A bipartisan plan to increase Arizona’s housing supply through zoning deregulation has stalled for the second year in a row at the state Capitol.
The Starter Homes Act awaits a vote in the House, but it faces opposition from both the political right and left. The bill would limit municipalities’ power to reject housing projects.
Democratic Sen. Analise Ortiz (Phoenix) is one of the bill’s supporters.
“The proponents are working on several amendments, but basically since the last meeting it has been radio silence from the governor’s office, and to me that signals that they are not prioritizing this bill,” she said.
Nick Ponder, a lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns says municipalities have made offers to amend the bill, but the bill’s proponents won’t accept them.
That’s the same allegation Ortiz made against the League. Far-right lawmakers in the Legislature’s Freedom Caucus are also against the measure.
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No More Deaths’ aid camp is stationed in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, a few miles from the border in southern Arizona. The group said that site was raided by Border Patrol agents the Sunday before Thanksgiving. -
Members of the Scottsdale City Council have scaled back some of the proposed changes to their public comment policy, following pushback from some residents. -
This year’s Dream Act introduction comes as those protections are waning — as the AP reports, at least 20 DACA recipients have been detained by immigration authorities this year — despite their status. -
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs says she won’t give in to the Trump administration’s threat to withhold SNAP funding unless states hand over data about the program’s recipients. -
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says trade will be the main topic between the two world leaders during a “brief” meeting at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.
