POLITICS-A bipartisan uproar occurred last year when Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed last years “tamale bill,” she eventually signed this year’s version of the bill.
Gov. Katie Hobbs signed HB 2042, which expands what food can be legally sold after being made at home kitchens.
When it becomes law later this year, it will allow home cooks who sell food to the public to expand their offerings to include items that require refrigeration, like tamales and products that contain dairy, meat or poultry.
The sponsor of last year’s bill, Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, reintroduced the same legislation this year as House Bill 2042, with several edits that he said were partially inspired by issues that Hobbs brought up in her veto letter.
The bill passed through the House with unanimous support, and was approved by the Senate by a vote of 17-11 on March 25, with only Democrats voting against it. The only Democrat in the Senate who voted in favor of the bill was Sen. Theresa Hatathlie, of Coal Mine Mesa.
The amended version of the bill also includes a requirement to disclose pet allergens present in a home where the food was prepared and stipulates that the food labels must include a web address where consumers can report foodborne illness, find out how to verify that a home cook is registered with the state and contact information for reporting issues with a home cook’s registration status.