That order, however, governs only the executive branch and has no force in the Legislature, which sets its own rules.

The question of Arizona's state policies and laws arose earlier this year on the heels of the NCAA removing all events for the season out of North Carolina after that state's legislature took a series of actions the board of directors concluded ran afoul of the organization's "values of inclusion and gender equality.''

But Gov. Doug Ducey, at an event to promote the Final Four tournament in Phoenix, said he does not believe that Arizona's lack of laws protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination will prevent the state from landing future national events--as was the case in North Carolina.

And Ducey said he has no intention of asking the Legislature to change the statutes.

The governor acknowledged Napolitano's executive order -- and the limits of its scope.

"I'm not in the habit of telling the Legislature and other elected officials what they should be doing,'' he said.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, at the same event, said he favors expansion of protections.