municipalities; unsheltered persons; temporary campsites

SB 1559 allows Arizona municipalities with over 500,000 residents to create temporary camping sites on public property for unsheltered persons (people without permanent housing) for up to one year. Municipalities must obtain Arizona Department of Housing certification by proving insufficient shelter beds, no negative property value impact, and a plan for site standards. These standards require assigned sleeping areas, sanitation facilities (toilets, showers, running water), health service coordination, and bans on illegal substances, all published online. The Department can inspect sites for compliance and require corrections, while residents or businesses may sue to enforce the rules and recover attorney fees if successful.