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Senate advances Department of Housing continuation amid debate on spending priorities and drug‑free shelter rules
Summary
The Arizona Senate moved Senate Bill 13 57 forward on March 10 after adopting amendments. Sponsors and critics debated prioritization of homeless services funding, whether shelters should be required to be in 'drug‑free zones' and the need for flexible funding to respond to eviction or emergency needs.
The Arizona Senate's Committee of the Whole reported Senate Bill 13 57 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation on March 10, 2025, after floor amendments and extended floor questions about how the Department of Housing would allocate funds.
Sponsor Senator Tim Dunn, who introduced a floor amendment, said stakeholders have been working to “take and do reforms on the Department of Housing as far as we can stretch the rubber band” and referenced ongoing work with the Auditor General. Dunn explained the goal was to prioritize spending to balance transitional housing, shelters and long‑term affordable housing.
Senator Lisa Epstein pressed the sponsor on whether the amendment left flexibility for the department to shift funds to eviction support or emergency shelter needs. Epstein said she was concerned shelters designated as drug‑free zones would create barriers to entry for people with substance‑use disorders and that “that usually starts with go to a shelter that has no barriers,” which she argued is often necessary to engage people in services.
Dunn responded that the amendment was meant to create a balance and that the language on priorities was under discussion in the sponsor memo. He said the intent was not to funnel all funds to one category and that additional drafting was expected.
The floor called a division on a Dunn floor amendment to the RAGE committee amendment; the chair announced the result as 15 ayes and 10 nays on that specific vote. After adoption of committee and floor amendments, the committee rose to report SB 13 57 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation; the Senate adopted the committee report on the floor.
Why it matters: The bill continues Department of Housing authority and attempted reforms and sets legislative expectations for how state housing funds are prioritized. Lawmakers debating it pressed for clearer flexibility for emergency and eviction support and for shelter models that do not block entry for people with substance‑use disorders.
Next steps: With the committee of the whole report adopted, the bill was placed on the calendar for subsequent proceedings and transmitted according to senate procedure.
