Arizona lawmaker praises committee for passage of food truck bill

PHOENIX — Arizona State Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, applauded a House committee this week for passing a bill that would modify regulations for certain food vendors, like food trucks.

The bill would require the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services to adopt rules to create a statewide license for food vendors, with a specific focus on food trucks.

“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 legislation would require licenses from the state to be renewed annually and to have reciprocity in all Arizona counties. It will not have an effect on how cities, towns and counties regulate traffic and parking laws in regards to food trucks.

It would also require consent from the property owners of private property before setting up operation.

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

The bill passed on a 7-2 vote and will be taken back to the House for further action.