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House amends and advances bill to bar illegal drugs at homeless shelters, adds exception for prescribed medicine
Summary
The Arizona House advanced House Bill 2,437 with an amendment clarifying that individuals at homeless shelters may possess legally prescribed drugs; sponsors said the measure aims to protect vulnerable residents and hold employees accountable for knowingly violating shelter drug policies.
The Arizona House advanced House Bill 2,437 on Feb. 17, 2025, after adopting a floor amendment clarifying that residents of shelters who possess legally prescribed medications would not be prohibited from having those medicines on-site.
Representative Gress, sponsor of the bill, said the measure targets drug dealing and illicit drug use at facilities that primarily serve people experiencing homelessness. Gress said the bill makes it an offense to use or possess illegal drugs inside such facilities and establishes consequences for employees who knowingly violate shelter policies regarding drugs.
During committee consideration Representative Collin raised that the bill's original language did not distinguish legally prescribed medications from illicit substances; the adopted floor amendment corrected that omission, Gress said on the floor. The House voted in committee and by voice in the floor process to pass the bill as amended.
Supporters argued the measure protects vulnerable shelter residents from predatory behavior and helps enforce standards for staff in positions of trust. The bill passed the committee of the whole and was recommended to be engrossed for further processing.
