This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning the residential landlord and tenant act. Key changes include extending the timeframes for various legal processes: the trial date will now be set at least fifteen judicial days after the defendant is served with the summons and complaint, rather than the previous maximum of five days. Additionally, the issuance of a writ of restitution may not occur until at least twenty-four hours after the plaintiff notifies the defendant, and the notice period for tenants to remedy breaches affecting health and safety is increased from five to fifteen days.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new requirements for landlords regarding nonpayment of rent. Landlords must provide a preliminary four-day notice of nonpayment that includes rental assistance resources, followed by a ten-day notice if the rent remains unpaid. The bill also stipulates that a special detainer action can only be initiated after these notices, and it outlines conditions under which a rental agreement may be reinstated. Lastly, the bill mandates that trials be postponed if they are scheduled before the tenant has had ten days to respond to the complaint, ensuring tenants have adequate time to prepare their defense.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 12-1176, 12-1178, 33-1368, 33-1377, 33-1314, 33-1310, 33-1409, 33-2102, 13-1502, 33-1341, 13-1102, 13-1103, 13-1104, 13-1105, 13-3211, 13-105, 13-2308, 13-3451, 13-1202, 13-1203, 12-991, 12-1181, 33-1370