Arizona Bill Advancing to Reclassify Soliciting Prostitution as Felony Offense

PHOENIX — Arizona state legislators are advancing a bipartisan measure that would reclassify soliciting prostitution from a Class 1 misdemeanor to a felony on the first offense, a move designed to curb demand in high-trafficking corridors. The proposed legislation, House Bill 2720, is currently moving through the state House and aims to impose stricter penalties on those attempting to purchase sex.

Under the provisions of House Bill 2720, individuals convicted of soliciting prostitution would face a felony record immediately, rather than the current misdemeanor charge. Additionally, the bill mandates a compulsory 15-day jail sentence before offenders can be considered for any diversion programs. The legislation explicitly targets areas with high concentrations of illicit activity, such as the 27th Avenue corridor in Phoenix, locally known as “The Blade.”

Jeff Spellman, a leader within the Violence Impact Project Coalition and a resident of the affected area, stated that the bill is necessary to address persistent community safety issues. “It’s the place to go to buy sex is what it is, and it’s awful,” Spellman said, emphasizing the need for legislation that serves as a stronger deterrent to keep buyers away from residential neighborhoods.

Academic experts and advocates have also aligned with the bill’s focus on the demand side of the equation. Dominique Roe-Sepowitz, director of Arizona State University’s Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention and Research, noted that targeting buyers is a more effective strategy than penalizing those selling sex, who are often victims of trafficking themselves. “By arresting people who are selling sex, oftentimes [it] just puts them in worse situations, harder to find places to live, harder to find work,” Roe-Sepowitz said. “What we do want is for buyers to take this seriously.”

The bill has secured endorsements from the Phoenix Police Department and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Law enforcement officials argue that existing penalties—typically a citation or a single night in jail—fail to adequately deter the demand that fuels sex trafficking operations. The measure is now scheduled for consideration on the House floor.

Legislative Implications

The advancement of House Bill 2720 represents a significant pivot in Arizona’s criminal justice strategy, shifting the focus from penalizing sex workers to aggressively prosecuting the demand side of the illicit market. By elevating solicitation to a felony, state legislators are signaling that existing misdemeanor deterrents are insufficient to curb trafficking activities in high-density zones. As the bill moves to the House floor, its potential enactment would necessitate adjustments in prosecutorial resources and jail capacity to accommodate the mandatory confinement periods. It is important to note that all individuals charged under criminal statutes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.