FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ARIZONA BECOMES 8TH STATE TO MAKE PURCHASE OF SEX FROM ADULTS A FELONY AS GOVERNOR HOBBS SIGNS HB 2720
Phoenix, Arizona – June 8, 2026 – The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition is pleased to announce that Governor Katie Hobbs has signed HB 2720 into law, marking a significant victory for survivors and a major step forward in Arizona's efforts to address sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
HB 2720, sponsored by Representative Bliss and Senator Bravo, with a critical amendment championed by Representative Gress, makes Arizona the eighth state in the nation to recognize that demand fuels exploitation by making the purchase of sex from an adult age 18 or older a felony offense.
For years, survivors have advocated for laws that recognize a simple truth: without demand, exploitation cannot thrive. While much of the public conversation has focused on those being exploited and trafficked, HB 2720 increases accountability for those who seek to purchase sex and helps address one of the driving forces behind exploitation and trafficking.
The legislation also includes an important amendment brought forward by Representative Gress that allows survivors of sex trafficking to petition the court to have qualifying records sealed. This represents a significant advancement beyond Arizona's current vacatur law and helps remove barriers that often continue to impact survivors long after their exploitation has ended.
"This law recognizes two important realities," said Sheri Lopez, President of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition and a survivor of human trafficking. "First, demand plays a critical role in sustaining exploitation. Second, survivors deserve meaningful opportunities to move forward without records connected to their victimization creating lifelong barriers. HB 2720 is an important step toward both accountability and survivor restoration."
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition extends its sincere gratitude to Governor Hobbs, Representative Bliss, Senator Bravo, Representative Gress, fellow survivors, advocates, law enforcement professionals, and community partners who worked tirelessly to make this legislation a reality.
This law represents more than a policy change. It represents accountability for buyers, greater opportunities for survivors, and continued progress toward reducing the demand that fuels exploitation.
Today, Arizona has taken another important step toward protecting vulnerable individuals, supporting survivors, and recognizing that demand is a critical part of the human trafficking equation.
About the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition is a survivor-led organization dedicated to advancing prevention, education, advocacy, and survivor-informed public policy. The coalition works to ensure that survivor voices are included in conversations and decisions that impact those affected by human trafficking and exploitation.
Media Contact:
Sheri Lopez
President
Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
sheri@pearlatthemailbox.org
www.azhtsurvivorcoalition.org
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
Email: Sheri@pearlatthemailbox.org
Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition Urges Survivor Voices Be Included in Courtroom Proceedings After Split Verdict in Sean “Diddy” Combs Case.
Phoenix, Arizona – July 2, 2025
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition (AHTSC) expresses deep concern over the recent split verdict in the federal trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. While Mr. Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution, the jury acquitted him on the more serious sex trafficking charges involving force, fraud, or coercion.
Testifying in court is extremely difficult for trafficking victims, especially in high-profile cases where their words, actions, and even emotions are harshly judged and often misunderstood. When victims are not heard or believed, it sends a harmful message to others still trapped in trafficking that remaining silent is safer. This silencing effect is why it is critical to include lived-experts—survivors with direct experience—in the courtroom process.
Survivors often exhibit behaviors that are wrongly interpreted as consent by those unfamiliar with the realities of trafficking. Victims may return to traffickers, appear calm during abuse, or minimize their own victimization, none of which indicate free choice. These are survival strategies, shaped by force, fraud, or coercion. When courts fail to understand this, it leads to dangerous misjudgments and unjust outcomes.
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition urges courts to:
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Engage lived experts early and consistently in trafficking cases.
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Recognize that survivor testimony is essential to accurately interpreting victim behavior.
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Require trauma-informed training for judges, juries, and prosecutors, led by survivors who can explain the real-world dynamics of coercion and control.
Survivor voices are critical to achieving real justice.
“For interviews, speaking opportunities with survivors of the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition, or policy collaboration, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition at 602-321-0074
About the Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition
The Arizona Human Trafficking Survivor Coalition (AHTSC) is a survivor-led and survivor-driven organization. We fight to ensure that those with lived experience are not only heard but also lead the conversations that shape laws, courtrooms, and public understanding. The Coalition challenges harmful myths about coercion, consent, and victim behavior, pushing for legislative change, courtroom inclusion, and survivor-centered education. We are committed to dismantling misinformation, holding perpetrators accountable, and building a system where survivor voices are at the forefront of every decision in the fight to end human trafficking.