Again in this 2025 legislative session, we are already seeing proposed housing bills that claim to increase housing affordability, but have NO provision for affordable housing. What some of the bills do propose is to remove local zoning oversight, remove your voice in how your community develops, and provides a detrimental one-size fits all approach to communities around the State.
Here is a list of Bills we are closely watching. How can you help? Often with only a short response time, we need to collectively voice our opposition (or support) to our legislators. Please make sure you sign up to receive email notifications from us. Our most powerful tool is to have our constituent voices heard. This is the most updated list, and we expect changes to occur.
The NCPHA is opposing the following proposed legislation:
SB1229 and HB2371 – “Arizona Starter Homes Act.” Would prevent all Arizona municipalities from affecting design or building materials for homes and prevent the city from requiring anything in a development that would necessitate the formation of an HOA. For municipalities over 70,000 population, would prevent cities from requiring larger than 1500 square foot lots on all acreages of 5 acres or more. Aggregations of lots to comprise 5 acres that contained homes would be exempt from this restriction. No provisions requiring homes to be affordably priced for lower income buyers, restricting them to be purchased by owner occupants, or preventing their use as long-term or short-term rentals. See: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/HB2371P.pdf, https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/SB1229P.pdf
HB2191 -- “Yes in God’s Backyard.” Churches and other religious organizations would be allowed to build single-family and multifamily housing on their properties with no rezoning required or public hearing allowed. Buildings could be as tall as any structure within a quarter mile or a building previously on the site or 3 full floors or the maximum height any zoning for retail, office, residential or mixed use would allow. There are also multiple choice provisions for maximum lot coverage, minimum setbacks. Cities aren’t allowed to impose additional restrictions on the development. 40% of the units in the development must be allocated to low income households for 55 years. See: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/HB2191P.pdf
Update: Please send in your email/calls of opposition as this bill will be heard by the House Government Committee on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
House Government Committee members and their email addresses:
Chairman Blackman: wblackman@azleg.gov
Vice Chairman Fink: lfink@azleg.gov
Rep. Gillette: jgillette@azleg.gov
Rep. Keshel: rkeshel@azleg.gov
Rep. Marquez: amarquez@azleg.gov
Rep. Stahl: sstahlhamilton@azleg.gov
Rep. Villegas: bvillegas@azleg.gov
Questions and Concerns: It is unclear how largely unregulated development allowed by this so-called “Yes in God’s Backyard” legislation would turn out. Without any local zoning oversight, there is no guarantee the planned development would fit into the fabric of a neighborhood of single-family homes. Or would an apartment building have multiple stories with tall walls that tower over neighbors’ back yards?
In No. Central we have over 100 acres of church land and creating unmanaged higher density would tax our road system, our public services (fire and police) and our mature infrastructure.
There is also questions about ownership. If a church sells its property to a non-church buyer who manages the remaining apartment complex? There is the questionable effectiveness of the bill’s supposed requirement that the project provide affordable housing.
Churches are already exempt from the high property taxes we pay in No. Central. They are in the business of religion, not being apartment managers or landlords. Local zoning oversight understands the importance of appropriate development and its impact on the surrounding community.
We reached out to House Rep. Sarah Ligouri (LD5) who is the co-sponsor of this bill. She continues to support it in spite of opposition from her constituents. Please email your opposition to sliguori@azleg.gov.
SB1352 and HB2925 -- Prohibits the filing of a referendum petition to challenge a rezoning approval by a municipality or county. The prohibition is tied to the bill’s declaration that a rezoning approval is an administrative act. This would take away the current constitutional right of citizens to challenge zoning decisions through the use of referendum. Amended to be retroactive to June 30, 2024. See: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/adopted/S.1352RAGE.PDF
Update: House Commerce Committee chairman confirms that he has struck HB2925, the bill to ban referendums on rezoning approvals, from the committee agenda.
SB1353 - If an application for a single-family residential building permit is not approved, conditionally approved, or deemed to be needing changes within 15 working days, the applicant may have a qualified third party conduct any required review. Many detailed provisions that also cover inspections. See: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/adopted/S.1353RAGE.PDF
SB1298 – Property Exemption; Religious Activities. Would provide property tax exemption to nonprofits to conduct “religious-related activities” that are defined to include housing and education. In current law, tax exemption is only for property or buildings used for religious worship. See: https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/SB1298P.pdf
