Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) released an update to her constituents Thursday, explaining that one of her Senate Bills (SB) has received an overhaul that aims to ensure the state cannot ban the use of gas-powered appliances, such as stoves.
“I look forward to passing commonsense protections that ensure the rights and freedoms of all Arizonans,” said Shamp. “It’s ridiculous, and unfortunately no longer surprising, that these sorts of bills need to be passed to counter and block a radical and increasingly ludicrous left-wing national agenda.”
"We are seeing proposals to ban gas appliances, but that won't happen if I can help it."@AZSenatorShamp breaks down the latest on SB 1278 and her efforts to pass common-sense protections. pic.twitter.com/mSi10mXnAa
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) April 6, 2023
Shamp’s SB 1278 initially dealt with housing trust funds in rural areas. However, after it passed the Senate in February, State Representative Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) introduced a strike everything amendment, which changed the bill’s language. Now, it reads that the state must acknowledge the consumer’s right to own and operate “appliances that utilize a utility provider’s services” and see that this right is not subject to further regulation.
Additionally, the bill outright bans municipalities from prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or ownership of these appliances, nor could the entity enforce a penalty or fine on these utilities. The amendment defines appliances as stoves, furnaces, dishwashers, fireplaces, and other household utilities that comply with the statutory gas appliance requirements.
The House Health & Human Services Committee approved the amendment at the end of March. However, not everyone favored the amendment when the committee opened for public comment. Caryn Potter, a Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) representative, spoke against it. She argued that the bill would usurp the authority of local governments and may prevent them from regulating any gas-power appliances that may pose a health risk.
Additionally, during the meeting, Marshall Pimentel from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns did state that some cities in Arizona “would prioritize” moving away from the use of gas appliances or outright require using non-gas utilities.
Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, spoke in the bill’s favor, stating that it makes a natural extension of what is already in state law. In 2020, the State Legislature passed a law stating that counties and municipalities could not prevent customers from using gas. Mussi said that if this bill becomes law, it will ensure consumers can have natural gas and appliances to utilize it.
Ultimately, Montenegro stated that he introduced the amendment to protect people who could not afford all products. For example, if a household cannot afford an electric water heater, Montenegro said he is trying to ensure the city cannot force that family to go without hot water. The committee passed the bill as amended by a party-line vote of five to four.
Since then, Republican lawmakers have had the opportunity to discuss the bill again at Tuesday’s House Majority Caucus meeting. Montenegro shared concerns that if the bill were to be vetoed, it would send a signal to municipalities to ban the use of natural gas. He said he might add further amendments to the bill so the language clarifies that cities could not do this.
The bill must pass the House Floor before it can move on to the Governor’s Office. The spokesman for the House Majority Caucus told The Arizona Sun Times via email that the bill still needs to go through the House Rules Committee and Committee of the Whole first, so it may be a few weeks before it receives a final vote.
As reported by Fox News, much of the concern surrounding banning gas appliances stems from a January meeting of the Federal Consumer Product Safety Commission, which said a ban was “on the table.” While the commission has backtracked after public backlash, states are also pushing for these bans. For instance, New York Democrats are negotiating a measure prohibiting gas stoves from being installed in new buildings and residencies.
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Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Janae Shamp” by Arizona State Legislature. Background Photo “Gas Stove” by Andrea Davis.
