by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has set a new record for vetoes in a single legislative session, rejecting 178 bills passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, surpassing her previous record of 143 in 2023. While Hobbs wielded her veto pen often, she also signed 264 bills into law.
The legislative session, which ended in June, underscored the deep ideological divide between the Democratic governor and Republican lawmakers, with repeated clashes over immigration, election integrity, and social policy. Still, some bipartisan efforts did make it to the governor’s desk and gained her approval.
National Security and Border Policy
Hobbs approved Senate Bill 1082, a measure barring foreign adversaries—including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—from purchasing land in Arizona. The governor said the law would help protect military bases and infrastructure amid rising global tensions.
Yet, she vetoed a similar proposal, SB 1109, that targeted only China, along with a string of more aggressive border enforcement bills. Notably, SB 1164, known as the Arizona ICE Act, and HB 2099, both aimed to expand cooperation between state and federal authorities on immigration. Hobbs argued that decisions about immigration policy should remain in the hands of Arizonans, not Washington politicians.
Election Integrity Measures
Election security was another flashpoint. Hobbs rejected several Republican-sponsored bills she claimed would restrict voting access. Among them were:
- HB 2017, which would have capped voting precincts and eliminated on-site voting centers.
- HB 2046, a proposed change to audit procedures that Hobbs called inefficient.
- HB 2050, requiring daily updates on signature mismatches and enabling political party access to provisional ballots.
She also vetoed HB 2703, which sought to speed up election result reporting by cutting off ballot drop-offs on Election Day, calling it a form of voter suppression.
Education Policy
On education, Hobbs opposed efforts she viewed as punitive or politically motivated. She rejected:
- SB 1694, which would have barred state funding for higher ed institutions offering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses.
- HB 2610, which would have allowed for the removal of school boards in financially mismanaged districts.
Conversely, she signed HB 2880, prohibiting unauthorized encampments on college campuses, and HB 2164, banning public schools from offering foods with synthetic chemicals like red dye 3 and potassium bromate.
Economic Legislation
Hobbs approved a slate of bills aimed at bolstering the state’s economy:
- HB 2704 greenlights renovations to Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, without raising taxes.
- SB 1182 ensures that construction crews can work early morning hours during Arizona’s scorching summers.
- HB 2119 increases transparency by requiring municipalities to give the public at least 60 days’ notice before voting on tax hikes.
This year’s record-setting number of vetoes highlights the persistent friction between Hobbs and the Legislature. While Republicans argue their legislation reflects the will of Arizona voters, Hobbs maintains that many of the bills would have restricted personal freedoms, hurt vulnerable communities, or created unnecessary bureaucracy.
With more sessions ahead and no signs of a political truce, Arizona’s divided government is likely to remain locked in debate.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
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 Matthew Holloway | Apr 20, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a stark contrast to her efforts to rebrand herself as tough on the border, Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed the Arizona Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement (ICE) Act, SB 1164. The bill would have required that every police department and sheriff’s office in the state comply with detainer orders from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Amidst her ongoing deliberate obstruction of the legislative process, labeled as a “moratorium” on signing new bills, Hobbs vetoed an additional 32 bills as well.
In Hobbs’ veto letter, she addressed Senate President Warren Petersen, seeming to attempt a conciliatory tone and saying in part, “You and I both disagreed with the previous administration’s immigration policies, and we may both disagree with the next administration’s immigration policies. I have worked productively with the federal government to secure our border, stopping fentanyl at our ports of entry through the Task Force SAFE, disrupting cartel operations with Operation Desert Guardian, and working across all levels of government to keep communities safe with the Border Coordination Office.”
She claimed, “I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state and local officials to take marching orders from Washington.”
The Republican State Governor’s Association’s Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton released a statement in response to Hobbs’ veto saying, “Katie Hobbs’ veto is no surprise — her record on the border is pitiful. Hobbs tried to fool Arizonans into thinking she was a border hawk, but this shameful veto shows she is unserious about addressing the border and protecting Arizonans from the violence and drugs coming into the state. She waited until 7:00 pm on Friday of a holiday weekend to try to hide from her open borders record. Arizonans are sick of Katie Hobbs’ window dressing — they deserve a governor who will actually work to secure the border and keep them and their families safe.”
As reported by AZ Free News in November of last year, Hobbs stated during her disjointed kick off of Task Force SAFE, “We will not be participating in misguided efforts that harm our communities. And I’ve been incredibly clear about that.”
Petersen described the bill as a measure to make Arizona a “partner and not an obstacle,” to the federal government’s efforts to enforce immigration law.
“It deals with this first wave of deportation that the Trump administration is focused on, which is removing the most dangerous criminals from our streets,” Petersen explained.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 15, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Last week, Arizona lawmakers passed SB 1164, also known as the “AZ ICE Act.” The bill, sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), seeks to strengthen cooperation between local and federal authorities on immigration enforcement. It now awaits consideration by Governor Katie Hobbs.
The legislation, which passed the Arizona House along party lines with full Republican support, prohibits state and local government entities from enacting policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It also establishes a process for enforcing compliance: if a city or county is suspected of violating the law, a complaint may be filed with the Arizona Attorney General, triggering an investigation under Arizona Revised Statutes §41-194.01—commonly referred to as a “1487 investigation.” Jurisdictions found in violation could have state-shared revenues withheld until they comply.
“I applaud my colleagues… for supporting this vital action to help safeguard our communities from dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” said Petersen. “It’s time for the Governor to put politics aside… and protect innocent men, women, and children.”
The AZ ICE Act prohibits state and local government agencies from blocking cooperation with federal immigration enforcement; authorizes the Arizona Attorney General to investigate and penalize non-compliant jurisdictions; requires county sheriffs and the Arizona Department of Corrections to honor immigration detainer requests; and it allows law enforcement agencies to enter into 287(g) agreements with the federal government, deputizing local officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement duties.
The AZ ICE Act mirrors efforts in other states to support federal immigration enforcement amid ongoing national debates about border security and states’ roles in immigration policy. Proponents argue such measures are necessary to prevent the release of undocumented immigrants with criminal records and to ensure local cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The bill now heads to Governor Hobbs’ desk. If signed, the AZ ICE Act would take effect later this year. As the immigration debate continues, Arizona remains a key player in shaping the conversation on border policy, enforcement, and public safety.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 3, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
On Monday, Arizona lawmakers joined activists in hosting an anti-deportation discussion panel at South Mountain Community College.
The event, “Resisting Mass Deportation,” featured State Senator Catherine Miranda (D-LD11) and State Representative Brian Garcia (D-LD08) along with American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona executive director Victoria Lopez, Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) Arizona members, and Arizona Luminaria staff writer John Washington (also the author of the books “The Dispossessed: A Story of Asylum at the US-Mexico Border and Beyond” and “The Case for Open Borders”).
The ACLU of Arizona and LUCHA Arizona arranged the panel.
“Trump’s mass deportation agenda has oversaturated the news. His administration is pushing the moral and legal bounds of our country to expedite deportations, disregarding people’s rights and humanity in the process,” read the ACLU event page. “At the same time, the Arizona state legislature is advancing several bills that would force our state to do the anti-immigrant bidding of the federal government, use state resources to fuel the mass deportation machine, incentivize police to prioritize immigration enforcement over public safety, and more.”
A press release from the ACLU described the panel as a means of organizing “to take direct action to stop anti-immigrant legislation advancing in the state legislature.”
One such bill of concern for the anti-deportation faction is SB1164, the “Arizona ICE Act.”
The Arizona ICE Act would enable officials or agencies of Arizona or a county, city, town, or other political subdivision to enter into agreements with any federal agency for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. The legislation would also prohibit officials or agencies of Arizona as well as counties, cities, towns, or other political subdivisions from establishing, adopting, or enforcing “any policy, pattern, or practice” that hinders cooperation with federal immigration authorities in immigration enforcement. SB1164 also allowed local governments to access federal resources and state agencies to issue grants for purposes of immigration enforcement.
The House Government Committee passed the Arizona ICE Act last week.
Miranda, who co-chairs the Latino Legislative Caucus, spoke out against the bill recently. She claimed the bill would only “worsen public safety.” Miranda expressed confidence in Governor Katie Hobbs’ intent to veto the bill.
“Arizona knows from experience that encouraging local agencies to engage in federal immigration enforcement will lead to racial profiling and discrimination, particularly against Hispanic, Latino, and other immigrant communities,” said Miranda.
Hobbs’ lack of support for the bill would conflict with her recent pledge last month to secure the border and reduce illegal immigration. Hobbs issued an executive order reminiscent of her predecessor, Doug Ducey, which directed the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Homeland Security to create a joint task force, Operation Desert Guardian, to expand border security. The task force partners with the federal government and local law enforcement to stop transnational crime organizations within the border counties.
Under the Trump administration, border encounters dropped by over 90 percent and drug smuggling has slowed tremendously. Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels confirmed as such in a recent interview with KTAR News.
“Whether you like Trump or not, it’s irrelevant. It’s working,” said Dannels.
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