Attorney General Kris Mayes (D-AZ) is calling out Republican legislative leaders after a bill that would have given her office new powers to crack down on price gouging never made it to a committee hearing.
The bill, SB 1714, would have made it a felony for businesses to hike prices on everyday essentials, things like gas, food, water, building materials, and medical supplies, by more than 10% above pre-emergency levels during a declared state of emergency.
It also would have given AG Mayes' office the legal authority to investigate violations and pursue restitution for consumers.
However, it never got a hearing.
"Arizonans should never have to worry that a disaster will be made worse by someone trying to make a fast buck off their suffering," Mayes said, adding that Republican leaders made a deliberate choice to block the legislation and that voters deserve to know it.
Previous Disasters
Her frustration stems in part from what happened last fall, when back-to-back floods devastated the communities of Globe and Miami. Businesses already reeling from September storms were hit again in October, leaving residents in a vulnerable position with little legal protection.
That vulnerability isn't new. Arizona is one of only a handful of states without anti-price-gouging protections.
At least 39 states, along with Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. territories, have statutes in place to protect consumers during emergencies.
Arizona has none.
Bill Introduced
SB 1714, introduced by Senator Priya Sundareshan (D-AZ) and backed by several Democratic co-sponsors, was designed to close that gap. Now, Mayes describes that Republican leaders chose not to bring it forward.
The bill's failure leaves Arizona consumers without a clear legal safety net the next time a disaster strikes. In a state prone to extreme weather, that's a question of when, not if.
Mayes has made clear she intends to keep the pressure on. For now, though, Arizonans navigating the aftermath of a disaster have fewer protections than residents in most of the country.
