Assigned to GOV FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2379
hotel; motel; vouchers; homeless; prohibition
Purpose
Prohibits a city, town, county or the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) from
requiring a hotel or motel to participate in a program that houses homeless individuals or families
in an unoccupied guest room through the use of a housing voucher.
Background
ADOH is responsible for establishing policies, procedures and programs to address
affordable housing issues confronting Arizona, including housing issues of: 1) low income
families; 2) moderate income families; 3) housing affordability; 4) special needs populations; and
5) decaying housing stock. ADOH must provide to qualified housing participants and political
subdivisions financial, advisory, consultative, planning, training and educational assistance for the
development of safe, decent and affordable housing, including housing for low and moderate
income households. Statute outlines the duties of ADOH, including: 1) establishing guidelines for
programs and activities of ADOH for the construction and financing of affordable housing and
housing for low and moderate income households; 2) accepting and allocating monies appropriated
by the Legislature; 3) conducting research on its own initiative or at the request of the Governor,
the Legislature, state or local agencies pertaining to ADOH objectives; 4) consulting with and
making recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on all matters concerning ADOH
objectives; and 5) making annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature on its activities,
including the location of its activities, its finances and the scope of its operations. ADOH must
implement all existing laws and regulations established by the federal government, its agencies
and the State of Arizona (A.R.S. ยง 41-3953).
The federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (Program) assists
low-income families, the elderly and persons with disabilities to afford safe and sanitary housing
in the private market. Program participants are able to find their own housing because housing
assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual. A family that is issued a housing choice
voucher is responsible for finding housing of the family's choice where the owner agrees to rent
under the Program. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety as determined
by ADOH. A rental subsidy is paid to the owner by ADOH on behalf of the family. The family
must pay approximately 30 percent of the household income as the difference between the contract
rent approved for the owner and the amount subsidized by the program (HUD).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
FACT SHEET
H.B. 2379
Page 2
Provisions
1. Prohibits a city, town, county or ADOH from requiring a hotel or motel to participate in any
program that houses homeless individuals or families in an unoccupied guest room through the
use of a housing voucher.
2. Defines homeless individuals or families as individuals or families who lack a fixed, regular
and adequate nighttime residence or who have a primary nighttime residence in a shelter, on
the street, in a park, in a vehicle or in an enclosure that is not authorized for human habitation.
3. Defines hotel or motel as an establishment that provides for payment temporary lodging in the
form of overnight accommodations in guest rooms to transient patrons.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
GOV 2/1/23 DP 5-4-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/21/23 31-29-0
Prepared by Senate Research
March 24, 2023
AN/slp