Residents of Arizona communities like San Tan Valley and Vail are applauding the signing into law Rep. Neal Carter’s bill, HB 2455, which streamlines the process by which Arizona communities may incorporate. Governor Ducey signed the bill on April 6.
“This is an important process change for San Tan Valley, which has attempted incorporation three times over the past twelve years,” said Representative Carter. “Each time, the effort has failed without ever going to a ballot because of objections from outside interests. I believe people who live within a community should have a chance for their voices to be heard on matters of local governance. Any decision of whether a community becomes a town or city should be made by its residents, not by out of area interests.”
The process formerly required incorporators to notify home builders and HOAs individually, which was extraordinarily difficult to ensure. Moreover, any entity that failed to be notified could opt out of the incorporating area and kill the effort.
With the enactment of this law, notice is made to all interested parties through inclusion on a meeting agenda of the county board of supervisors six-months in advance. While such parties can still opt out, they can no longer kill the process.
Representative Carter was thorough in addressing different stakeholder concerns to earn HB 2455 wide bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. It is the first bill introduced by him to be signed into law.