Report shines light on Arizona’s positive permitting reforms

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A new Competitive Enterprise Institute report highlights the positives of Arizona's environmental permitting system. Under the leadership of Gov. Katie Hobbs and former Gov. Doug Ducey, the state streamlined the local permitting system and leveraged technology and business management systems to make the process speedier and more transparent.

Some of Arizona's notable reforms include:

• Passage of the 2023 Permit Freedom Act, which mandates that local governments approve or deny permit applications within 60 days after a complete submission;
• The myDEQ online portal, which enables businesses to obtain, modify and submit compliance reports for various environmental permits online;
• Introducing the Lean Management System, which focuses on systemic improvements through waste reduction and;
• Restoring state control over previously federally directed programs.

"These diverse initiatives collectively capture Arizona's comprehensive approach to regulatory reform, an all-of-the-above strategy aimed at reducing regulatory burdens across a myriad of domains," report author and CEI Senior Fellow James Broughel said.

View the full report on cei.org: Boosting Business in the Desert:Three cheers for smart permitting reforms in Arizona

View more in the environmental permitting series here:

• Iowa
• New York
• Colorado
• Virginia