This bill proposes to amend the current harassment statute, specifically A.R.S. § 13-2921. The key change is the modification of the definition of harassment from acting "in a manner that harasses" to acting "with the intent to harass another person." This change aims to clarify the intent required for an act to be classified as harassment. Additionally, the bill introduces a defense to prosecution, stating that acts directed towards public officials that constitute criticism are not considered harassment.

Furthermore, the bill makes several technical adjustments, including the replacement of the term "professional" with "private" in reference to investigators or peace officers, and it clarifies that harassment under the amended subsection A remains a class 1 misdemeanor, while harassment under subsection B is classified as a class 5 felony. These updates aim to refine the legal framework surrounding harassment and provide clearer guidelines for enforcement and defense.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2921
House Engrossed Version: 13-2921