SE Valley Times

Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a series of bills that focused on various public policies, impacting parental rights, state sovereignty, and the definition of sex-based terms in Arizona law.

The first bill, HB2058, was intended to ensure that adult students in Arizona's public colleges were fully aware of their ability to opt out of vaccine requirements on medical or personal belief grounds. This was seen as a way to respect both personal and religious beliefs.

Another vetoed bill, HB2060, sought to affirm Arizona's right to establish voting qualifications for federal elections within the state. The bill aimed to apply the same citizenship and residency rules used in other elections to federal elections.

The Arizona Sex-based Terms Act, HB2062, aimed to restore clarity in state laws around definitions of male, female, mother, father, and other sex-based terms. This was intended to protect single-sex spaces such as locker rooms, bathrooms, domestic violence shelters, and sexual assault crisis centers.

Lastly, HB2063 aimed to inform parents about their legal right to request immunization exemptions for their children, emphasizing transparency and freedom.

“'These bills reflect what most Arizonans believe: parents should be informed, adults should have medical freedom, voters should prove citizenship, and the law should acknowledge biological reality,' said Representative Fink. 'But instead of standing with parents, students, and Arizona voters, Katie Hobbs chose to stand with bureaucrats and far-left special interests. Her vetoes are a direct insult to the values of informed consent, election integrity, and scientific truth.'”

In response to the vetoes, Representative Fink criticized Governor Hobbs, stating, "'Her vetoes are out of touch with Arizona families and show a disturbing loyalty to government overreach at the expense of basic rights. Rejecting commonsense legislation like this makes one thing certain: Governor Hobbs is more interested in indulging in progressive politics that don’t actually help families, time and time again choosing ideology over integrity, leaving Arizonans to pay the price.'"

The vetoes have been characterized as a pattern of disregarding parental involvement and personal liberties. Each decision has sparked debate over the state's ability to enforce its own standards and maintain accurate terminology in law. Governor Hobbs' actions have prompted discussion on the balance between state rights and federal control.