HB 4006

REFERENCE TITLE: defamation actions; sexual offenses
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 4006
Introduced by
Representatives
  Villegas: Aguilar, Austin, Cavero, Contreras P, Crews, Garcia, Liguori,
  M�rquez, Mathis, Peshlakai, Sandoval, Simacek, Stahl Hamilton
AN
ACT
amending title 12, chapter 6, article 6,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 12-651.01; relating to libel
and slander.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 12, chapter 6, article 6,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 12-651.01, to read:
START_STATUTE12-651.01. Defamation actions; sexual offenses
A. a person who is accused of sexual
misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or domestic
violence may not use a defamation action to silence or retaliate against the
accusing person or a staff member or third party reporting the sexual
misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment or domestic
violence, including cases where the alleged perpetrator is publicly named.
b. Defamation actions where an
accuser is publicly named by a person or a staff member or third person
reporting alleged sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual
harassment or domestic violence may be brought for cases where cited
documentation and evidence can establish within the initial court filing one or
more of the following:
1. The claimed act in the reported
accusation was a factual impossibility for the accused to have perpetrated.
2. The accuser has been impeached in
a courtroom proceeding regarding the same alleged facts as in the present
reported accusation.
3. The accuser has publicly made
contrary statements involving relevant, material facts regarding the present
reported incident.
4. The accuser has publicly stated
that the present reported incident did not occur. END_STATUTE
Sec. 2. Short title
This act may be cited as the
"Right to Speak Your Truth Act".