In an op-ed for the Phoenix Business Journal, NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich described the organization’s amicus brief filed at the Arizona Supreme Court in the case of Greg Mills and Southwest Engineering Concepts, LLC v. State of Arizona. This case concerns the state’s registration requirements for small engineering businesses.

The brief, which was filed with the Goldwater Institute, highlights how the Arizona Board of Technical Registration’s licensing requirement is unconstitutional because it restricts economic liberty. We argue that economic liberty, or the right to work to provide for oneself and one’s family, is a fundamental right in Arizona law.

In the op-ed, Heinrich writes:

“Licensing laws serve an important purpose as they protect public health and safety. But when regulatory requirements apply differently based solely on whether someone works for a large corporation or owns a small firm, they create an uneven playing field. That disparity makes it immensely difficult for experienced and qualified professionals to start and grow businesses of their own. This isn’t just Greg’s story—it’s a barrier facing countless working Arizonans.”

CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed. Excerpts are below.

NFIB Backs Engineer in Arizona Licensing Fight That Could Affect Small Business

Phoenix Business Journal

By: Chad Heinrich

Feb. 18, 2026

At NFIB, our mission is simple: make it easier for small business owners to own, operate, and grow their business. When government cuts red tape and regulations are fair and reasonable, small businesses can thrive. However, when rules are arbitrary or unevenly applied, small businesses pay the price.  […]

That is why NFIB, the nation’s leading small business association, filed an amicus brief at the Arizona Supreme Court this week in the case Greg Mills and Southwest Engineering Concepts, LLC v. State of Arizona.  […]

The outcome of the case will likely shape the regulatory environment for small businesses across the state, potentially easing barriers for thousands of Arizona entrepreneurs.

For more than three decades, Greg Mills designed, built, and tested electrical circuits for major manufacturers in Arizona, including General Dynamics (GD) and Rayovac. In 2008, Greg started his own engineering company serving startups and small businesses with product engineering needs.

Like 80% of engineers nationwide, Greg is not a “licensed” engineer. Greg’s work is certified by third-party testers to meet Underwriters Laboratory or Federal Communications Commission (FCC) standards, meaning his work is subject to safety and compliance oversight. […]

Now, the Arizona Board of Technical Registration is threatening to shut him down and impose fines because he does not hold a state-issued engineering license. The Board asserts that Arizona law allows only those who have satisfied the Board’s registration process to hold themselves out as engineers or perform engineering services in Arizona. However, a recognized exemption allows individuals who work in-house for large companies, to be designated as engineers. […]

The state provides an exemption for un-licensed engineers working within large companies. Yet when an un-licensed engineer performs similar work through his own small business, the state imposes additional licensing requirements – same work, same safety standards, different regulatory treatment.

Licensing laws serve an important purpose as they protect public health and safety. But when regulatory requirements apply differently based solely on whether someone works for a large corporation or owns a small firm, they create an uneven playing field. […]

Small business owners are not seeking special treatment. They are asking for fairness. They are asking for regulatory frameworks that protect consumers without imposing unnecessary barriers that disproportionately burden smaller enterprises. […]

This case presents an opportunity to reaffirm that Arizona values small business and equal treatment under the law. Small businesses have a right to operate their business, compete in the market, and grow without burdensome and unfair regulatory hurdles that create an uneven playing field. Fair policies fuel economic growth that benefits all Arizonans.