Affordable housing bills, including Arizona Starter Homes Act, win bipartisan support at Legislature

Published: Wednesday, March 6, 2024 - 2:09pm

A package of bills designed to improve housing affordability for Arizonans passed out of the state Senate today after similar housing proposals failed to gain traction last year.

The package included the Arizona Starter Homes Act, which prohibits cities from requiring homeowners to form HOAs or purchase various items related to a home’s aesthetics. It also ensures residents in smaller counties can build homes on smaller lots of at least 1,500 square feet.

The bill, already approved by the Arizona House, narrowly passed the Senate with bipartisan support today.

The bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-Lake Havasu) and Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli (R-Lake Havasu), narrowly passed the Senate on a 16-13 vote with bipartisan support.

Senators also approved other bills designed to increase the availability of housing options in larger cities and reduce the municipal red tape some lawmakers blamed for creating a housing bottleneck.

“We could say that it’s probably a good day for housing policy in Arizona,” said Sen. Anna Hernandez (D-Phoenix), who has pushed for housing affordability legislation since entering office last year.

Senators passed a total of four bills that include measures similar to those championed by former Republican Senator Steve Kaiser that failed to pass last year. That includes a bill requiring cities with more than 75,000 people to allow homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their properties.

Former Arizona Department of Housing Director Tom Simplot said last year that those units, which could be a casita in a person’s backyard, could help alleviate the housing shortage by providing a place to live for a homeowner’s aging parents or young adult children.

Sen. Janae Shamp’s (R-Surprise) Senate Bill 1506 would require larger cities with over 150,000 residents to allow for residential development on at least 75% of land zoned for commercial, retail or parking.

“The bill is intended to address missing middle housing and bring these type of housings back to the market,” Shamp said.

The Arizona Starter Homes Act will now be sent to Gov. Katie Hobbs. The other housing bills must now be approved by the Arizona House of Representatives.

A spokesman for Hobbs declined to comment on whether she will sign the bill.