Arizona AED laws: what AED owners need to know

Arizona's main AED law is a short article of the Arizona Revised Statutes, §§ 36-2261 to 36-2264. Its duties apply to "a person or entity that acquires" an AED (A.R.S. § 36-2262). The article exempts "A person who obtains an automated external defibrillator for home use pursuant to a physician's prescription", and firefighters, EMTs and ambulance staff working for fire districts, fire departments or ambulance services (A.R.S. § 36-2264).

Is an AED required at my organization?

It depends on what kind of organization you are. We found no Arizona statute that requires AEDs in offices, gyms or other businesses in general. Arizona law does require them in these places:

• Public high schools with sports. From August 1, 2026, each public school that teaches any of grades 9 to 12 and sponsors an athletic team or sports program must "Provide an automated external defibrillator at each school campus and school-sponsored athletic event." Athletic events include scheduled practices, trainings and competitions on campus (A.R.S. § 15-120.07(B), (D)).
• New and renovated state buildings. "Any state building that is constructed or any state building that undergoes a major renovation at a cost of at least two hundred fifty thousand dollars after the effective date of this section must be equipped with automated external defibrillators" (A.R.S. § 34-401(A)).

Inspection and maintenance

Yes. Arizona law says a person or entity that acquires an AED shall ensure that it "is maintained in good working order and tested according to the manufacturer's guidelines" (A.R.S. § 36-2262(4)). The statute sets no inspection interval and doesn't mention keeping records. Public high schools with sports have the same duty for their required AEDs (A.R.S. § 15-120.07(B)(2)(d)).

Training

It depends. Arizona's general AED law doesn't say in words that an owner must train anyone, but it assumes trained users. A "trained user" is "a person who is the expected user of an automated external defibrillator and who has completed training in its use", and training means a state-approved CPR and AED course (A.R.S. § 36-2261(4), (5)).

Schools. From August 1, 2027, each school district and charter school must have at least one employee at each school campus during regular school hours who has completed a CPR and first-aid course that follows nationally recognized cardiovascular care guidelines. If the campus has an AED, that employee must also have completed an AED course (A.R.S. § 15-120.07(A), added by Laws 2026, ch. 213).

Medical direction

Yes. A person or entity that acquires an AED shall "Enter into an agreement with a physician who shall oversee the aspects of public access to defibrillation" (A.R.S. § 36-2262(1)). The physician must be licensed under Arizona's medical or osteopathic licensing laws (A.R.S. § 36-2261(3)). The law doesn't describe what the oversight must include.

The Arizona Department of Health Services' SHARE program offers free medical direction to owners who register their AEDs with SHARE and, according to its 2021 registration conditions, have no physician of their own (ADHS, AED Registration Agreement Conditions). Its registration page, as read on 2026-11-13, says: "As a participant in the SHARE program, I can expect medical direction at no cost" (SHARE registration).

Separately from state law, many AED models are sold on a prescription under FDA labeling; your supplier can tell you.

EMS notification

Not addressed. None of the statutes we read requires registering an AED with EMS or a 911 center. The health department runs an AED registry, the Save Hearts in Arizona Registry and Education (SHARE) program. Its guidance says that "In order to receive Medical Direction from the SHARE Medical Director, your AED(s) must be registered with the SHARE Program" (ADHS guidance).

After the AED is used

Yes, two steps. A person or entity that acquires an AED shall "Require each trained user who uses an automated external defibrillator on a person in cardiac arrest to call telephone number 911 as soon as possible." It must also "Submit a written report to the bureau of emergency medical services and trauma systems in the department of health services within five working days after its use" (A.R.S. § 36-2262(2), (3)). The statute doesn't say what the report must contain. Health department guidance says reports go through the SHARE Registry.

Signs and posted instructions

Only for public high schools with sports. Each AED they must provide has to be "In an unlocked location that is clearly marked and easily accessible both during the school day and at each school-sponsored athletic event." It must also be placed where it can be promptly retrieved, following a nationally recognized emergency cardiovascular care organization's guidelines (A.R.S. § 15-120.07(B)(2)). The general AED law has no rule about signs or posted instructions.

Good Samaritan immunity

Arizona has two relevant laws:

• The AED law. The following are "not subject to civil liability for any personal injury that results from any act or omission that does not amount to wilful misconduct or gross negligence": the overseeing physician, CPR and AED trainers, the person or entity that acquires the AED "pursuant to this article", the owner of the property where it is located, whoever provides the AED, certain nonprofit intermediaries, trained users and Good Samaritans. A Good Samaritan is someone who uses an AED "in good faith and without compensation" at the scene of an accident, fire or other life-threatening emergency. This protection doesn't affect a manufacturer's product liability (A.R.S. § 36-2263). The law doesn't say whether an owner that hasn't met the duties above keeps this protection; ask a lawyer.
• The general Good Samaritan law. A person who gives emergency care at a public gathering or at the scene of an emergency "gratuitously and in good faith" is not liable for civil or other damages, unless the person "is guilty of gross negligence" while giving that care (A.R.S. § 32-1471).

What this means for your AED program

• Have an agreement with a physician who oversees your AED program, or ask the health department's SHARE program about its free medical direction.
• Keep each AED in good working order and test it as the manufacturer's guidelines say.
• Keeping a dated record of each check isn't required by the statute, but it shows the check happened.
• Require your trained AED users to call 911 as soon as possible whenever they use the AED on someone in cardiac arrest (A.R.S. § 36-2262(2)).
• After any use, send a written report to the state Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems within five working days.
• Public high schools with sports: keep an AED, unlocked and clearly marked, at each campus and athletic event. All school districts and charter schools: plan for an employee trained in CPR and first aid (and in AED use if the campus has an AED) on each campus by August 1, 2027.

Sources

All read on 2026-11-13. Statutes and session laws were read on the Legislature's official site, azleg.gov; the guidance and the SHARE registration page on the Arizona Department of Health Services sites, azdhs.gov and aed.azdhs.gov.

• A.R.S. §§ 36-2261 to 36-2264: definitions, AED use requirements, civil liability and exemptions (statute)
• A.R.S. § 32-1471: general Good Samaritan law (statute)
• A.R.S. § 15-120.07: school employee training and high school sports AEDs (statute; added by Laws 2025, ch. 242, amended by Laws 2026, ch. 213, which took effect September 12, 2026)
• A.R.S. § 34-401: AEDs in new and renovated state buildings (statute)
• ADHS, AED Registration Agreement Conditions: SHARE registry and medical direction (guidance, last updated June 2021)
• ADHS, SHARE AED registration: free medical direction for registered owners (live page)

We did not review the Arizona Administrative Code (agency rules).

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FAQ

Is an AED required in Arizona gyms?

We found no Arizona statute that requires gyms or health clubs to have an AED. If a gym has one, the general AED law's duties apply to it: physician oversight, maintenance and testing to the manufacturer's guidelines, and a report after use (A.R.S. § 36-2262).

What do you have to do after an AED is used in Arizona?

The owner must require trained users to call 911 as soon as possible, and must send a written report to the state Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems within five working days after the AED is used (A.R.S. § 36-2262).

Do Arizona schools need AEDs?

Public schools that teach any of grades 9 to 12 and sponsor a sports team must have an AED at each campus and school-sponsored athletic event from August 1, 2026. From August 1, 2027, every school district and charter school must have an employee trained in CPR and first aid (and in AED use if the campus has an AED) at each campus during school hours (A.R.S. § 15-120.07).