HB 2023 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - First Regular Session

municipal general plan; adoption

HB 2023 updates Arizona's rules for how cities adopt and amend their comprehensive land use plans (called "general plans"), specifically for municipalities near military airports. It requires cities with territory in high-noise or accident zones around military facilities to ensure new land use plans are compatible with military operations, making this a statewide concern. Key provisions include mandating public participation procedures (like written comments and multiple public hearings in larger cities), requiring cities to consult military airports and other agencies before adopting plans, and demanding 60-day notice to military airports for plans affecting their zones. This directly affects cities near military installations, ensuring their planning considers military operations alongside community input. The bill does not change land use outcomes but sets new procedural requirements for plan adoption.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 7, 2025 Last action Feb 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 6 edits · Feb 13, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was updated from its introduced version to the House Engrossed version, adding new substantive requirements for municipal general plan adoption and amendments. The most significant change is the addition of new subsections (H through N) that establish a two-thirds voting requirement for major amendments, introduce attorney general review for municipalities near military airports, and add voter ratification requirements for certain municipalities. These changes strengthen oversight and public participation in municipal planning processes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory attorney general review for municipalities with territory in high noise or accident potential zones of military airports, and added voter ratification requirements for municipalities with populations between 2,500 and 10,000 with high growth rates, as well as all municipalities with 10,000+ residents.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection H requiring a two-thirds affirmative vote by the governing body for adoption or major amendments to general plans, up from the previous standard.

Added new subsection M requiring voter ratification for new general plans in municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more, and in smaller municipalities with high population growth rates.

Added new subsection N restricting municipalities from designating private or state trust land as open space without landowner consent or providing alternative economically viable designations.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsection H requiring municipalities near military airports to notify the attorney general of plan adoption, with the attorney general having authority to challenge noncompliance with state law.

DEFINITION

Added clarification that 'major amendment' means a substantial alteration of the municipality's land use mixture or balance as established in the existing general plan.

TECHNICAL

Reformatted the bill text from a continuous narrative style to a structured statute format with clear subsections (A through O) and statutory markers.

Floor votes · House Feb 13, 2025

How they voted

52–0

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 60

Feb 13, 2025

D Democratic27

23 Yea 4

85% Yea

R Republican33

29 Yea 4

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

PASSED

lower

Jan 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors