Committee backs bill letting AG challenge ‘malicious’ local permit delays
March 17, 2026 | 2026 Legislature Arizona, Arizona
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The House Committee on Commerce voted to return Senate Bill 15-66 with a do-pass recommendation after testimony from the bill’s sponsor, local officials and homeowners.
Sponsor President Peterson told the committee the bill targets intentional, ‘‘malicious’’ delays by cities and counties that can add months or years to single-family construction and raise housing costs. ‘‘Malice is a very high standard,’’ Peterson said, arguing the measure protects property owners while imposing a strict intent requirement.
Opponents asked for clarifications. Jacob Emmett of the County Supervisors Association said he agreed that governments should not maliciously delay permits but asked the committee to amend Title 11 so counties receive the same standards applied to cities and towns. Emmett also requested that delays caused by incomplete or insufficient applications be exempted from the malicious-delay standard.
Public commenters offered mixed anecdotes about processing times. Susan Edwards, president of the Arizona Neighborhood Alliance, warned that 15-day timelines and a 10-day judicial hearing window could burden local governments and courts and urged the committee to reconsider the deadlines; other speakers described local permits processed in six business days and examples where assessor or county processes took many months.
Committee members discussed enforcement logistics; one member said the attorney general ‘‘currently doesn’t have a department to enforce this,’’ and voted no at roll call to reserve judgment while seeking enforcement details. Despite concerns, the committee adopted the do-pass recommendation by roll call (7 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present, 1 absent).
The sponsor committed to a floor amendment to harmonize county language with the title 9 (cities/towns) provisions. The bill now advances toward floor consideration with the committee’s recommendation.
The committee moved on to other bills and adjourned after several additional items were discussed.
Sponsor President Peterson told the committee the bill targets intentional, ‘‘malicious’’ delays by cities and counties that can add months or years to single-family construction and raise housing costs. ‘‘Malice is a very high standard,’’ Peterson said, arguing the measure protects property owners while imposing a strict intent requirement.
Opponents asked for clarifications. Jacob Emmett of the County Supervisors Association said he agreed that governments should not maliciously delay permits but asked the committee to amend Title 11 so counties receive the same standards applied to cities and towns. Emmett also requested that delays caused by incomplete or insufficient applications be exempted from the malicious-delay standard.
Public commenters offered mixed anecdotes about processing times. Susan Edwards, president of the Arizona Neighborhood Alliance, warned that 15-day timelines and a 10-day judicial hearing window could burden local governments and courts and urged the committee to reconsider the deadlines; other speakers described local permits processed in six business days and examples where assessor or county processes took many months.
Committee members discussed enforcement logistics; one member said the attorney general ‘‘currently doesn’t have a department to enforce this,’’ and voted no at roll call to reserve judgment while seeking enforcement details. Despite concerns, the committee adopted the do-pass recommendation by roll call (7 ayes, 3 nays, 1 present, 1 absent).
The sponsor committed to a floor amendment to harmonize county language with the title 9 (cities/towns) provisions. The bill now advances toward floor consideration with the committee’s recommendation.
The committee moved on to other bills and adjourned after several additional items were discussed.
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