unlawful occupants; forcible entry; detainer
SB 1426 amends Arizona law to clarify and expedite eviction procedures for unauthorized occupants in residential properties. It defines "forcible detainer" when someone unlawfully occupies a home without prior agreement, family ties, or legal rights, and requires landlords to provide written demand before seeking eviction. The bill mandates courts to issue immediate writs of restitution (eviction orders) after judgment in these cases, skipping standard wait periods. It directly affects landlords and unauthorized occupants in residential dwellings, excluding current/family tenants or those with existing agreements. The key change is creating a faster legal process for removing unlawful occupants through written demand and expedited court action.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Jan 28, 2026
Signed May 29, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
Introduced Version
→
House Engrossed Version (04/28/2026)
·
3 edits
·
May 26, 2026
MINOR
The bill was updated from an introduced version to a House Engrossed version, which includes significant substantive changes to how forcible detainer cases are handled. The most important addition is an exemption for standard landlord-tenant disputes, ensuring this law does not override existing rental protections. Additionally, the definition of a forcible detainer was expanded to include unauthorized occupants who refuse to leave after a reasonable request, and the process for evicting these individuals was accelerated.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly excludes standard landlord-tenant disputes under Title 33, Chapter 10, limiting its scope to unauthorized occupants and specific forcible entry scenarios.
SCOPE
Added a provision stating that this section does not apply to or modify rights and remedies for landlords and tenants under standard rental laws.
DEFINITION
Expanded the definition of forcible detainer to include situations where an unauthorized person refuses to leave after a reasonable request.
TIMELINE
Modified the timeline for eviction of unauthorized persons to allow for immediate issuance of a writ of restitution after a judgment.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 26, 2026 · House Apr 28, 2026
How they voted
27–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 30
Feb 26, 2026
D
Democratic13
92% Yea
R
Republican17
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
16
Key actions
8
Committee
2
Amendments
1
May 29, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
May 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED
upper
Apr 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
DPA
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
DP
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Upper · Passed
PASSED
upper
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
DP
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 1426
Scope: AZ
Hi! I can help you understand SB 1426. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline