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AIA Arizona is planning an Architect Advocacy Day at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, once again in collaboration with USGBC and NOMA. Architect and Associate members are welcome to attend. This half-day event will be from morning through lunch with legislators in the Historic Senate Chamber. If you are interested in attending and representing your profession, please RSVP by January 31, 2025.
Participating is simply a matter of being present to represent your profession. You do not need to be an expert at government affairs or the legislative process. Further information will be provided for attendees. Know that we may limit the number of attendees based on capacity for the lunch and logistics in planning.
2024 AIA Arizona Advocacy Highlights
In 2024, AIA Arizona was very active in advocating for the statewide architecture profession at the state legislature. Our advocacy efforts had a positive impact resulting in the passage of the bill for the continuation of the Arizona Board of Technical Registration (BTR) for 6 years.
AIA Arizona leadership was pleased that Governor Katie Hobbs signed HB2720, HB2721, HB2297, and HB2308 into law in spring 2024. HB2721 requires certain municipalities to allow, as a permitted use, the development of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes on lots zoned for single-family residential use. This bill addresses the missing middle housing issue in many municipalities. Read the bill here.
HB2720 requires certain municipalities with a population exceeding 75,000 people to adopt regulations that allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on any lot or parcel where a single-family dwelling is allowed. The bill also outlines ADU development standards. By enabling ADUs, this legislation aims to increase the state’s affordable housing supply through accessory dwelling units. Read the bill here. AIA Arizona supported this legislation, and lobbied for it to a number of legislators on Architect’s Advocacy Day in March 2024. An AIA Arizona letter supporting HB2720 was sent to Governor Hobbs in May 2024, co-signed by AIA Arizona Government Affairs Co-Chairs Christian Solorio, AIA, and Brandy Koch, AIA, as well as Executive Director John Czarnecki, Associate AIA.
HB2297 requires certain municipalities to establish objective standards to allow multifamily residential development or adaptive reuse on up to 10 percent of the total existing commercial, office, or mixed-use buildings within the municipality.
HB2308 prohibits an occupational or professional licensing board or health profession regulatory board from denying, suspending, or revoking a person’s license, registration, or certificate based on the person’s prior criminal offense if the offense is not substantially related to the respective occupation.