The 2026 Arizona legislative session marked a landmark year for the Arizona Multihousing Association, which combined aggressive defensive lobbying with strategic advocacy for pro-housing policies.
By the time the gavel fell, association staff had helped defeat, amend or stop the advancement of more than 40 bills that would have made building and operating housing in Arizona more difficult and more expensive.
Meanwhile, AMA contributed to the passage of two key measures that will ensure impact fees, which drive up the cost of building, are more predictable and that more financing options are available for multifamily developers.
Holding the Line Against Harmful Bills
Among AMA’s most significant defensive victories were stopping limits on rental pricing and restrictions limiting institutional ownership of rental homes.
HB2718 would have created de facto rent control by limiting rent increases, while HB2490 sought to prohibit rental owners from using algorithmic pricing tools.
Restrictions on who can own single-family rental homes were proposed in HB2705, HB2706, SB1441 and SB1442 and defeated.
AMA also successfully opposed a wave of new mandates covering rental application fees, eviction procedures, court reporting requirements and source-of-income restrictions, as well as costly new water certification and energy-reporting requirements for multifamily developments.
Lastly, AMA applauded the Governor’s veto of SB1293, which would have imposed new restrictions on Government Property Lease Excise Tax agreements — a critical tool for investment and development in underserved areas.
Advancing Pro-Housing Policies
AMA didn’t just play defense. Two major housing-friendly bills were signed into law this session.
HB2946, sponsored by Rep. Khyl Powell, will regulate how municipalities and counties calculate, assess and collect development impact fees — a win for transparency, predictability and affordability in new housing construction.
And HB2999, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Weninger, will create a new framework allowing housing affordability districts to finance the infrastructure needed to support residential development.
AMA Remains Vigilant
While the 2026 session brought major wins, many of the defeated proposals are expected to return in 2027.
AMA remains committed to protecting Arizona’s housing providers and advancing policies that expand housing supply and affordability statewide.
