Bill would bar Arizona cities and counties from fining businesses when shopping carts are stolen

Two new sections, one for municipalities and one for counties, bar penalties on a business for theft of its movable property. It covers businesses that own or provide movable property for customers' use, such as shopping carts and hand-held baskets, and municipalities and counties. Barred penalties include fines or fees for abandoned property found off the business's property, required payment for retrieving, storing, or disposing of it, and required compliance certifications backed by a penalty if the problem comes from theft. The rule applies "notwithstanding any other law." "Theft" means unauthorized taking, removing, or abandoning of a business's movable property by anyone other than the owner or the owner's authorized agent.

The sections let local governments keep some tools and let the Attorney General or businesses sue to block banned ordinances. It covers municipalities, counties, the Attorney General, and businesses. General nuisance rules must not specifically penalize a business for theft of its property. A business that wins a lawsuit is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. Regulating theft of a business's movable property is declared a statewide concern, and local governments could not regulate it further.