STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Bill 2223, sponsored by State Representative Quang Nguyen, has been signed into law, closing a loophole that could let sex offenders use court-approved name changes to obscure their identities and evade accountability. The law strengthens public safety and helps ensure victims are not left in the dark when offenders change names through the courts.

“Sex offenders should not be able to change their name and slip through cracks that put Arizona families at risk,” said Representative Nguyen, Chairman of the Arizona House Judiciary Committee. “This bill closes a loophole and locks in accountability. Victims deserve to know when the person who harmed them is trying to change identities through the courts. If you are required to register, you will not use a name change to hide your past, dodge scrutiny, or erase your trail.”

HB 2223 tightens the name-change process by requiring sworn disclosures tied to sex offender registration and notice to prosecutors. It also strengthens victim notification for eligible cases and ensures that if a registrant receives a court-approved name change, registration records continue under the new name, with the prior name retained as an alias.

The bill passed the Arizona House 57-0 in February and passed the Senate unanimously last week.

Quang Nguyen is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 1 in Yavapai County and is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Follow him on X at @QuangNguyenAZ.