Senate Republicans in Arizona are marking the signing of a bill, sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp, aimed at addressing the state's housing shortage and rising home prices. The bill, SB 1162, is designed to streamline the approval process for zoning applications needed for home construction by imposing timelines on local governments.
The current national shortage stands at approximately 7.3 million homes, with Arizona needing an additional 270,000 homes to meet resident demands. This shortfall has driven the average home price in Arizona to $430,000, which is 20% above the national average. According to proponents of the bill, delays caused by municipal regulations have exacerbated these rising costs.
"Every hardworking citizen within the state of Arizona should be able to afford a home in a safe community," said Senator Shamp. "Unfortunately, the American dream of homeownership has become unattainable for many Arizonans over the past five years because of increased demand combined with irresponsible actions from local governments."
SB 1162 mandates that cities and towns adhere to specific timelines for zoning approvals and requires them to conduct and publish a housing needs study every five years. These measures aim to ensure a more responsive approach to current and anticipated housing demands.
"Republicans at the Arizona Legislature are committed to solving Arizona's housing shortage crisis," added Senator Shamp. "Government helped create this problem, and we will continue to craft policy getting government out of the way so the free market can respond to our citizens' needs."
The legislation will take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.
For further information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov
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