House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-30) joined with Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli to author and spearhead the passage of a bill easing Arizona’s skyrocketing home prices. Dubbed the “Arizona Starter Homes Act,” it prohibits municipalities from mandating homeowner associations (HOAs), builder-supplied amenities (playgrounds, hiking paths, etc.), and aesthetics (paint colors, roofing designs, lighting, more) that can add thousands to the purchase price. In addition, it prohibits home lot-size minimums in towns and cities of 70K residents or more for subdivisions greater than five acres.

With the massive influx of Californians fleeing out-of-control prices and politics and others seeking employment in Arizona’s booming economy, housing shortages have caused median home prices to top the $430K level. The estimated housing shortage of over 270,000 units has resulted in a whopping 50% price increase in just four years. Developers trying to meet this demand face added pressure from local governments tacking on costs due to unsustainable mandates. This bill effectively countered those pressures.

In a press release dated March 6, 2024, Senator Borelli wrote, “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. 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 both houses of the legislature on a straight party vote, adding speculation that Governor Hobbs may oppose it. Hobbs has a penchant for vetoing Republican-led bills, with a record-breaking 143 vetoes in her first year in office. She has already vetoed one Republican-backed bill this year, which granted police authority to arrest and deport illegal migrants.