AZ enacts fee reform bill, eliminating fees
07/21/2026, Arizona, Legislation, Incarceration for Fees/Fines (incomplete)
In 2026, the Arizona legislature enacted HB 2265, prohibiting certain fees, including for representation by the public defender, juries in criminal cases, expenses of records or transcripts on appeal, and the appellate filing fee. The prohibition of fees can reduce the likelihood of later incarceration for fees/fines, for which a right to counsel may or may not attach.
This is an excellent development, in alignment with the recommendations of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA). To read more about the issue, check out Marea Beeman et al., At what cost? Findings from an Examination into the Imposition of Public Defense System Fees, NLADA (July 2022).
