Hobbs vetoes swath of Arizona water bills she calls 'political cover' for legislative inaction

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a swath of bills on water issues this week, calling them “political cover” for what she says is the Arizona Legislature's inaction on water security.

Hobbs vetoed seven bills in total, all sponsored by Rep. Gail Griffin (R-Hereford), who has a history of blocking Hobbs’ and Democrats’ policy proposals.

The bills would have made multiple policy changes, like modifying definitions of terms and giving voters an option for removing groundwater protections in parts of the state under Active Management Areas.

Hobbs wrote in a veto letter that all the bills Griffin sent her either weaken water protections or make “pointless trivial statutory changes” that Hobbs argued demean Arizonans who want real groundwater management.

Five of the bills Hobbs vetoed passed out of the Legislature on party lines without Democratic support.

Hobbs referenced negotiations on a rural groundwater protection plan she’s engaged in with lawmakers. She said she won’t entertain legislation on the issue outside of those conversations.

The governor said she wants Republicans to come to the table and compromise on substantial bipartisan water policy.

“I hope that 2025 will be the year where Arizonans finally see good faith negotiations from their Legislature on rural groundwater protections,” she wrote.