Hobbs Sparks Bipartisan Outrage With Veto Of Housing Bill

Hobbs Sparks Bipartisan Outrage With Veto Of Housing Bill

By Daniel Stefanski |

A bipartisan housing bill from the Arizona State Legislature has met its demise.

On Monday, Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2570, which would have “create[ed] municipal prohibitions relating to home designs and single-family home lot sizes” – according to the overview provided by the state House.

In a letter explaining her veto to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs said, “I was elected on a promise to bring thoughtful leadership to the Governor’s Office and always do the right thing for the people of this state, even when it’s hard. Unfortunately, this expansive bill is a step too far and I know we can strike a better balance. This is unprecedented legislation that would put Arizonans at the center of a housing reform experiment with unclear outcomes. It lacks the nuance necessary for statewide reform, and I do not believe it is in the best interest of the people in this state.”

Senate President Warren Petersen blasted the governor’s decision on the bill, writing, “Our kids can’t afford a home. Today, the Governor sided with bureaucrats, instead of our kids. Thanks to her, affordable starter homes remain illegal in Arizona. But it’s not just our kids. Every day, we hear from active-duty military, veterans, young families, young professionals, firefighters, teachers, police officers, service workers, and seniors on fixed incomes that they are either facing the grim reality of becoming homeless or are being prevented from participating in the American dream of homeownership because of outrageous prices, partly due to reckless big government regulations imposed by cities and towns.”

The Senate Republican Caucus’ press release highlighted that Hobbs became the “first Governor in the nation to block a bill removing zoning restrictions to bring housing prices down for hardworking citizens.” The release asserted that “the status quo currently limits options, which can tack on tens of thousands of dollars to the sale price of a home.”

Hobbs pointed to push back from the Department of Defense and Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona over the bill, which she claimed to take under advisement in the lead-up to her veto. She added, “The bill has unexplored, unintended consequences that are of great concern. For instance, the Department of Defense contacted my office while this bill was on my desk to state their opposition. They expressed very serious concerns that the increased density near military installations would put military operations and homeowners at risk, putting dense development within Accident Potential Zones. Firefighters shared significant public safety concerns highlighting that increased density without corresponding improvements to roads and public infrastructure could lead to traffic congestion during evacuations or delays in emergency response times. These are the examples that demonstrate the potential risks that come with the kind of sweeping reforms in this proposal.”

Petersen countered these concerns from Hobbs as part of his statement in response to the veto. He said, “The Governor has a track record of pushing red herrings to justify her vetoes against commonsense legislation, and her statement today is no different. No, this bill does not harm military operations, nor create safety issues for cities. Instead of listening to the citizens, she’s listening to the people who created the problem. This legislation had strong bipartisan support, and this veto will certainly go down as one of her biggest failures.”

Other legislative Democrats expressed their disappointment over the veto. Representative Analise Ortiz stated, “I am deeply saddened and disappointed in the Governor’s decision to veto the Arizona Starter Homes Act. HB 2570 was a historic bipartisan solution to our state’s housing crisis and it would have created a pathway to the American dream of homeownership. While other states are proactively addressing housing in an urgent, deliberate manner, AZ continues to kick the can down the road. Status quo is clearly not working and believing that things will change without policies like the Starter Homes Act is, at best, wishful thinking. I hope Governor Hobbs will support future plans to expand the state’s inventory of modest, starter homes and homes on small lots – homes that our parents & grandparents purchased years ago that allowed them to build wealth, lay roots in communities, and break cycles of poverty.”

Democrat State Senator Anna Hernandez also weighed in about the governor’s veto. She said, “I hope the Governor takes this moment to reaffirm her commitment to solving the housing crisis rather than stand as another obstacle in the way of solutions. My hope is that Governor Hobbs and her staff, learn from their mistake today, and ensure that decisions on policy are made for the betterment of all Arizonans. We must prioritize the people over the politics. The work we have begun will continue – I promise.”

HB 2570 is likely completely dead for the legislative session, with no hope for a veto override, as only 33 State Representatives and 16 State Senators supported its passage in their chambers.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Lawmakers Clash With Cities And Towns Over Arizona Starter Homes Act

Lawmakers Clash With Cities And Towns Over Arizona Starter Homes Act

By Daniel Stefanski |

A political battle is underway over a bill that could help more Arizonans afford and own homes.

Earlier this week, a bipartisan coalition of Arizona lawmakers clashed with the Arizona League of Cities and Towns over the fate of the Arizona Starter Homes Act, which currently resides in the Governor’s Office.

Both chambers of the legislature cleared the bill with bipartisan votes. The proposal would “create municipal prohibitions relating to home designs and single-family home lot sizes” – according to the overview provided by the chamber.

In a press release from the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus, Republican and Democrat lawmakers highlighted a statement from the Executive Director of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns, where he said, “Zoning is something that we cannot support. And we told them from the beginning.”

Director Belshe responded to the charge on “X,” writing, “I would like to address a quote attributed to me in the local media yesterday. My wording may have been a bit clunky with the reporter which led to some confusion. Generally, the League and our cities view by-right zoning from a state mandate as nonnegotiable as it tends to be anti-democratic and fails to consider the nuances of development and will lead to considerable unintended consequences.”

Belshe added, “That said, we are actively working on bills that will streamline and allow ADU’s, middle housing options, and adaptive reuse of commercial buildings. We’re additionally working on legislation that would make rezoning processes more efficient. With regards to HB 2570 the League was never given an opportunity to negotiate on the bill. Amendments were crafted by the homebuilders to secure votes of individual legislators.”

Senate President Warren Petersen took issue with the League’s ardent opposition to this bipartisan solution, saying, “The Governor is out of excuses to not sign this bill. The League just made their intentions clear. The Governor needs to do the right thing here to make housing more affordable and stand up to the League lobbyists whose only objective is to ensure nothing gets done at the legislature.”

Democrat Senator Theresa Hatathlie also weighed in to support the bill. She said, “Your home is your sacred place. It’s where you raise your family and care for your elders. I’m tired of the League and their lobbyists who come here, year after year, to deny these opportunities for the people that I represent. Enough is enough. Please sign the Arizona Starter Homes Act, Governor.”

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego urged the governor to veto the bill, stating. “We need more affordable housing in Arizona, but HB 2570 misses the mark. It doesn’t guarantee that starter homes would be affordable – and instead, increases profits for homebuilders and overlooks critical infrastructure and water needs. It’s curious the prime sponsors of the bill excluded their own communities from the new rules, choosing to disproportionately impact cities like Phoenix that have planned for growth and high-density development. I urge Governor Hobbs to veto this bill.”

House and Senate legislators had recently held a press conference outside of the state capitol building to champion their efforts and to lobby the governor to sign their legislation.

After the presser, Senator Wendy Rogers posted, “Property rights are a fundamental freedom in our constitutional republic. It is up to us legislators to enable that right in every way possible… especially in our rural areas where the American dream of homeownership is becoming less attainable for hard-working Arizonans. This bill is a step in the right direction to help bring prices down!”

HB 2570 was transmitted to Governor Katie Hobbs on March 12.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Arizona Legislature Passes Housing Affordability Bill

Arizona Legislature Passes Housing Affordability Bill

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona legislators continue to work on solutions to help their constituents afford and own their own homes.

On Wednesday, the Arizona State Senate passed HB 2570, the Arizona Starter Homes Act, with a bipartisan vote. The bill, which was sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli and House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci, “creates municipal prohibitions relating to home designs and single-family home lot sizes” – according to the overview provided by the chamber.

“Hardworking Arizonans are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase their first home and begin their pursuit of the American dream. This legislation is a step in the right direction in bringing prices down by eliminating some of the restrictive government red tape and expensive regulatory constraints being passed onto homebuyers,” said Senator Borrelli. “Government should do everything in its power to make the lives of our citizens better, but local municipalities are overstepping their authority by trying to control private property rights, instead of focusing their attention on valid rules and regulations protecting against nuisance and safety issues. The Arizona Starter Homes Act is a no-brainer, and I’m encouraged it received bipartisan support. I look forward to the Governor taking appropriate action on behalf of our citizens’ lives and livelihoods by signing this bill into law.”

The bill passed the Senate with a 16-13 vote. One member did not vote.

Last month, the Arizona House of Representatives approved the proposal with a 33-26 vote (with one vacant seat).

Senator Anna Hernandez, a Democrat, applauded the passage of the legislation from her chamber, writing that the result “is amazing for all Arizonans!”

Earlier this week, Democrat State Representative Analise Ortiz stated that this bill “provides the best opportunity for the American dream of homeownership.” She added that “we don’t have to be ‘forever renters,’” and that “our generation deserves to own a home & build generational wealth.”

While the support in the legislature for this piece of legislation is bipartisan, towns and cities around the state have indicted strong opposition to its proposed policies. On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the cities of Prescott, Scottsdale, Avondale, Goodyear, Sedona, Flagstaff, Eloy, Mesa, Buckeye, Chandler, Litchfield Park, Glendale, Tucson, and Yuma; as well as from the League of Arizona Cities & Towns, Chandler Chamber of Commerce, and Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce, signed in to oppose the bill. Representatives from the Arizona Neighborhood Project, Republican Liberty Caucus of Arizona, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona, and the Arizona Homeowners Coalition indicated their support for the legislation.

HB 2570 now heads to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk for a decision on its fate.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.