The proposed bill would amend the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section, 9-470.01, which would allow applicants to contract directly with independent providers for application reviews and building inspections. This new provision would ensure that independent providers do not have a financial interest in the applicants and require them to maintain professional liability insurance. Additionally, municipalities would be mandated to reduce their fees for reviews or inspections by the amount saved when an independent provider is utilized. The bill also establishes a timeline for municipalities to approve applications or issue written notices of non-compliance, with the stipulation that failure to respond within the specified timeframe would result in automatic approval of the application.

Furthermore, the bill introduces definitions for key terms such as "applicant," "application," and "Independent Provider," and clarifies that municipalities cannot impose more restrictive regulations than those specified in the new section. It preserves the authority of municipalities to issue stop-work orders for safety concerns and allows applicants to pursue civil proceedings if they believe the municipality has misinterpreted laws or improperly rejected applications. The new section is set to take effect on December 31, 2025, and includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of the remaining provisions if any part is invalidated.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 9-470.01
House Engrossed Version: 9-470.01