STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – The Arizona House of Representatives has unanimously passed HB2813, legislation sponsored by State Representative Khyl Powell to provide compensation for individuals who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in Arizona.

“Accountability applies to everyone—people, institutions, and government itself,” said Representative Powell, Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “When the state wrongfully takes years of someone’s life, it has a responsibility to make things right. I sponsored HB2813 to ensures that Arizona acknowledges its mistakes, takes responsibility, and provides meaningful compensation to those who have been unjustly imprisoned.”

HB2813 establishes clear procedures for individuals who have been exonerated to seek compensation from the state. Under the bill, wrongfully convicted Arizonans will receive 200% of the median household income for each year they were incarcerated and have access to critical resources such as mental health treatment, education, and financial planning services to help rebuild their lives. The legislation also mandates the immediate expungement of all records associated with the erroneous conviction, ensuring that exonerated individuals are no longer burdened by a past that was never theirs to bear.

Representative Powell’s bill aligns directly with the House Republican Majority Plan, which prioritizes public safety, government accountability, and protecting individual rights. House Republicans are committed to upholding the rule of law while ensuring the government is held to the same standard of accountability that it expects from its citizens.

“Government must work for the people, not against them,” Representative Powell added. “This bill ensures that those who have been wronged by the system are not left to pick up the pieces on their own.”

With the House’s passage, HB2813 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Khyl Powell is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 14 in Gilbert. He serves as Vice Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.