AZ Renters Ask For Governor To Veto SB1185

A number of Arizona renters are raising concerns about a bill sitting on Governor Doug Ducey’s desk.

Opponents of SB1185 want Ducey to veto the legislation, because they say it gives landlords the power to remove any tenant’s guest. Amber Mendez rents an apartment in Phoenix and does not like the idea of her landlord having the final say on who she can have over. “I think it would be inappropriate,” said Mendez. “If there’s somebody the landlord doesn’t like, how can they just call the cops and have the person leave?” SB1185 would allow landlords to call police and remove any guest that’s not on the lease.

Ellen Katz is director of the William E. Morris Institute for Justice, a non-profit advocacy group that’s working to stop SB1185 from becoming law. Katz said the big problem with the bill is how it’s written, with vague wording, that essentially gives landlords the power to remove any tenant’s guest without a reason or due process.

SB 1185 states “A person who knowingly remains on the premises without the permission of the tenant or landlord may be removed by a law enforcement officer.”

“It could be a guest whose watching TV, it could be a guest who is there to babysit or it could be a guest who has been there for much longer,” said Katz. “It allows the landlord to withhold permission for the guest to be there.” According to Katz, the bill could be an easy way for landlords to discriminate against tenants they don’t like.

CBS reached out to the lawmakers who sponsored the bill, to get their take on why SB1185 will be good for Arizonans. A staff member said that Representative Justin Olson (R-Mesa) didn’t have time discuss the issue on the phone and state Senator Gail Griffin (R-Hereford) never responded. Mendez said if state lawmakers want to take away their rights and dictate who they can have in their home, the least they can do is explain why. “I think that’s not fair,” said Mendez.

A rally and protest have been scheduled at the state capitol Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock.

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