13-05-2025
Arizona Gov. Vetoes More Than 30 Bills Including Some Related to Immigration, Gender Identity
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs
The vetoes, part of a sweeping one-day action, have drawn sharp criticism from Republican state lawmakers, who accused the governor, a Democrat, of undermining public safety, parental rights, and transparency.
Among the bills vetoed was Senate Bill
Hobbs said the bill would not increase 'opportunity, security, or freedom' for Arizonans. But Republican state Sen. John Kavanagh, the bill's sponsor, accused Hobbs of siding with 'woke ideology' over the rights of parents.
'Parents should determine what's best for their children, not school employees,' said Kavanagh. 'When children are experiencing psychological turmoil, their parents deserve to know. Despite the harm being inflicted, there are public schools that continue to push the use of gender pronouns to mask psychiatric issues from parents and force progressive political agendas on Arizona's vulnerable youth population.'
He also criticized Hobbs for vetoing Senate Bill
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'A 13-year-old female should not be forced to stand next to a naked, transgender female, who is in reality an 18-year-old biological male,' Kavanagh said.
Another vetoed measure, Senate Bill
State Sen. Jake Hoffman, the bill's sponsor and chair of the Arizona Senate Government Committee, called the veto 'irrational.'
'There is no logical justification for Hobbs' veto on this reasonable bill that helps align local and federal government officials with their critical law enforcement duties, but she remains committed to her radical ideology of open borders and appeasement for cartels,' Hoffman said. 'Arizonans will ultimately bear the brunt of Katie Hobbs' leftist partisan antics.'
Hobbs also vetoed Senate Bill
State Sen. Wendy Rogers, chair of the Arizona Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee and the bill's sponsor, said the veto blocks necessary transparency.
'Our hardworking, law-abiding citizens have a right to know how much of their money is going towards paying for the medical services of those who've willfully chosen to break our laws by entering our country illegally,' said Rogers. 'The state's Medicaid program is intended to help vulnerable Americans, like seniors, the disabled community, and impoverished children, receive the medical care they need, when they need it.'
Additional vetoes targeted legislation involving election procedures.
Senate Bill
The governor also vetoed Senate Bill
In another veto message, Hobbs described Senate Bill
Hobbs also vetoed Senate Bill
State Senate Republicans criticized Hobbs for blocking what they described as legislation intended 'to expand civil liabilities for the mutilation of Arizona children,' according to the title of their May 12 statement defending the bill as a means of ensuring accountability regarding transgener treatments.
With a Republican-controlled Legislature but insufficient numbers to override the vetoes—three-fourths is needed—the bills are unlikely to be revived this session. Hobbs has repeatedly said she will oppose legislation she views as ideologically driven or harmful to Arizonans, but critics say her broad use of the veto undermines the will of elected lawmakers.
