By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
PHOENIX -- Gov. Katie Hobbs on Tuesday rejected a proposal by Rep. Matt Gress which would have required hotels and motels to warn guests that they also provide rooms for the homeless.
The Phoenix lawmaker called his measure "consumer protection,'' saying that paying customers should be alerted to "keep hotels doors locked, safely store their belongings and report any health or safety concerns to local law enforcement.'' And there would have had to be signs to that effect at every entrance.
Proponents argued there is evidence that many of the homeless are drug users, alcohol abusers or mentally ill -- or a combination of any of those -- a fact that guests should know. Foes said there is no evidence to prove they are more dangerous than any other group.
"We should not micromanage local businesses who have stepped up to help address our state's housing challenges,'' the governor said, saying lawmakers should engage in "more productive efforts to create more transitional and affordable housing options.''
Hobbs also rejected a bid by Rep. Teresa Martinez to force high schools to teach students about the "Gulf of America.''
The Casa Grande Republican acknowledged her proposal followed the directive from the president to unilaterally rename what has been for centuries called the Gulf of Mexico and is still called that in much of the rest of the world. She said it wold promote patriotism and "start teaching pro-America to our students.''
The governor called the measure a diversion.
"This Legislature has chosen to attempt to dictate how teachers refer to geographic features,'' she wrote. "I encourage you to refocus your time and energy on solving real problems for Arizonans.''
The measures were two of 13 bills that the governor on Tuesday found unacceptable. That brings her tally this session up to 138 -- a figure that is just five shy of the record the governor set in her first year in office in 2023.
But the governor did find favor with a number of other bills sent to her.
Most notably, she signed legislation sought by utilities that would allow them to sell low-interest bonds to cover certain debts, a move that companies said would save money for consumers.
That signature comes despite the fact that most legislative Democrats voted against the plan, saying it lacked protections for ratepayers. They also said it would make it easier for utilities to keep open older, more polluting power plants,
Hobbs provided no explanation for her decision.
Other bills signed by the governor include:
- Requiring those who distribute materials on a website, of which more than a third is pornography, to use "reasonable methods'' to verify that users are at least 18;
- Mandating that those who have internet applications designed for children 11 and younger make sure the site does not display inappropriate or mature advertising;
- Overruling local ordinances that prohibit construction and noise before certain hours in the summer, a move that backers say will allow for work to be done during cooler hours;
- Making it illegal use use a computer-generated recording of another person a crime if the intent is defraud someone else. There are exceptions for parody, artistic expression or circumstances where a viewer or listener would know the recording has been digitally altered.
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