I’m going to try to keep better track of bills introduced in the state legislature that could affect your business. Here’s my first roundup report. I only got through the House bills this morning, so I may do an update later. I hope to make this a regular thing.

HB 2002 — would make gender and sexual orientation protected under an existing employment discrimination law. Right now, the law protects “race, color, religion, sex, age, disability or national origin.” The bill proposes changing “sex” to “gender and sexual orientation.” It would also make it illegal for religious organizations, including schools, to discriminate on any of these factors. Tucson Democrat Tom Prezelski is a co-sponsor.

HB 2030 — would make it a little tougher to be the “qualifying party” for a contractor. That’s the licensed person for a building company. You’d have to have six years of experience instead of *four. It also would increase the minimum dollar amounts on required surety bonds or cash deposits. Safford Republican Bill Konopnicki is the sponsor.

HB2040 — would allow a county board of supervisors to make recommendations on liquor licenses (in addition to city councils). Prezelski and Tucson Democrat Phil Lopes are sponsors.

HB2302 — would require a city to do an economic impact study before approving any “retail superstore” development. “Retail superstore means a business establishment that has more than 100,000 square feet of gross buildable area and that will generate transaction privilege or use tax revenue but does not include a primary business activity as a motor vehicle dealer.” Prezelski and Lopes are sponsors of this one too.

HB2552 — would add members to the cosmetology board, including a nail technician, cosmetologists and cosmetology teachers, plus four members of the public on the board. Interestingly, the bill would strike this line from the law: “Keep records of the board open to public inspection at all reasonable times.” How will we know what the board is up to? Lopes is a co-sponsor.

HB 2576 — would (for the first time) require employers to give workers a lunch break. Co-sponsors include Lopes and Tucson Democrat Paula Aboud.