League Bulletin Issue 9 2026

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Legislative Bulletin: Issue 9 – March 16, 2026
  Legislative Update:  
Welcome to the tenth week of the legislative session. A total of 2,121 legislative
measures have been introduced. To date, the legislature has passed 15 bills,
three of which were signed by the Governor and 12 of which were vetoed. 
Legislative Vacancy Update
Republican precinct committeemen in Legislative District 3 have nominated
three candidates to replace former Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale), who
resigned earlier this session to focus on his campaign for Congress. The
nominees are former State Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, political consultant George
Khalaf, and Rio Verde Foothills resident Cody Reim. The Maricopa County Board of
Supervisors will select one of the three nominees to serve the remainder of the
current term.
 
League Resolution Update 
 
Several League-supported measures advanced in the House last week:

HB4130: NOW: budgets; municipalities; amendments (Blackman) passed
the House on a 42–13 vote and has been transmitted to the Senate. The bill
allows cities and towns to amend their adopted budgets during the fiscal year to
spend newly received revenues not included in the original budget, while
maintaining existing public notice and hearing requirements. The bill prohibits
adopting new or increased taxes or fees through the amendment process. 
 
HB4064: municipal improvement districts; petitions (Bliss) passed the
House on a 48–7 vote and was transmitted to the Senate. The measure updates
the process for forming municipal improvement districts by requiring property
owner petitions at the outset and allowing certain notice requirements to be
waived when all affected property owners agree. 
 
HB2429: short-term rentals; vacation rentals; occupancy (Bliss) was
reconsidered in Committee of the Whole after previously passing Third Read.
The bill standardizes additional local regulatory authority for short-term rentals,
including occupancy limits and expanded enforcement tools. An amendment
was adopted requiring local ordinances to include guest background check
provisions, and the bill is scheduled for another Third Read vote today.
Budget Preemption Bills Advance
Two measures opposed by cities and towns—HB4030 and HCR2052—
advanced from Committee of the Whole last week and remain eligible for a Third
Read vote. Sponsored by Rep. Justin Olson (R-Mesa), the proposals would
prohibit cities, towns, and counties from adopting new taxes or increasing
existing taxes, fees, or utility rates between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2030,
unless voters approve an increase with at least 60% support in an even-year
election. HB4030 would enact the moratorium in statute, while HCR2052 would
refer the policy to voters statewide on the November 2026 ballot.  
 
Cities and towns remain strongly opposed as the proposals would significantly
restrict local authority to manage municipal budgets and utilities. Municipal
utilities and infrastructure projects are typically financed through user fees and
rate adjustments over time, and limiting that flexibility could delay maintenance,
infrastructure investment, and long-term capital planning. Municipal leaders
have also expressed concern that restricting local revenue options could shift
financial pressure to other parts of city budgets, including services such as
police, fire, and transportation. 
Upcoming Hearings
SB 1216: traumatic event counseling (Payne) 
House Committee on Public Safety & Law Enforcement 
 
Expands eligibility for employer-paid traumatic event counseling to include crime
scene technicians and digital forensics technicians as public safety employees.
Eliminates the delayed repeal of January 1, 2027 for the traumatic event
counseling program.

Session Deadlines
Every session has deadlines pertaining to bill submissions and hearings.
These are established by Senate and House rule and are subject to
change. This year’s schedule is as follows: 
 
March 
Friday 3/27:  Last day for consideration of bills in opposite chamber 
 
Position: SUPPORT 
Hearing: March 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 1 
 
SB 1431: municipalities; planned communities; design;
prohibition (Bolick) 
House Committee on Commerce  
 
Prohibits a municipality from requiring the creation of a homeowners’
association, shared amenities, gated access, or other perimeter enclosures as a
condition of a subdivision or development, except as required by federal law.
Prohibits a municipality from adopting or enforcing design, architectural, or
aesthetic requirements for single-family homes or accessory dwelling units,
including requirements related to materials, colors, façades, layouts, garages,
fences, or similar features. Prohibits a municipality from denying or conditioning
a permit based on prohibited design requirements, Preserves the applicability of
building codes, fire codes, public health and safety regulations, minimum
parking requirements, and dark sky ordinances. 
 
Position: OPPOSED 
Hearing: March 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 5
 
SB 1566: malicious delay; enforcement; penalty (Petersen) 
House Committee on Commerce 
 
Prohibits municipalities from “maliciously” (defined) delaying adopted licensing
time frames for single-family residential construction. Prohibits counties from
maliciously delaying responses to license, approval, or permit applications or
similar requests. Authorizes the Attorney General, and county attorneys for
counties, to enforce the prohibition and subjects violators to a civil penalty of
$5,000 per violation. Entitles a plaintiff who files a property right claim or seeks
review of a state or local land use determination in superior court to expedited
judicial review. Requires the superior court to hold a case management
conference within ten days, expedite discovery, rule promptly on dispositive
motions and set a trial or final hearing as soon as practicable, and requires
expedited treatment on appeal and special action review.  
 
Position: OPPOSED 
Hearing: March 17, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in HHR 5

April
Friday 4/17: Last day for consideration of bills in conference committee 
Tuesday 4/21: 100th Day of Session 
 
Legislative Staff
You may contact our legislative division by phone at (602) 258-5786 or by e-
mail using the following information: 
 
Tom Savage, Legislative Director: tsavage@azleague.org  
Marshall Pimentel, Senior Legislative Associate: mpimentel@azleague.org  
Megan Didur, Legislative Associate: mdidur@azleague.org 
Nicholas Medel, Legislative Intern: nmedel@azleague.org  
  
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What the League is Tracking 
 
Stay informed about legislation that affects municipalities throughout the
state. Track proposed bills and resolutions, stay updated on their progress,
and actively engage in the democratic process. Here are some priority
measures the League is tracking:
Legislative Bill Monitoring

League of Arizona Cities and Towns
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Phoenix, AZ 85007
info@azleague.org
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