State Democratic lawmakers introduced aspirational housing goals on Thursday, but bipartisan support is necessary to turn their ideas into laws, and so far, Republicans are not involved.
Democrats said they want to do plenty to address housing, like preventing evictions and homelessness, protecting renters’ rights and limiting price manipulation. Last year, a substantial housing package — sponsored by a Republican lawmaker — included many of those elements, but failed to pass. Rep. Analise Ortiz (D-Phoenix) says she thinks bringing back some of those ideas as individual bills will be more successful.
“Some of those areas where we had strong consensus and strong bipartisan support I feel confident will make it across the finish line with bipartisan support. It’s a different strategy we’re trying his year,” she said.
The champion of last year’s housing package, Republican Sen. Steve Kaiser, resigned from the Legislature in June. His proposal emphasized the need to increase Arizona’s housing supply, which Ortiz also highlighted as the main factor driving up the cost of housing. However, only one of the proposals from Democrats aims to increase that supply by making it easier for homeowners to build tiny homes on their properties.
The idea of expanding accessory dwelling units — also known as ADUs or casitas — was part of Kaiser's package last year. This year, Sen. Anna Hernandez (D-Phoenix) will sponsor a similar bill.
Whereas last year’s budget package focused on zoning deregulation, Democrats this year are not going in that direction.
Rep. Oscar De Los Santos (D-Laveen) said he will sponsor a bill to stop corporations from buying up Arizona housing, but the details of that are unknown.
Rep. Travis Grantham (R-Gilbert) said the housing bills would have a better chance if a Republican was sponsoring them.
“My experience with bills like that is it’s never enough for the Democrats and it’s always too much for the Republicans,” he said.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said she hasn’t seen the details of the legislative Democrats’ plan, but said she hopes she can get on board.
“My biggest issue, and I think this was an issue last year, is making sure that it doesn’t go too far in terms of usurping local control,” she said.
Last year, Kaiser organized a deal with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, one of the most prominent stakeholder groups representing Arizona’s municipalities. Hobbs said she hopes housing legislation this year will also get the League’s support.
