Proponents of this change say it is necessary to ensure rural Arizonans have a voice in the process; they say citizen-led initiatives are typically pushed by voters in Maricopa and Pima Counties, the state’s two most populous.
They do have a say -- at the ballot box.
Citizen lead initiatives for ballot measures are a means to determine whether or not a given issue is worth the broader population weighing in on. If they pass they don't automatically create new laws, they just give the opportunity for everyone to vote on it. That's why you only need something like 15% of the previous votes cast to sign on and not a majority.
There is no reason a rural county should be able to block a a state from even considering something.
This is purely a reaction to women and their allies putting forth their right to bodily autonomy and reproductive health on the ballot. It is nothing more than an attempt for the legislators to rule rather than represent.