by Jonathan Eberle | May 15, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed another piece of Republican-sponsored immigration enforcement legislation, drawing criticism from GOP leaders who say the measure would have helped safeguard Arizona communities from crime linked to undocumented immigrants.
SB 1088, sponsored by Senate Government Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), would have required all levels of Arizona government — including state agencies, counties, municipalities, and independent contractors — to comply with federal immigration laws. The bill also sought to formalize cooperation with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a statement following the veto, Hoffman accused Hobbs of endangering public safety for ideological reasons.
“Arizonans have long suffered under the callous and inhumane open-border policies promoted and enforced by Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Alejandro Mayorkas, and Katie Hobbs,” Hoffman said. “There is no logical justification for Hobbs’ veto on this reasonable bill… but she remains committed to her radical ideology of open borders and appeasement for cartels.”
The Governor’s office has not yet issued a detailed statement explaining her decision on SB 1088, but in previous vetoes of similar legislation, Hobbs has cited concerns over constitutionality, local control, and the potential for civil rights violations. Her administration has emphasized a need for comprehensive federal immigration reform rather than piecemeal state-level mandates.
This marks the latest in a string of immigration-related bills Hobbs has rejected this year. In March, she vetoed SB 1610, which would have required county jails to provide ICE with identifying information and access to certain inmates charged with crimes like burglary, assault, or offenses involving serious injury or death. Another proposal, SB 1164 — dubbed the “AZ ICE Act” — would have banned any policies that limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Both bills were backed by GOP lawmakers and part of a broader Republican effort to crack down on illegal immigration.
With a divided government in Arizona — Republicans controlling the Legislature and Democrats holding the Governor’s office — immigration enforcement has become a recurring flashpoint. Hobbs’ vetoes signal a clear resistance to Republican attempts to expand state involvement in immigration matters.
Hoffman and other GOP lawmakers have indicated they may continue to introduce similar legislation and are expected to highlight the vetoes in upcoming political campaigns. Republicans argue these measures are necessary to support law enforcement and curb crime, while Democrats say the bills could open the door to overreach and civil rights violations. Arizona’s legislative battles are likely to remain a key battleground in the broader debate over how immigration enforcement should be handled — and by whom.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Terri Jo Neff | Mar 19, 2022 | News
By Terri Jo Neff |
Gov. Doug Ducey had a productive Friday, signing 19 bills that will take effect later this year, including legislation which makes adoption hearings more accessible and ensures more thorough vetting of those working at nursing homes.
One of the bills signed by Ducey is Senate Bill 1242 which made it to the governor’s office with strong bipartisan support to enhance background checks for those working at and managing by nursing care and assisted living facilities. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Tyler Pace, also prohibits licensure of individuals who have a felony conviction involving acts of violence or financial fraud.
“Our nursing homes and assisted living facilities deserve accountability and leadership from their supervisors,” Ducey said Friday. “SB 1242 accomplishes this. Our seniors – grandmothers, grandfathers and family members – deserve nothing less to ensure their safety, happiness and health.”
Another provision of Pace’s bill requires the Arizona Board of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (NCIA) to work with the Arizona Department of Health Services to establish an expedited process for identifying and referring complaints between the agencies.
Five of the 19 bills signed by Ducey on Friday were sponsored by Sen. TJ Shope. They cover a variety of issues, including liens, healthcare directives, tribal college enrollment, postsecondary education, and one which reduces the time period that a nonprofit organization must be in continuous existence prior to conducting a raffle down from five years to one year.
Sen. Nancy Barto sponsored four of the signed bills, including Senate Bill 1069 which allows adoptive families to invite members of the public to adoption hearings. Under current law, only persons with a “direct interest” in an adoption case could gain access to such hearings.
Municipalities will gain new authority when one of the 19 bills goes into effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends. That authority is courtesy of Senate Bill 1275, one of three bills signed by Ducey which were sponsored by Sen. J.D. Mesnard.
SB1275 allows local governments to reduce noise disturbances by limiting fireworks between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., except for New Year’s Eve and Independence Day. On those two national holidays, the setting off of fireworks could be banned after 1 a.m.
The bills signed by the Governor on Friday are:
SB 1066 raffles; nonprofits; length of existence (Sen. Shope)
SB 1069 juvenile dependency; child placement (Sen. Barto)
SB 1073 juveniles; adjudication; disposition; probation (Sen. Barto)
SB 1074 dentists; scope of practice (Sen. Barto)
SB 1088 physicians; naturopathic medicine (Sen. Barto)
SB 1089 liens; fees; exemption (Sen. Shope)
SB 1115 in-state student stats; veterans (Sen. Borrelli)
SB 1190 health care directives registry; access (Sen. Shope)
SB 1202 nursing care; assisted living, continuation (Sen. Pace)
SB 1212 veterans’ services department; commission; continuation (Sen. Leach)
SB 1238 state lands; appraisals; leases; rights-of-way (Sen. Kerr)
SB 1242 nursing care; assisted living; regulation (Sen. Pace)
SB 1257 long-term recreational vehicle parks; caregivers (Sen. Mesnard)
SB 1265 property tax liens; foreclosures; notice (Sen. Livingston)
SB 1275 fireworks; use; overnight hours; prohibition (Sen. Mesnard)
SB 1276 state real estate department; continuation (Sen. Mesnard)
SB 1300 tribal college dual enrollment program (Sen. Shope)
SB 1321 conforming legislation; postsecondary education commission (Sen. Shope)
SB 1376 codes; ordinances; use of refrigerants (Sen. Gray)
