Panel advances bill to strengthen Arizona address‑confidentiality protections after testimony from program participants
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Summary
The Judiciary Committee moved HB 25‑94, which requires family courts to use Address Confidentiality Program addresses in filings and makes knowingly obtaining or attempting to obtain a protected address a felony. Survivors testified judges sometimes lack statutory guidance, creating safety risks.
House Bill 25‑94, advanced by the House Judiciary Committee, would require Arizona family courts to use state‑issued Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) addresses in filings for participants and make knowingly obtaining or attempting to obtain a protected address for harassment, stalking or domestic violence a class‑6 felony.
Representative Keshel and survivor Amber Snodgrass described instances where a protected address was sought or disclosed in family court filings and by third parties, and said judges and court staff sometimes lack clear statutory direction on when to treat address information as confidential. Snodgrass said her ex‑husband hired a private investigator and repeatedly tried to obtain her protected address through court filings and child‑records access.
Supporters argued the bill fills a statutory gap and standardizes court practice, while proponents urged criminal penalties for knowing attempts to defeat ACP protections. The committee adopted a four‑page Powell amendment clarifying that attempting to obtain a protected address is treated the same as obtaining it, and returned HB 25‑94 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation (9‑0).
The bill will proceed to the House floor. Advocates urged prompt passage to remove avenues abusers have used to locate survivors enrolled in the state program.