Arizona Signs 'Cade's Law' Making Online Encouragement of Teen Suicide a Crime

Arizona has enacted a first-of-its-kind law targeting adults who use social media to encourage minors to take their own lives, a measure named after a 16-year-old boy whose death exposed a troubling gap in the state's criminal code.

Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) signed House Bill 2665, known as Cade's Law, into law following its passage through the legislature.

The bill was sponsored by State Representative Pamela Carter (R-AZ) and makes it a manslaughter offense for an adult to knowingly send targeted online messages advising or encouraging a minor to die by suicide.

The law is named for Cade Keller, a Phoenix-area teenager who posted online that he intended to end his life. People saw the posts. No one called for help.

"Cade Keller was only 16," said Rep. Carter. "He loved welding and had plans to attend Mesa Community College. Then his life was cut short. Cade posted online that he planned to take his life. People saw it. No one called 911. No one got an adult. Cade died. That is the nightmare every parent fears, and it is happening to too many families."

The State's Initiative

Arizona law previously held accountable those who provided the physical means for a suicide.

Cade's Law closes what advocates described as a dangerous loophole by extending criminal liability to directed digital communication, including direct messages, posts, or tagged content specifically aimed at a minor who dies by suicide.

Carter urged parents, educators, and community members not to hesitate. "If you see warning signs, do not wait. Make the call. Get help. Step in."

The legislation arrives amid a worsening crisis.

Reports show Arizona's teen suicide rate sits at roughly 13.8 per 100,000 adolescents aged 15 to 19, and the state ranked second-to-last nationally for youth mental health in 2025.

Youth suicides in Pima County surged 83% through late 2025 compared to the prior year, reversing a significant five-year decline. In Maricopa County, the suicide rate reached 17.5 per 100,000, above the national average.

With its passage, Cade's Law marks a significant shift in how Arizona defines criminal responsibility in the digital age, extending accountability beyond physical actions into online communication for the first time.