is in the line of duty.
B.
Homicide, as prescribed in subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section, requires no specific mental state other than what is required for the commission of any of the enumerated felonies.
C.
An offense under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section applies to an unborn child in the womb at any stage of its development.
A person shall not be prosecuted under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section if any of the following applies:
- 1 - S.B.
1344 1.
The person was performing an abortion for which the consent of the pregnant woman, or a person authorized by law to act on the pregnant woman's behalf, has been obtained or for which the consent was implied or authorized by law.
2.
The person was performing medical treatment on the pregnant woman or the pregnant woman's unborn child.
3.
The person was the unborn child's mother.
D.
First degree murder is a class 1 felony and is punishable by death or life imprisonment as provided by sections 13-751 and 13-752.
- 2 -
View plain text versions (3)

Action History

  1. House Second Reading

  2. House First Reading.

  3. Transmit to House

  4. PASSED

  5. DPA

  6. DPA

  7. Senate Second Reading

  8. Senate First Reading

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 92 not signed on · 10 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (92)

92 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 92 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passed

Passed 18 Yea · 10 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 1802
Unaffiliated 6200
Republican 11000
Total 181002
% of votes cast 60%33%0%7%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Anna Hernandez — Nay
Anthony Kern — Yea
Christine Marsh — Yea
Juan Mendez — Nay
Justine Wadsack — Yea
Ken Bennett — Yea
Sine Kerr — Yea
Sonny Borrelli — Yea
Brian Fernandez Democrat Nay
Catherine Miranda Democrat Yea
Denise “Mitzi” Epstein Democrat Nay
Eva Burch Democrat Not Voting
Eva Diaz Democrat Not Voting
Flavio Bravo Democrat Nay
Lela Alston Democrat Nay
Priya Sundareshan Democrat Nay
Rosanna Gabaldón Democrat Nay
Sally Ann Gonzales Democrat Nay
Theresa Hatathlie Democrat Nay
David C. Farnsworth Republican Yea
David Gowan Republican Yea
Frank Carroll Republican Yea
J.D. Mesnard Republican Yea
Jake Hoffman Republican Yea
Janae Shamp Republican Yea
John Kavanagh Republican Yea
Shawnna Bolick Republican Yea
Thomas "T.J." Shope Republican Yea
Warren Petersen Republican Yea
Wendy Rogers Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 1344?
SB 1344 is sponsored by Anthony Kern.
What is the current status of SB 1344?
This bill died with 56th Legislature - Second Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 1344?
Track SB 1344 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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