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Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne is calling city attorneys to a closed-door meeting later this month to explain what he thinks their communities can and can not offer domestic partners.

The AG plans to sketch out what he says are the limits of city authority, saying that while he pretty much has his mind made up on the subject, he is willing to listen.

“You know they may have things to tell me that I haven’t thought of, but my main point is that if they don’t violate the law they can do civil union ordinances such as the Phoenix ordinance," Horne said.

That ordinance says those in city-recognized domestic partnerships are entitled to the same hospital visitation privileges as married couples. But, Horne says what cities can not do is adopt a civil union ordinance, like Bisbee did. He says that ran afoul of state laws, which limit these rights. 

The Bisbee City Council rescinded its ordinance after Horne threatened to sue the town.