fraudulent schemes; artifices; jurisdiction

HB 2970 amends Arizona law to strengthen penalties for fraud by defining it as knowingly obtaining benefits through false claims, lies, or hiding key facts. It removes the requirement that prosecutors prove victims relied on the fraud and bars probation or early release for serious cases involving $100,000+ in fraud or opioid sales. The law also allows Arizona to prosecute fraud even if parts of the scheme occurred outside state borders. This directly affects individuals or entities committing fraud, with stricter sentencing for large-scale or opioid-related offenses.