| The Arizona Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (AZ ARVC) is watching out for your business. We have a lobbyist, Executive Director Susan Brenton, representing you at the state level. To date we have a total of 1,629 different bills which we have had to look at for the 2024 Arizona Legislative Regular Session which began last month. Of those, 1 bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate and been signed by the Governor.
Arizona requires a bill to pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and then be transmitted to the Governor who can either approve or veto it. If the Governor vetoes it, it must then go back and be passed by a 2/3 vote of both the House and Senate to become law (a 3/4 vote of the House and Senate if the bill contains an emergency clause). Bills that are passed go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns (usually go into effect sometime in the summer) unless they have an emergency clause which means they go into effect immediately.
Below is a recap of some of the bills AZ ARVC is watching.
As you read this, remember – it’s often the bills that do not pass that are the most important!
Rent Bills
There are two bills (House Bill 2707 and Senate Bill 1645) which call for limiting rent only under the Residential Landlord Tenant Act (relating to rental of park-owned homes and apartments) as of right now. The bills would limit the amount of an increase to the lesser of 7% of the lowest rental rate charged during the 12 months immediately preceding the rental increase effective date, or to 3% of the lowest rental rate charged during the preceding 12 months plus the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. AZ ARVC opposes all rent control bills and it does not appear either will even get a hearing before a committee (as noted above, if not passed by committees and the entire House of Representatives and Senate, a bill “dies”).
Heat Mitigation
House Bill 2146 would prohibit a person who owns or operates a mobile home park from preventing a tenant from installing necessary cooling methods to reduce costs and prevent heat-related illness and death, including temporary window mounted air conditioners, window coverings, awnings, etc. However, Susan Brenton attended a meeting at the Arizona State University of a group looking at these heat mitigation issues, and it was obvious they do not know the difference between a travel trailer, park model and a manufactured/mobile home, so we are watching to be sure RV’s are not included in the bill. Thus far, the bill is passing in the House of Representatives.
Source of Income
“Source of Income” (i.e., where a person gets their money, whether it be from wages, governmental housing funds, etc.) has already passed in the cities of Tucson, Phoenix and Tempe. Basically, House Bill 2267 states that a landlord cannot use the source of a person’s income against an otherwise eligible prospective or current tenant to refuse to rent the property, evict the person, discriminate in pricing, attempt to discourage a prospective tenant, or represent that the premises are no longer available for rent. AZ ARVC opposes this and it this bill has not yet been given a hearing.
Other Issues
House Bill 2195 permits an on-site wastewater treatment facility with a design flow of 3,000 or more gallons per day but less than 75,000 gallons per day to discharge under a general permit if it is complying with the existing permit rules and is operated by a service provider that is certified by the technology manufacturer. It requires the Department of Environmental Quality to include an addendum to the general permit authorization that requires on-site wastewater treatment facilities to conduct maintenance, monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting in addition to the requirements of the general permit For an on-site wastewater treatment facility with a design flow of 50,000 gallons per day or more or for a site with multiple on-site wastewater treatment facilities with a collective design flow of 50,000 gallons per day or more, the state may require the facility by an addendum to the general permit to provide adequate financial assurance. This has passed the committees in the House of Representatives and will now go before the entire House for vote. AZ ARVC supports this bill.
House Bill 2268 states the landlord must disclose the exact amount of rent and other fees prior to commencement of the tenancy, but then goes on to state all landlords must allow tenants to pay with any legal tender including cash in US dollars and more. AZ ARVC opposes this bill; many landlords do not accept cash. It appears this bill will die.
House Bill 2301 simply states a landlord cannot prohibit a tenant’s use of marijuana. AZ ARVC opposes this bill – a landlord should be able to prohibit the use in the common areas.
In addition, AZ ARVC is watching several bills on utilities, anti-discrimination in housing, storage lots, insurance, and other issues. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact Susan at the AZ ARVC office.
As the state legislative session continues, AZ ARVC will continue to keep you updated on the issues.
Thank you for all your support! |
