Stack and Pack Housing: What Happens in Scottsdale Doesn't Stay in Scottsdale
SB1543’s striker: Arizona wants big corporate HQs, and it’s willing to rewrite the rules statewide to get them—housing, hotels, and all.
In world-renowned Scottsdale, a quiet but powerful legislative shift is taking shape—one that could upend this polished oasis and send shockwaves through cities across Arizona.
At the heart of it is a strike-everything amendment which would rewrite zoning rules in cities like Scottsdale, allowing hotel and multifamily housing developments in industrial zones without public input. What begins in the Valley of the Sun could soon echo through every corner of the state.
What’s the big deal? The residents of Scottsdale have made it clear - they wanted the final say on development
Specifically, the strike-everything amendment to Arizona’s SB1543 would force cities with populations between 200,000 and 500,000 to allow hotel and multifamily housing developments within light industrial zones—without public hearings or traditional zoning approvals—as long as the projects are tied to an international headquarters campus.
International headquarters?
In January, Axon Enterprise, Inc., the Scottsdale-based tech and weapons company formerly known as TASER International, paused groundbreaking on its planned world headquarters in Scottsdale. The move follows delays tied to a ballot referendum effort, creating major uncertainty around the project.
“While Axon has been headquartered in Scottsdale since its founding in 1993 and remains deeply committed to the community, the recent emergence of local political opposition has prompted the company to resume actively considering alternative locations nationwide for a new headquarters campus.”
Axon | January 8, 2025
The headline read, “Axon CEO threatens to move HQ out of Arizona,” as Axon President Josh Isner took to Fox Business News on March 3rd, voicing frustration over mounting delays tied to a union-backed ballot referendum.
Fast forward to today, language effectively limiting local zoning authority and fast-tracking high-density development is tied to large corporate campuses.
AZ House Summary on Strike-Everything Amendment to SB1543
Bill Sponsor: Senator Carroll, LD 28
What is a striker bill? It replaces all original language in a bill with entirely new content, often unrelated. SB1543, sponsored by Sen. Carroll, originally focused on increasing the homestead exemption (home equity protection), but was rewritten to mandate that cities allow hotels and multifamily housing within certain corporate campuses—bypassing public hearings and local zoning rules.
Legislative Intent Behind SB1543 Striker Bill:
In the bill’s findings, the Legislature states it is in Arizona’s public interest to encourage the location and relocation of corporate headquarters to the state. Lawmakers argue that international headquarters—with both commercial and ancillary residential uses—significantly contribute to Arizona’s economic health and prosperity.
To support this goal, the Legislature declares it necessary to adopt a uniform statewide law governing such developments, aiming to streamline and encourage the growth of corporate campuses across Arizona.
THE HISTORY & WILL OF SCOTTSDALE RESIDENTS
Although the Scottsdale City Council approved Axon’s rezoning and “corporate campus” plan back in November, a signature drive led by TAAAZE has pushed the final decision to voters—now set for the November 2026 ballot.
This morning, State 48 News spoke exclusively with Timothy La Sota. He’s the attorney representing the signature gatherers to put Axon’s world headquarters plan on a referendum ballot through a political action committee called TAAZE. La Sota helped collect 26,000 signatures - more than enough to qualify for the ballot to “let the public decide to allow this massive new apartment complex,” he says.
La Sota says SB 1543, the strike-everything, is an entirely new bill. “They had a much different version that was essentially just designed to - more cancel our referendum in a different way. That could not get out of the Senate. They’ve tried a new tact here to basically just to take these corporate headquarters - only corporate headquarters and move those beyond the purview of every single municipal council in the state that is between 200,00 and 500,000 in population.”
“Obviously, this is the ultimate in special interest legislation. They’d never do this for you or me.”
Timothy La Sota | March 25, 2025
La Sota calls this the “Axon bill” directed at a single company - a single project. He notes, “It’s unclear whether this legislation would ever apply to any other situation other than the current one.”
“I think there are a number of legal challenges that could be made against this. I think it’s potentially special legislation. I think when you start taking away constitutional rights that have been earned already, and these were earned with sweat and boot leather. People going around and getting signatures from Scottsdale residents to sign this petition. This business that this was an out-of-state union that did this that’s a bunch of bologna. These were Scottsdale residents who signed the petition. This is deeply unpopular,” says La Sota.
State 48 News’ Barber asks La Sota what the far-reaching implications are for other Arizona cities.
La Sota responds, “A number of cities are knocking on the door of 200,000 (population) and a number of cities are already there. We’ve got Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale. Tempe might be 200,000 residents right now. Surprise and Peoria will soon be 200,000 residents. So if you live in those communities, and you don’t want a corporate headquarters to be located next door, as a matter of right and you not being able to do anything about it, you should be concerned about this.”
Everybody else has to play by the rules explains La Sota. “We’re making special exceptions for this one single company that has basically gobbled up every lobbyist they could to lobby this bill.”
Barber asks about the Republican vs. Republican trend happening in the state legislature. La Sota says, “It’s a strange coalition that might be supporting this bill of Republicans and Democrats. The bottom line here is there’s a deep disconnect with the people at the legislature and the people over these housing - these dense housing projects. And if you’re just a person who’s out there trying to get to work - you asked the question, ‘What am I gonna benefit from thousands and thousands of more of these stack and pack type housing units.’ And the answer to most people is - they won’t.”
View the State 48 News interview with Timothy La Sota here.
THE MORE YOU KNOW.
SB 1543 is the only piece of legislation being heard tomorrow morning in the AZ House International Trade Committee. You will be able to watch it live.
🗓 Wednesday, March 26, 2025: 8:30am
📍 Arizona House of Representatives
➡️ Committee on International Trade
📲 Watch Live
Also of note, State 48 News welcomes comment and interview opportunities from all sides of this issue.
State 48 News has contacted Axon by email on several occasions for comment.
State 48 News has contacted Rep. Rivero for comment by email and phone.
State 48 News has contacted Sen. Carroll for comment by email and phone.
State 48 News talked with Rep. Joseph Chaplik about the legislation, as well.
We will continue to follow this story.