HCR 2052 Arizona House · 57th Legislature - Second Regular Session

rates; fees; taxes; increases; moratorium

HCR 2052 is a proposed voter referendum that would impose a temporary freeze on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility rate increases in Arizona. It would prohibit cities and counties from raising these charges above 2025-2026 budget levels from July 2026 through June 2030, covering fees for services, permits, utility rates, and transaction taxes. Exceptions include voter-approved increases meeting specific criteria (60% approval in even-year elections). If approved by voters, the freeze would take effect on July 1, 2026, and expire on June 30, 2030. This measure directly affects local governments and residents/businesses paying municipal or county fees and services.

Issues: ✗ Budget & Taxes

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Failed

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 9, 2026 Last action Mar 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from an introduced draft to its final engrossed version, adding new substantive provisions to the moratorium on local fees and taxes. The most significant change is the addition of an inflation adjustment clause for utility rates, allowing municipalities that haven't raised rates by 12% in four years to increase them by the inflation rate. The bill also expanded exemptions to include school district taxes and clarified enforcement mechanisms for counties.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from applying only to municipalities to also applying to counties, with specific provisions added for county taxes and fees.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exception allowing utility rate increases of up to the inflation rate for municipalities that haven't raised rates by 12% in the preceding four fiscal years.

Added exemptions for ad valorem taxes levied by counties for school district support.

ENFORCEMENT

Added specific enforcement provisions for counties, making them subject to the same enforcement section as municipalities.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'fee' and 'utility service' in the county section to match the municipal definitions.

REQUIREMENT

Added legislative findings and intent section explaining the rationale for the moratorium.

Added a short title for the act: 'Local Cost-of-Living Protection Act'.

TECHNICAL

Changed formatting from introduced version to engrossed version with proper legislative headers and page numbering.

Floor votes · House Mar 11, 2026

How they voted

21–31

Failed · 8 other

Total votes 60

Mar 11, 2026

D Democratic27

21 Yea 6

77% Yea

R Republican33

31 Nay 2

93% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

DPA

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (21-31-8)

house

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors