Arizona lawmakers expected to override veto of home-cooked foods bill
Arizona lawmakers are expected to move on Tuesday to override a gubernatorial veto — something that has not been done in 40 years.
Republican Rep. Travis Grantham says he will make a motion to enact legislation to legalize the sale of home-cooked foods.
The bill got bipartisan support in the Legislature but was vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
→ Here's a list of all the Arizona bills Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed so far
Democratic Rep. Alma Hernandez says she’ll support the move as current laws are too restrictive.
"Currently, you can be fined up to $500. And, check this out, because a lot of people don't know this, if prosecuted for your crime of selling tamales or tortillas, you can go to jail for up to six months if prosecuted," Hernandez said.
State law allows for the sale of some home-cooked goods already, such as baked foods. Hobbs vetoed the bill saying it would cause an increase in food-borne illnesses.
Current examples of approved and non-approved cottage food program products (not all-inclusive)
| Approved | Not approved |
|---|---|
| Fruit jams and jellies | Foods requiring refrigeration |
| Dry mixes | Perishable baked goods |
| Dry pasta | Salsas |
| Roasted nuts | Sauces |
| Honey | Fermented and pickled foods |
| Cookies | Meat, fish and shellfish products |
| Breads and sweet breads | Beverages |
| Cakes with hard icings or frostings | Acidified food products |
| Fruit pies with fruit and sugar fillings | Nut butters |
| Brownies and fudge | Reduced-oxygen packaged products |
| Candies | Pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, pecan pie |
| Donuts | Cheesecake |
| Roasted coffee beans | Custard or cream-style pie, meringue pie |
| Tortillas | Tamales |
| Muffins | Butter and spreads |
| Scones | Syrups, extracts, tinctures |
| Popcorn, kettlecorn | Cakes with custard filling |
| Granola | Dehydrated fruits and vegetables |
| Dry Spice Mixes | Some fillings, frostings and icings (including ganache) |
