Gammage & Burnham has been watching several important bills related to the development industry currently making their way through the Legislature. While the Session still has a long way to go, here is what we can tell you so far.
The Legislature has shown strong bipartisan support for the following:
- SB1258, COVID Permit Expiration Relief. The COVID pandemic has inspired the Legislature to advance a bill that will “toll,” or delay, the expiration of permits. If a development project has been delayed because of COVID, this could be very helpful.
- SB1520, General Plan Amendment Requirements. SB1520 seeks to eliminate the “single public hearing per year” requirement for Major General Plan Amendments, meaning that Major General Plan Amendments could be processed at any time during the year. This legislation will shorten the timeframes for larger projects and is moving forward without opposition.
- HB2317, Community Facilities Districts. A bill to reform Community Facilities Districts by amending the CFD board membership requirements is moving quickly through the Legislature. This bill was initiated last year and is expected to pass.
The Legislature is also working toward changes in several areas.
- HB2481 and SB1379, AirBnB Regulation. Two bills are moving forward on short term rentals (aka Air BnB). While both the House and the Senate introduced bills that would allow more local regulations, the Senate’s milder version is the one moving right now. The bill allows some increase in regulation, but not as much as some local governments would like to see. The Senate bill is endorsed by the short-term rental industry.
- HB2562 and SB1327:, Affordable Housing Tax Credits. The situation looks promising for a State sponsored tax credit for affordable housing, which would operate in a similar fashion to the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. This bill has support from Legislators on both sides of the aisle. The Senate and House have each introduced versions of this bill; however, the final agreement on how this idea will materialize remains a question mark. This is an important bill that will provide support for much needed affordable housing and we will continue to watch this closely.
- SB1409, Housing Cost Impact Analysis. SB1409 would add a requirement that municipalities must consider whether a proposed text amendment would have an impact on the cost of housing – both for sale and rental housing. This bill has advanced to the House and is being supported by the Homebuilders Association of Central Arizona.
If you have questions regarding any of these bills or how they might impact your business or development projects, Gammage & Burnham’s land use team is here to help. The Land Use & Zoning Practice Group at Gammage & Burnham includes: Manjula M. Vaz, Stephen W. Anderson, Susan E. Demmitt, Lindsay C. Schube, Grady Gammage Jr., Cameron C. Artigue, and Michael T. Maerowitz.
