May 14, 2019 / Modified may 14, 2019 12:59 p.m.

Law Makes Lemonade the Arizona State Drink

The bill faced unusual resistance for feel-good legislation.

Lemonade Fresh lemons and lemonade.
Rob Bertholf/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey has signed off on legislation thought up by a Gilbert teenager making lemonade Arizona's official state drink.

The bill signed by the Republican governor Monday faced an unusual battle for feel-good legislation in the Senate before ultimately passing. Senators originally rejected it in April.

The measure by Republican Rep. Warren Peterson passed the House on a 57-3 vote. Senators then brought up several objections.

One proposed margaritas instead, another objected to glorifying a sugary beverage, and others thought it was silly to waste time on a lemonade bill while a state budget plan languishes.

Democratic Sen. Juan Mendez said pushing the measure as a civics lesson for high school students ignores more important issues many students back — namely gun control.

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