A bill to protect children in the State of Arizona was recently vetoed by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs.
Last week, Governor Hobbs vetoed SB 1435, which would have “subject[ed] a public entity to liability for losses arising out of an act or omission by a public employee that is determined to be a felony sexual offense under certain circumstances” – according to the overview provided by the Arizona House of Representatives.
In a statement to Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, Hobbs explained that “legislation that expands public entity liability needs to be carefully tailored and thoughtfully executed,” and that “this legislation does not meet that standard.”
State Senator Shawnna Bolick, the sponsor of the bill, responded to the governor’s action against her proposal, writing, “An institution tasked with keeping our children safe should be held accountable if they choose to hire someone who causes them harm. Sadly, Governor Hobbs disagrees. Keeping Arizona’s children safe is a top priority for Senate Republicans, and we’ve fought hard to close gaps in our system that allow those who facilitate crimes against our most vulnerable population, to get away with their heinous acts. One Arizona child who is victimized is one too many.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hobbs Vetoes Measure to Protect Kids from Sex Crimes ⬇️
When the bill passed the Arizona Senate back in March, it received bipartisan support with a 19-9 vote (with two members not voting). This month, the Arizona House of Representatives approved the legislation with a 34-26 result, sending it to the Governor’s Office.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona School Administrators, Arizona Association of School Business Officials, Arizona School Boards Association, Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council signed in to oppose the bill. A representative from the Arizona Center for Disability Law endorsed the proposal.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A legislative solution to crack down on organized retail theft crimes in Arizona was vetoed by the state’s Democrat governor.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs, vetoed SB 1414, which would have “require[d] a person who is convicted of a third or subsequent organized retail theft offense to be sentenced as a category two repetitive offender in certain circumstances” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
In her veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, Hobbs didn’t give a direct reason for why she took this action on this particular bill. Instead, she pointed to another proposal that she had signed into law, writing, “I have signed Sen. Gowan’s bill SB 1411 establishing an Organized Retail Theft Task Force in the Attorney General’s office that will be critical to adequately and appropriately combat this issue. Their first report is due July 1, 2025 and I look forward to reviewing their policy recommendations and working together to find balanced policies for this matter.”
The Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus’ “X” account respond to the Governor’s veto, saying, “Soft-on-crime Democrats with their relentless pursuit of treating criminals like victims will quickly change Arizona into the nightmare California has become. Law-abiding citizens should be outraged Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1414, which would have established tougher punishments for retail thieves. Senate Republicans will continue to support policy that promotes safe communities and discourages criminals from victimizing our citizens and businesses.”
Soft-on-crime Democrats with their relentless pursuit of treating criminals like victims will quickly change Arizona into the nightmare California has become.
Law-abiding citizens should be outraged Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1414, which would have established tougher punishments…
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell also weighed in, stating, “By vetoing a prosecutors and retailers-supported bill for harsher penalties for retail thieves who want to sell what they steal, Katie Hobbs has shown us she is cut of the same weak on crime cloth as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, LA DA George Gascon, and Cook County State’s Atty Kim Foxx. Fortunately, she’s not in charge of a prosecution office. We will continue to hold thieves accountable.”
By vetoing a prosecutors and retailers-supported bill for harsher penalties for retail thieves who want to sell what they steal, @katiehobbs has shown us she is cut of the same weak on crime cloth as Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, LA DA George Gascon, and Cook County State's Atty Kim… https://t.co/I9ukVP9cRS
— Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell (@Rachel1Mitchell) April 24, 2024
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Retailers Association, City of Phoenix, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, Fraternal Order of Police, City of Glendale, City of Buckeye, City of Litchfield Park, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, City of Chandler, and City of Surprise signed in to support the legislation. A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona opposed the bill.
The Arizona Senate had passed the bill in February with a bipartisan 18-10 vote (with two members not voting). Earlier this month, the Arizona House approved the legislation, after amending it, with a bipartisan 37-22 vote (with one member not voting). The Senate then concurred with the House’s changes, albeit with a partisan 16-14 split.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Democrat governor delivered a fatal blow to a bill that would have increased protections for the state’s women and girls.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1628, the Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights. The legislation would have “require[d] any policy program, rule or law that prohibits sex discrimination to prohibit the unfair treatment of a female or male in relation to a similarly situated member of the opposite sex, require[d] the state to replace the stand-alone term gender with sex in all laws, rules, publications, orders, actions, policies and signage when updates are necessary, and provided[d] statutory definitions for boy, father, female, girl, male, man, mother and sex” – according to the purpose provided by the State Senate.
Hobbs was brief in her veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, saying only that she “will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans.”
Arizona Republicans were furious with the action out of the Governor’s Office. Petersen released a statement, writing, “Instead of helping these confused boys and men, Democrats are only fueling the disfunction by pretending biological sex doesn’t matter. Our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and neighbors are growing up in a dangerous time where they are living with an increased risk of being victimized in public bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms because Democrats are now welcoming biological males into what used to be traditionally safe, single-sex spaces.”
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Katie Hobbs Kills Commonsense Bill Protecting Women and Girls from Biological Males Posing as Females and Invading Their Private Spaces pic.twitter.com/BbNFdHEVFr
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Sine Kerr, added, “This commonsense bill would have also stopped the injustices of allowing bigger and stronger biological males to compete on female-only sports teams, preserving fairness and safety on the playing field, as well as the athletic accolades and scholarships these women and girls work tirelessly to achieve. We’ve seen far too many examples of girls and women physically injured, relegated to the bench, and bumped off the winner’s podium by males competing as females. The madness needs to stop. Democrats have launched an attack against biological females. While a Democrat is currently in control of our Executive Branch, real women must continue to push back, stand for truth, and make their voices heard to advocate for the protection of their rights.”
Riley Gaines, a star collegiate athlete and a champion of women’s rights, weighed in on Hobbs’ action on her “X” account. Gaines said, “Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs just vetoed SB 1628, a bill that would codify & define the word ‘woman’ in state law. Who woulda guessed? Women, yet again, proving to be our own worst enemy.”
Arizona Governor, Katie Hobbs, just vetoed SB 1628, a bill that would codify & define the word "woman" in state law.
Christy Narsi, the national chapter director for Independent Women’s Network, echoed Gaines’ sentiments, stating, “Ironically, despite being a woman, Gov. Hobbs refuses to acknowledge that women are adult, human, females – as commonly understood for millenia – and has no interest in advancing privacy, safety, and equal opportunity for the 3.6 million Arizonan women.”
A bill to help educate Arizona students about the history of communism met its demise in the Governor’s Office.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2629, which would have “establishe[d] November 7 of each year as Victims of Communism Day and require[d] the State Board of Education to create a list of recommended resources for mandatory instruction on the topic in certain public school courses” – according to the Arizona House of Representatives’ summary. The bill was sponsored by House Speaker Ben Toma.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨 House Speaker @RepBenToma Condemns Governor Hobbs’ Veto of Bill Aimed at Educating Students on Communism’s Atrocities
“I find Governor Hobbs’ veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of… pic.twitter.com/ry5invqvM8
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) April 3, 2024
In her veto letter back to the Speaker, Hobbs opined that his legislation was “too prescriptive in dictating instructional requirements to education professionals.” She pointed to a bill signed into law in 2022, which was sponsored by State Representative Nguyen, as the “appropriate process to modify academic content as it ensures that changes to standards are evaluated by experts in a holistic manner across grade levels, and the public is provided with ample opportunity for review and input.” The Democrat governor “strongly urge[d] the State Board of Education to take action to begin the process of updating the Social Studies Standards and address the issues covered in this legislation.”
Hobbs did promise to “proclaim this November 7 as Victims of Communism Day in sharing the spirit of this Legislation.”
Speaker Toma was outraged by the governor’s action. In a statement following the veto, he wrote, “I find Governor Hobbs’ veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of communist Romania, I have firsthand knowledge of the devastating impact these ideologies have inflicted on billions worldwide. Communism’s legacy is marked by death, oppression, deprivation, economic suffering, and the shredding of all that binds families and communities together. It is a history that must be remembered and taught, not dismissed, ignored, or vetoed.”
My statement on Gov. Hobbs vetoing my bill to require students be taught about the evils of communism:
"I find Governor Hobbs' veto of HB 2629 both indefensible and personally offensive. Having lived under the oppressive regime of communist Romania, I have firsthand knowledge of…
Toma added, “The Governor’s veto and the limited bipartisan support for HB 2629 reflects a deeply concerning trend where the education of our students on fundamental historical truths is becoming a partisan issue. This should not be a matter of politics, but a matter of ensuring our future generations are well-informed, critical thinkers who appreciate the freedoms they have. Sadly, Governor Hobbs has denied Arizona students a crucial opportunity: to learn from the past and understand the sacrifices of those who suffered under communist regimes.”
The speaker concluded his statement by addressing Hobbs’ suggestions and promise, saying, “While I respect the Governor’s gesture to revise our state’s Social Studies Standards, I simply do not trust her administration’s ability or willingness to accurately reflect communism’s legacy. The academic requirements must be codified in statute, as my bill would have done.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Democrat governor has vetoed legislation that would have strengthened parental rights in the state.
On Tuesday, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed HB 2183, which would have “entitle[d] parents with the right to receive from a healthcare entity equivalent access to any electronic portal or other healthcare delivery platform for their minor child” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Julie Willoughby.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE🚨 Governor Hobbs Vetoes Bipartisan Bill to Protect Parental Access to Children’s Medical Records
“I am deeply dismayed by Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto HB 2183,” said Representative @JWilloughbyAZ, sponsor of the bill. “This was important legislation… pic.twitter.com/7uQUpsC2O4
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) April 3, 2024
Hobbs was brief in her veto letter to House Speaker Ben Toma, writing, “The measure as written could put the health and safety of vulnerable Arizonans at risk.”
Willoughby, a Republican, was greatly disappointed by the governor’s action. In a statement released after the veto, the first-term lawmaker said, “I am deeply dismayed by Governor Hobbs’ decision to veto HB 2183. This was important legislation designed to assist Arizona families, particularly those with children suffering from chronic diseases, access vital medical records, which are often required for arranging specialty follow-up appointments, surgeries, or consultations with out-of-state specialists. The governor’s veto means that families will continue to face unnecessary hurdles in obtaining the critical information they need, precisely when they need it most, especially during urgent health crises. This decision not only undermines the welfare of vulnerable families but also impedes their access to necessary healthcare information.”
According to Willoughby’s press release, her bill would have increased the protections afforded to parents in the Arizona parents’ bill of rights by “guaranteeing parents’ equal access to healthcare delivery platforms like online medical portals to care for their minor children.”
Though upset with the final outcome of her proposal, Willoughby made sure to thank her legislative partners. She added, “House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci and Representative Selina Bliss have been remarkable in supporting this bill and I’m grateful for their teamwork on the bill.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
