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City staff update council on 2025 Arizona legislative session; land transfers and permit-review bills tracked
Summary
Assistant City Manager Travis Pruitt briefed council on key 2025 state bills including a sovereign land transfer (HB 2769), proposals on municipal permit review timelines (SB 1353/HB 2866), and a bill requiring two-thirds council votes for fee increases (SB 1013); staff said they are tracking highway funding and a food-tax proposal.
Bullhead City officials updated the council on state legislative activity for the 2025 session at the March 4 meeting, highlighting several measures the city is tracking and local advocacy efforts.
Assistant City Manager Travis Pruitt reviewed bills of particular interest. He said House Bill 2769 — described as a sovereign land transfer to Bullhead City — would convey roughly 37 acres (a peninsula behind Palo Verde Meadows and three small islands near the Red Condos) to the city; the bill had moved out of its first House committee and staff expected it to advance. Pruitt said the mayor and staff had laid groundwork for the bill and that lawmakers were supportive.
Pruitt also described two related bills on municipal development permit review, Senate Bill 1353 and House Bill 2866. Those measures would limit municipal timelines for permit reviews and inspections and could allow developers to hire third-party reviewers and inspectors if the municipality did not act within the bill’s deadlines. Pruitt said the bills raise questions about third-party qualifications and the implications for municipal control of plan review.
Another bill Pruitt described (Senate Bill 1013) would require a two-thirds council vote to levy or increase any assessment, tax or fee; the proposal had passed the Senate and moved to the House. Pruitt said staff will continue to monitor the bill’s progress because it would change local decision thresholds if enacted.
Pruitt reported continued advocacy for highway safety funding, including right-turn lane projects on Highway 95; he said Representative John Gillette has helped secure prior funding and is advocating again. The mayor and staff also noted a separate state bill to transfer about 37 acres of sovereign land behind Palo Verde Meadows (HB 2769) and expressed confidence it could pass. Pruitt also briefly noted a food-tax measure under consideration that would cap local food taxes at 2% (the proposal had been revised from an earlier iteration that sought to eliminate food taxes outright) and said its direct impact varies by city.
Council took no action on the report; staff said they will continue to track legislation and report back to council.
