Arizona lawmakers are moving forward on legislation effectively inserting themselves into the battle between phone app developers and tech giants Apple and Google.

State Rep. Regina Cobb sponsored the bill that would free Arizona-based developers from having to use the Apple Store or Google Play to sell their apps. 

Some developers have to pay as much as 30% in commissions. Cobb says there’s no realistic alternative, and that’s not fair. 

Bret Jaspers/KJZZ

Regina Cobb

“One word that actually addresses what's going on, and that's 'monopoly.' I also could put in 'antitrust,'” Cobb said.

On the other side, the chief compliance officer for Apple argues that 83% of app developers pay no fee at all. 

But one developer says there’s nothing stopping Apple from expanding the tax to other developers. 

A lawsuit on this issue is currently being fought in California.