IN FOCUS - May 9, 2025

Axon may have won its battle against the City of Scottsdale, but the war over its proposed corporate headquarters has only just begun. 

Governor Katie Hobbs’ recent signing of SB 1543 would nullify a local citizens’ referendum against the taser maker’s planned Scottsdale HQ and development. This week, however, the same citizens’ group announced it intends to block the legislation and is collecting signatures in order to refer the measure to Arizona’s 2026 ballot.   

The group, known as Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAZE), previously proved its muscle by collecting roughly 26,000 signatures for the initial Scottsdale referendum. It’s new statewide push will be a much taller task. Referring SB 1543 to the statewide ballot will require that the group collect at least 127,975 valid signatures. And they don’t have long to do it - the filing deadline is just 90 days following adjournment of the legislative session, which will almost certainly come (prayer hands emoji) before the end of June. 

The referendum effort shows the degree to which a local development dispute in Scottsdale has exploded into an issue of statewide concern. SB 1543 permits developers to build apartments and hotels on land zoned for light industrial - but only if the project is tied to a company’s headquarters. Axon’s plan to construct 1,900 apartments in tandem with its new HQ is the crux of local residents’ opposition. Critics worry SB 1543 will result in similar developments in other parts of the state, and limit the options of local residents to object.

In the meantime, the City of Scottsdale appears poised to challenge SB 1543 in the courtroom. This week, its City Council approved hiring outside counsel to evaluate options for legal action.