Capitol Roundup: Arizona lawmakers tackle MAHA-inspired bills
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Schools would be barred from serving students foods with certain dyes and other chemicals under legislation that's received overwhelming bipartisan support. Photo: Lisa Wiltse/Corbis via Getty Images
Local legislation inspired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement is one step away from Gov. Katie Hobbs' desk.
Why it matters: Arizona is poised to ban schools from serving or selling "ultraprocessed" foods, though parents could still send their kids to school with foods containing those additives.
The big picture: The bill targets foods containing ingredients such as potassium bromate, titanium dioxide and red dye 3 and 40.
- Bill sponsor Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu City, said studies have shown the ingredients have negative health effects.
- He noted in his testimony to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday that many of these ingredients are banned in European countries.
- Meanwhile, the Biden administration moved to ban red dye 3 in January.
Driving the news: The Senate health committee on Wednesday passed the bill unanimously.
- If the full Senate approves, it'll go to Hobbs.
- Democrats' unanimous support for the Republican-sponsored legislation bodes well for its chances of getting signed.
Zoom in: The Lake Havasu Unified School District in February adopted the same ban on ultraprocessed foods for its eight schools.
- Board president David Rose told Axios that school board members in other Arizona districts and from other states had contacted him about their interest in passing similar policies.
- Of course, individual district bans will be a moot point if Biasiucci's bill is signed into law.
The other side: The committee on Wednesday approved another MAHA-inspired bill from Biasiucci that would bar Arizonans from using food stamps to buy soda. It passed on a party-line vote and hasn't received any Democratic support.
- "We want to make sure that people who are struggling are getting only the best possible foods," Biasiucci said. "I think soda's the right start."
- Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, said the bill reminded her of past legislation she felt was intended to shame food stamp recipients.
In other legislative news this week:
🎒 Hobbs signed her second bill of the session, amending a mandatory instruction law on the 9/11 terrorist attacks, limiting it to grades 7-12.
- Sen. JD Mesnard, R-Chandler, told Axios he sponsored the bill after 9/11 curriculum was included last year in his 5-year-old daughter's class.
💰 House Republicans bashed Hobbs over request to move money in the Department of Child Safety (DCS) budget to cover a $6.5 million shortfall for group homes for children.
- In the wake of that request and a dispute over developmental disabilities funding, House Speaker Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear, created a new Executive Budget Mismanagement committee
🐈 🐈 On a bipartisan vote, the Senate approved a bill to strengthen Arizona's laws against animal cruelty.
🏨 Hotels would have to inform guests if they are sheltering people experiencing homelessness under a bill approved Wednesday on a party-line vote in the Senate Government Committee.
What's next: The deadline for House and Senate committees to hear bills from the opposite chamber is next Friday, so expect a busy week at the Capitol.
- Keep an eye on a "stolen valor" bill sponsored by Rep. Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake, which passed the House unanimously but has been held up in a Senate committee.
- The bill would create criminal penalties for people who falsely claim military service or honors for personal gain.