STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – State Representative Quang Nguyen, Chairman of the Arizona House Judiciary Committee, announced today that House Bill 2223 passed the Arizona House of Representatives and now heads to the Senate. The measure previously passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously, 9-0, with bipartisan support.

HB 2223 strengthens Arizona’s name-change process for applicants with criminal convictions and for anyone required to register as a sex offender. The bill closes a gap that can leave victims and law enforcement in the dark when offenders seek court-approved name changes, and it reinforces accountability so offenders cannot use a new name to evade scrutiny or weaken registration tracking.

“Sex offenders should not be able to change their name and slip through cracks that put Arizona families at risk. Victims deserve to know when the person who harmed them is trying to change identities through the courts. HB 2223 closes a loophole, locks in accountability, and ensures victims will not be left out of the process. If you are required to register, you will not use a name change to hide your past, dodge scrutiny, or erase your trail,” said Representative Quang Nguyen.

HB 2223 requires an applicant to disclose under penalty of perjury whether the applicant has been convicted in any state of an offense that requires sex offender registration. It also requires a registrant to affirm under penalty of perjury that required service of the application was completed. For applicants with an Arizona conviction, the bill requires the applicant to serve the name-change application on the prosecuting agency in the county of conviction and directs that office to notify any victim who has requested postconviction notice, including the victim’s right to contest the name change. For applicants with an out-of-state conviction, it requires the applicant to serve the application on the prosecuting agency where the conviction occurred and on the county attorney in the county where the application is filed. If a court grants a name change for a registrant, the court must order the person to register under the new name, list the prior name as an alias, and provide a copy of the order to the sheriff in the county where the person resides.

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.