By Matthew Holloway |

Arizona has enacted new legislation tightening oversight of registered sex offenders who seek to change their legal names.

House Bill 2223, sponsored by Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), adds new disclosure and notification requirements for registered offenders filing a petition for a legal name change.

“Sex offenders should not be able to change their name and slip through cracks that put Arizona families at risk,” Nguyen said. “This bill closes a loophole and locks in accountability. Victims deserve to know when the person who harmed them is trying to change identities through the courts. If you are required to register, you will not use a name change to hide your past, dodge scrutiny, or erase your trail.”

Under the new law, individuals on Arizona’s sex offender registry who apply for a name change must disclose their registration status as part of the application.

The legislation also requires applicants whose convictions occurred in Arizona to provide a copy of the name-change petition to the prosecuting agency involved in their case. This provision is intended to ensure that prosecutors, and, where applicable, victims who have requested post-conviction notification, are informed of the request.

If a court approves a name change, the law directs judges to order that the individual continue registering under both the new legal name and the prior name. The order must be transmitted to the county sheriff, ensuring that both identities are maintained within law enforcement records.

Existing Arizona law under A.R.S. § 13-3822 already requires registered sex offenders to notify law enforcement of changes in residence and legal name. However, prior statutes did not require courts to formally link name-change orders to registry records or mandate notification to prosecutors during the petition process.

HB 2223 adds those procedural steps without changing who is required to register as a sex offender or the duration of registration requirements under Arizona law.

The bill passed the Arizona House in February 2026 and advanced through the Senate unanimously on April 2 before being signed into law.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.