Assigned to JUDE FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2340
murder; law enforcement; punishment
Purpose
States that intentional first degree murder in which a person causes the death of a law
enforcement officer who is in the line of duty is punishable by death or natural life.
Background
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 with premeditation; 2) in the course
of or flight from specified offenses, the person causes the death of any person; and 3) intending or
knowing that the persons 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 (A.R.S. § 13-1105).
First degree murder is a class 1 felony and is punishable by death or life imprisonment. A
defendant who is at least 18 years of age at the time of the offense and convicted of first degree
murder based on causing the death of another person with premeditation or causing the death of a
law enforcement officer, must be sentenced to death or imprisonment for natural life. A defendant
who was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense and convicted of first degree murder
based on causing the death of another person with premeditation or causing the death of a law
enforcement officer, must be sentenced to imprisonment for life or natural life.
A defendant sentenced to natural life is not eligible for release from confinement on any
basis. A defendant sentenced to life must not be released until the completion of service of 25
years, if the murdered person is at least 15 years of age, or 35 years if the murdered person is under
15 years of age (A.R.S. §§ 13-751 and 13-752).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that intentional first degree murder is punishable by death or natural life if a person,
intending or knowing that the person's conduct will cause the death to a law enforcement
officer, causes the death of a law enforcement officer who is in the line of duty.
2. Defines law enforcement officer as:
a) a regularly employed and paid individual, other than a probationary employee, who is
certified by the Arizona peace officer standards and training board and who is working in
a position requiring certification by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training
Board, other than a person employed by a multi-county water conservation district, an
at-will employee or a voluntary or reserve employee; or
b) a corrections officer or detention officer, other than a juvenile detention officer, who is
employed by this state or a political subdivision of the state. FACT SHEET
H.B. 2340
Page 2
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
JUD 2/19/25 DP 5-0-4-0
3
rd
Read 3/4/25 48-10-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2025
ZD/AW/ci