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HOAs won't be able to prohibit backyard shade structures under this Arizona bill.In Arizona’s blazing heat, shade can lower temperatures by 30 degrees or more.And under a bill passed this week in the state Legislature, homeowners associations would no longer be able to enforce as many restrictions on umbrellas, awnings, shade sails, pergolas, or other shade structures in backyards.House Bill 2342 would allow HOAs to put some restrictions on the style, placement or size of shade structures.But the bill would prohibit HOAs from putting outright bans on shade structures in backyards.Stacey Travers (D-Chandler) said she sponsored the bill after being contacted by a constituent who had been required by her HOA to remove a backyard pergola.“Our backyard went from a comfortable oasis where our son could play year round, to now having to keep him inside because of safety reasons,” the constituent wrote in comments shared by Travers during a February House committee hearing.“We live in one of the hottest states and the fact that the HOA has the power to regulate how much shade is adequate for our family makes me feel like I failed my kid.” Travers told the committee shade is important for comfort as well as long-term sustainability as Arizona’s temperatures rise.“Allowing reasonable flexibility for pergolas, awnings and other manufactured and well designed shade solutions helps homeowners protect their families from excessive heat, reducing energy costs, and creates more usable outdoor living spaces,” Travers said.The Arizona Association of Community Managers, an organization representing HOAs, took a neutral position on the bill.The bill passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support.It now heads to the governor’s desk.If signed into law, it would take effect on the General Effective Date, which is likely to fall in September.- State lawmakers on Monday rejected a bill that would have restricted the demolition of historic homes to build what’s known as “middle housing.” - Berkshire agreed to pay Taylor Morrison investors $72.50 per share in the all-cash deal.That represents a 24% premium over the company's previous closing price of $58.50.- Maricopa County’s eviction prevention pilot aims to better identify households at risk of eviction, provide residents with resources and better collaborate with participating landlords and justice courts.- Phoenix is looking for every opportunity to conserve water, as it is preparing to face record cuts to its Colorado River supply within the next two years.The city’s smart leak detection program is reminding residents that even small, unseen amounts of water waste can add up.- Mobile homes and RVs make up only about 5% of housing in Maricopa County.But in recent years, nearly 25% of indoor heat-related deaths in the county have occurred in them.