Arizona House passes bill to scrap Scottsdale election on Axon's HQ
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Arizona House passed a bill that would cancel a November 2026 vote that could block Axon's proposed Scottsdale headquarters. Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/picture alliance via Getty Images
Axon came one step closer to canceling a planned election that could upend its plans to build a new headquarters in Scottsdale.
The big picture: The Scottsdale City Council last November approved the Taser maker's rezoning request for a building near Hayden Road and Loop 101 that would include 1,900 apartments and a hotel.
- Opponents of the apartment units, with support from the organized labor group Worker Power, collected enough signatures to put the issue on the 2026 general election ballot.
- Axon CEO Rick Smith has said the apartments are critical and has threatened the company will leave Arizona if the special election happens.
The intrigue: So, Axon sought help from the Legislature to nix the election.
- A pair of proposals last month that would have eliminated voters' ability to put municipal rezoning decisions on the ballot via citizen referendum fell short.
- A new legislative proposal that emerged last month would force cities with populations between 200,000-500,000, including Scottsdale, to allow apartments and hotels on the campus of an international business headquarters on land zoned for light industrial use.
- The bill includes other parameters, including that the company must employ over 1,000 people and that at least 30% of the apartments must be reserved for company employees or police officers, firefighters and health care workers.
Driving the news: The House approved the bill 40-19 on Thursday.
- Rep. Tony Rivero, R-Peoria, who introduced the proposal at Axon's request, said he aims to do everything possible to keep Axon in Arizona.
- "There's a lot at stake. We're talking about economic development, thousands of employees, billions of dollars being pumped into our economy," he said on the House floor.
The other side: Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, said he stands with his constituents who want an election over the zoning decision.
- He also said this isn't a state issue and the Legislature shouldn't pass a bill for one company.
- "To hold (Scottsdale) voters hostage … to say, 'I'm leaving if you don't give me my way at the state,' is absolutely ridiculous," Chaplik said.
What's next: The bill now goes to the Senate.
- Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Gov. Katie Hobbs, told Axios the governor is "committed to keeping and bringing in businesses that create jobs" and she's "closely watching" the bill while working with stakeholders and lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the standoff over "stolen valor" legislation to criminalize lying about military service for personal gain appears headed for a resolution.
- The House on Wednesday nearly unanimously passed an amended version of the bill that Judiciary Committee chair Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, blocked in the Senate last month.
- Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, previously said he wouldn't allow a vote on the legislation without a compromise between Rogers and bill sponsor Rep. Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake.
- He told Axios he worked with them individually to ensure they're both satisfied — though Blackman noted he didn't negotiate directly with Rogers. Petersen now plans to bring the bill up for a Senate vote.
Between the lines: House Republicans on Monday proposed a plan to provide $122 million for developmental disabilities services, as Hobbs has sought.
- Yes, but: Hobbs called it "inhumane and reckless" over cuts and other provisions.