Gov. Hobbs signs bill that paves way for Axon HQ campus
Update: Gov. Katie Hobbs on April 18 signed a slate of bills into law, including Senate Bill 1543, the international headquarters legislation that paves the way for Axon to build its $1.3 billion Scottsdale headquarters campus. Axon founder and CEO Rick Smith on April 18 described the action as a “defining moment” for the company.
“The legislation ensures that our company — and our people — can continue to thrive in the community where we started,” Smith said in the April 18 statement.
Original story: Axon Enterprise Inc.’s legislative push to protect its vision for a $1.3 billion Scottsdale headquarters campus is on the precipice of paying off.
Gov. Katie Hobbs’ signature is the final step needed after the Senate voted 17-13 in favor of Senate Bill 1543 on April 15. The bill has weaved a whirlwind and often contentious path through the Legislature after being introduced in late March as part of an effort by Axon and its supporters to circumvent a successful referendum effort in Scottsdale that threatened the sprawling headquarters plans.
Hobbs addressed the vote while making an appearance Tuesday at a tariff event, according to audio shared by the Governor’s office.
“I’m still looking at the final version that came out of the Senate, but what I will say is, they’re a company that’s here, they want to stay here, they are creating jobs,” Hobbs said. “And not only that, but they are now helping to address the affordable housing crisis by using the state land that they bought to build housing to house their workforce.”
The Scottsdale-based company, which makes Tasers, body-worn cameras, drones and other products for law enforcement and military personnel, has spent months driving a legislative campaign to counter local opposition to their proposed headquarters.
“We are deeply grateful to the Arizona State Senate for passing SB1543 today. This bill, if signed into law, will help to bring jobs and housing. It will also allow the families of Axon employees to stay in Arizona,” Axon said in a statement following the Senate’s vote. “We offer sincere thanks to the bill’s sponsors, the legislators who supported this important measure, and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Greater Phoenix Leadership for their steadfast support and advocacy.”
Bill allows Axon to build residential units
SB 1543 effectively allows Axon (Nasdaq: AXON) the opportunity to build nearly 1,900 residential units — a key sticking point for opponents of the plan — and a 435-key hotel without requiring a zoning change or public hearing on its 70-acre site by expanding the allowances of light industrial zoning.
The bill’s text carves out exceptions for light industrial zoning specifically for international headquarters projects that bear a striking resemblance to Axon’s proposed plan in Scottsdale. The light industrial exceptions only apply to international headquarters located in municipalities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000. For reference, Scottsdale (population 241,361), Gilbert (267,918) and Chandler (275,985) are a few East Valley cities that meet the bill’s criteria, according to 2020 figures from the U.S. Census.
Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, or TAAAZE, a political action committee led by former Scottsdale City Council member Bob Littlefield, has been a chief opponent of Axon’s nearly 1,900 multifamily residential units since the zoning change was approved by Council in November 2024. TAAAZE led the referendum effort against Axon’s headquarters plan, collecting the thousands of signatures needed to get the zoning change placed on the November 2026 ballot.
Littlefield on April 15 expressed disappointment about the SB 1543 vote, calling for Gov. Hobbs to veto the legislation.
“She should go ahead and veto it, but if she doesn’t, we’ll go to court,” he said. “I think I made a lot happen with this TAAAZE thing, and we’re not done yet.”
SB1543, which was put forth by Republican Representative Tony Rivero through what’s known as a strike everything amendment, weathered some opposition — most notably from Republican Rep. Joseph Chaplik — before passing overwhelmingly in the house on April 10 by a 40-19 vote.
Some small amendments were made during SB1543’s passage through the House, but the overall essence of the bill remained intact.