Capitol Roundup: Senate passes starter homes bill but says more work needed
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It was another busy week at the Legislature as the Arizona House and Senate approved reams of bills on housing and other issues, while Republican lawmakers and Gov. Katie Hobbs came closer to an agreement on a K-12 funding plan that would go to the ballot.
🏘 The Senate narrowly passed legislation reducing cities' zoning authority to spur construction of more affordable starter homes.
- Two senators who were on the winning side of the 16-13 vote — one Democrat and one Republican — said they want to see changes in the House.
- Lawmakers already increased the minimum lot size that cities must allow from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet, among other changes.
What they're saying: Hobbs, who vetoed a similar bill last year, told reporters on Thursday she wants to see legislation "that strikes the right balance for all the stakeholders," not all of whom are going to get everything they want.
🏫 Hobbs released details of her Proposition 123 renewal plan, and unlike her with previous proposal, some GOP lawmakers were receptive.
- She scrapped plans to use state land trust money for pay bumps to school support staff in addition to teachers.
- Hobbs also lowered her proposed distribution percentage from the state land trust.
- Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, told Axios that Hobbs' plan is "definitely moving in the direction we were heading."
- Republican lawmakers can refer a measure to the general election ballot without Hobbs' signature but would need her support for a special election.
🚨 Violent group attacks by three or more people would be upgraded to aggravated assault, a Class 4 felony, under a bill passed by the House on Monday. The bill is known as "Preston's Law" after Preston Lord, a 16-year-old whose 2023 beating death was connected to a string of attacks in the East Valley.
🐔 The Arizona Department of Agriculture would be barred under a bill the Senate passed Tuesday from implementing a rule, scheduled to go into effect next year, requiring cage-free housing for egg-laying hens.
🚫 The House passed legislation that would bar "encampments" on college campuses in response to recent pro-Palestine and anti-Israel protests.
🔥 Insurance companies would be barred for 60 days after an emergency declaration from the governor from canceling or refusing to renew fire insurance policies within 5 miles of a natural disaster or wildfire, under legislation overwhelmingly passed by the House.
🛒 Voters would decide whether cities should be banned from taxing groceries in November 2026 under a proposed ballot measure approved by the House on Tuesday.
In other legislative news:
👋 Sen. Eva Burch, D-Mesa, announced Wednesday she's resigning effective March 14, attributing her decision to low legislative pay and her being "not in the best position to get things done" as a member of the minority.