Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking in Arizona
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 9, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Senate Republicans are advancing legislation to combat human trafficking while strengthening Arizona's ability to protect victims and hold traffickers accountable.
Human trafficking is happening in Arizona communities, often targeting women and children through coercion, grooming, or online exploitation. Traffickers rely on gaps in existing law, especially where technology is involved, to avoid accountability. Two bills moving this session are designed to close those gaps.
SB 1416, sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick, passed the Senate today with full Republican support. The legislation focuses on the first critical hours after a child goes missing or is abducted. It requires faster reporting to state and national databases, immediate coordination with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and timely public alerts through media and social platforms. The bill also strengthens training requirements so law enforcement agencies are prepared to act without delay.
"When a child goes missing, time matters. Delays cost lives," said Senator Bolick. "SB 1416 ensures that law enforcement has clear, enforceable requirements to act immediately, share information quickly, and engage the public right away. This is about urgency, accountability, and giving families the best possible chance to bring their child home safely."
SB 1077, sponsored by Senator Mark Finchem, passed the Senate last week, despite all Democrats voting no, and is now being considered in the House. The bill targets individuals and online platforms that operate for the primary purpose of facilitating prostitution or child sex trafficking. SB 1077 makes it a serious felony to knowingly profit from websites or services that facilitate the trafficking of minors, holding accountable those who intentionally enable the exploitation of children online.
"Traffickers don't operate in dark alleys anymore. These perverts use websites, apps, and digital tools to exploit children," said Senator Finchem. "SB 1077 makes it clear that if you knowingly enable that activity, you will be held accountable. This bill closes loopholes that predators rely on and sends a strong message that Arizona will not tolerate profiting off the exploitation of children."
Both bills were informed by work conducted during the 2025 interim, when Senate President Warren Petersen convened a Human and Sex Trafficking Task Force. Law enforcement, prosecutors, survivors, and victim-rights advocates shared firsthand experiences that highlighted weaknesses in current law while underscoring the need for legislative action.
"President Petersen's human trafficking task force led to the development of these laws which will give better tools to law-enforcement in the fight to protect our children from these monsters who are profiteering off of their vulnerability," said Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, former President of the Arizona Sheriffs' Association. "I am grateful and fully support these needed changes in the law."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus