With this year’s legislative session nearly over, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed 20 bills into law on Tuesday and vetoed 17 others.
Hobbes has approved a largely uncontroversial piece of legislation that has received little attention so far this year. Senate Bill 1013protects free speech at universities. Senate Bill 1454creates a Veterans Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program and $10 million from the State Parks Revenue Fund to create Veterans Memorial State Parks.
The state parks portion of the bill was the result of what Democrats called a last-minute amendment, and was questioned by several during a debate on the House floor on June 12.
Democratic Rep. Stacey Travers of Phoenix said, “This bill does nothing for veterans, it just puts veterans in the title.” He added that the park amendment did not specify what the park would look like or where it would be located.
Tuesday’s veto included several Republican lawmakers election billinclude Senate Bill 1095This would have required an early ballot mailing envelope to let voters know that dropping off early ballots after the Friday before the election could delay election results.
The Arizona County Association does not support the bill, and county registrars said they thought it would cause confusion as it advised voters to mail in their ballots by the Wednesday before Election Day.
In his veto letter, Hobbes said he was “concerned that this bill could have the effect of discouraging voter participation.” “These concerns outweigh the potential benefits this bill could bring.”
Hobbes also vetoed Senate Bill 1332which will be the Arizona one Cast voting record Open to the public.
“A bill allowing the release of cast voting records must ensure that voter privacy is protected,” Hobbes wrote in his veto letter, noting that the bill was intended to protect voters’ personal information. It echoed the concerns of critics that it could be made public without being published.
Another election bill involving Hobbes’ cutting board Senate Bill 1595This required early voters to return their ballots by 7 p.m. on the Friday before the election, or to show identification if dropping off their ballots after that time. Proponents say the bill would require those who post early ballots at the last minute to show identification and scramble to verify their signatures on ballots, thereby speeding up the counting of election results. said it was an effort.
“This bill fails to meaningfully address the real challenges facing Arizona voters,” Hobbs wrote.
Senate Bill 1596
He also got Hobbes’ veto. The bill would have called for each county to have its own polling place and return to the constituency voter model with the option to add vote centers where anyone in the county could vote. Maricopa and Pima counties have recently transitioned to using vote centers only, allowing voters to cast their ballots at any polling place in the counties. The bill would also require state and local governments, including school districts, to provide polling place space upon request.
“This bill would create unsustainable obligations that would leave schools and communities unfunded,” Hobbes wrote. “This bill was once budgeted to show that it needs money to make it happen.
On the frontlines of the culture wars, Mr. Hobbes also vetoed Senate Bill 1410, which would have given parents the right to lodge complaints about what they perceive as violations of their own or their children’s rights, and would have required schools to investigate complaints. Additionally, the school district board would have been required to submit an annual report detailing the complaint.
“Various avenues already exist to provide parents with the opportunity to raise concerns and file complaints,” Hobbes wrote. Without further justification for the purpose of collecting this data at the state level, SB1410 is an unnecessary obligation to school districts. ”
Hobbs was also fired Senate Bill 1435,this is finished requirements
In-state attorneys become members of the Arizona Bar Association, which in turn places licensing in the hands of the Arizona Supreme Court.
“Hundreds, if not more than a thousand, have sued doctors, state officials, county officials, and city officials, telling them they should not have had their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and have their children masked. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Justin Wadsak, told the Arizona House Judiciary Committee on March 8 that “if you don’t comply, you’ll either lose your job or be expelled from school.” “A lawyer came to me and said, ‘They were restricted from undertaking those cases because if they did, the Arizona attorney would immediately dismiss them. “
Wadsak provided no evidence to support the claim, which the state court said was plainly false.
Hobbes said in his veto letter that the Arizona Supreme Court opposed the bill.
Senate Bill 1408which was to make it a felony to use a computer to aid in human smuggling, was also given the power of veto by Hobbs.
“This bill is another attempt by the majority to criminalize organizations and individuals whose purpose is to assist immigrants and refugees,” Hobbes wrote. “I urge the majority party to work with stakeholders to provide real solutions to help communities in border areas.”
Arizona’s ACLU, which opposed the bill, said it would dampen the work of organizations that provide critical services to immigrants.
“The bill’s language is too broad and would have raised serious criminal prosecution concerns for organizations that regularly interact with immigrants,” Noah Schram, border strategist for the ACLU in Arizona, said in a statement. “We are pleased that Governor Hobbes has vetoed this bill.
Gloria Rebecca Gomez contributed to the report.
