Arizona bill seeks to loosen regulations placed on food trucks

One Arizona lawmaker wants to make it easier for mobile food trucks to operate.

Arizona State Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, thanked the House committee on Military, Veterans, and Regulatory Affairs for passing HB2371, that would require the Arizona Department of Health Services to create a statewide license for food vendors.

“I thank the members of the House Committee on Military, Veterans, and Regulatory Affairs for helping eliminate barriers to success for this rapidly growing sector of the restaurant industry,” Payne said.

The bill would reduce local governments ordinances that limit where a food truck can park and what business hours they can operate.

Additionally, cities, towns, and counties can still regulate mobile food vendors to obey vehicular traffic and parking laws.

Dave Nash, City Of Yuma Public Affairs, said that this is an example of state legislation restricting local governments.

“Now, here comes the state telling us maybe we have to scrap all that and do it a completely different way. Obviously, it’s something we’re keeping our eye on and is something we’re concerned about,” Nash added.

“I don’t normally applaud additional licensing and regulations, but in the case of food trucks, a statewide license is better than the hodgepodge of local licenses and regulations that vendors are subject to now,” said Representative Payne.

The bill passed on a 7-2 vote in the committee and has passed in the House. The bill now will be sent to the Senate.