Week in Review: Freedom Builds Homes Faster

Housing costs are sky high, and the American Dream is out of reach for too many families—even in liberty-loving Texas. But now, with the help of the Goldwater Institute, the Lone Star State has enacted sweeping housing reforms that will help enable the construction of new, affordable homes.

This week, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Goldwater-backed legislation that tackles red tape on multiple fronts. Cities must now allow housing, such as townhomes and duplexes, in mixed-use zones. Office-to-residential conversions, once blocked by costly mandates, are now streamlined. Protest petitions that allowed a few neighbors to derail housing projects are out. And outdated lot-size requirements that blocked entry-level homes have been scaled back.

Taken together, these reforms can be summed up by one idea: freedom builds faster. Studies consistently show that increasing housing supply can lead to lower surrounding home and rent prices, offering tangible relief for families struggling to make ends meet. And the Goldwater Institute is proud to continue leading the fight for housing freedom around the country.

Read more here.

Stopping Another Illegal Tax

For three years, Yuma, Arizona, residents have been hit with a property tax that never received voter approval. Last week, the Goldwater Institute argued before the Arizona Court of Appeals that the Yuma County Hospital District violated state statutes by sidestepping the required public vote and directing the county to impose the tax anyway.

“That maneuver was illegal. It violates the clear requirement in Arizona law that special taxing entities like the Hospital District cannot impose property taxes without first holding a special election and obtaining approval from the voters they wish to tax,” explained John Thorpe, a staff attorney at the Goldwater Institute.

Goldwater is representing Yuma taxpayer Rick Ogston in the case, which seeks a refund and a formal declaration that the tax is invalid. A ruling is now pending.

Read more here.

Special Event: Supreme Court Roundup!

In a term that reshaped the legal landscape, the U.S. Supreme Court issued major rulings affecting liberty, limited government, and constitutional rights. Now, as the dust settles, the Goldwater Institute is offering a front-row seat to understand what these decisions mean for the future of the country.

On Wednesday, July 9, at 12 PM (MST, Arizona) / 3 PM (EDT), Goldwater’s Timothy Sandefur and Jon Riches will host a live webinar to unpack the Court’s most consequential opinions—from the future of the administrative state to the Court’s evolving stance on nationwide injunctions.

Click here to RSVP today!