IN FOCUS - Apr. 11, 2025

It’s Scottsdale vs. Everybody at the State Capitol.

The melodrama surrounding taser-maker Axon reached a crescendo this week after the Arizona House advanced legislation backed by the company that would nullify a citizens’ referendum against the company’s proposed North Scottsdale campus. The amended legislation, which now must return to the Senate for consideration, was approved over the unanimous opposition of Scottsdale lawmakers. 

Axon’s effort has turned into a multi-front war between an array of interest groups.

There’s the street-level conflict between Axon and Scottsdale’s rising anti-growth, anti-apartment movement, which  opposes the company’s plans to include nearly 2,000 apartments at its new headquarters.

SB 1543 has also evolved into a proxy fight between Arizona’s business community and a California labor union - Unite Here - alleged to have helped orchestrate the referendum after its efforts to unionize Axon were rebuffed. Business groups argue that, without SB 1543, similar labor-led efforts will put other major Arizona developments at risk. 

The legislation’s fate is unclear. Next, the Arizona Senate must OK the House changes to the bill so that it can go to the desk of Gov. Katie Hobbs, who has given no indication how she would react to the measure.