Arizona lawmakers have passed a bipartisan bill aimed at increasing the state’s housing supply by encouraging the conversion of agricultural land into urban development. The legislation allows for faster rezoning of certain farmland in high-demand areas, especially in Maricopa and Pinal counties, enabling residential and mixed-use projects to move forward more quickly. Supporters argue this will help address the state’s housing shortage and ease affordability pressures.
While the bill received support from both Republicans and Democrats, concerns were raised about preserving local control and ensuring the availability of water resources in rapidly growing areas. Still, the legislation includes provisions for water conservation planning and allows cities to retain some say in development proposals. Governor Katie Hobbs is expected to sign the bill into law, signaling a major policy shift to meet Arizona’s housing demand.
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