Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has struck down a bill aimed at tackling the housing squeeze in the state, calling it overreaching and a "step too far." According to FOX 10 Phoenix, Hobbs vetoed House Bill 2570, which supporters said would increase the housing supply by limiting how cities can regulate home designs and single-family home lot sizes.
The Arizona Starter Homes Act, as it was known, sought to do away with minimum lot sizes greater than 1,500 square feet for certain housing developments and remove limits on square footage for single-family homes, but Gov. Hobbs raised concerns about the fallout of such sweeping changes, citing potential impacts on safety near military bases, risks of traffic issues during emergencies, and strains on public infrastructure, in a move that left proponents of the bill disappointed and seeking other paths to alleviating Arizona's housing crisis. According to 12 News, the legislation had faced opposition from several Arizona cities and objection from the U.S. Department of Defense due to concerns about eroding protections in municipal general plans.
In response to the veto, Democratic State Rep. Analise Ortiz, who supported the bill introduced by her Republican counterpart, expressed her dismay, stating, "Status quo is clearly not working and believing that things will change without policies like the Arizona Starter Homes Act is, at best, wishful thinking," according to a statement she made. The governor, however, remains optimistic about finding alternative solutions to the housing predicament, noting potential in legislature related to accessory dwelling units, middle housing options, commercial repurpose and reuse, and the streamlining of local approval processes.
Despite the setback, the housing debate continues to polarize opinions as Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen slammed the governor's decision, stating, "Instead of listening to the citizens, she's listening to the people who created the problem," pointing out that the legislation had strong bipartisan support and lambasting the governor's move as a likely blot on her record, according to his statement obtained by 12 News. The bill had previously passed the Arizona Senate in a narrow 16-13 vote, reflecting a split on what steps need to be taken to ensure more Arizonans can access the housing market in a state grappling with a crisis that shows no signs of immediate resolution.
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