After vetoes on Monday and Tuesday, the total number of bills Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has rejected so far this year is 138. That is just five shy of the record the governor set in her first year in office in 2023.
Bill to force hospitals to ask about immigration status
One of the measures wanted hospitals to ask patients if they were citizens or not.
Supporting lawmakers say the bill was designed to track state health care costs and would not result in migrants being denied care.
In her veto letter, Hobbs said undocumented immigrants are not eligible for the state’s Medicaid reimbursements. And she said immigration enforcement should not be left to health care professionals.
School bills
Hobbs also vetoed measures that would have blocked teachers from calling students by their chosen names or pronouns without parent permission.
Another would have required students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their biological sex.
In vetoing the measures, she wrote "This bill will not increase opportunity, security or freedom for Arizonans. I encourage the Legislature to join with me in prioritizing legislation that will lower costs, protect the border, create jobs, and secure our water future.”
Hotel signs bill
Hobbs also rejected a proposal by Rep. Matt Gress which would have required hotels and motels to warn guests that they also provide rooms for the homeless.
The Phoenix lawmaker called his measure "consumer protection,'' saying that paying customers should be alerted to "keep hotels doors locked, safely store their belongings and report any health or safety concerns to local law enforcement.'' And there would have had to be signs to that effect at every entrance.
Proponents argued there is evidence that many of the homeless are drug users, alcohol abusers or mentally ill -- or a combination of any of those -- a fact that guests should know. Foes said there is no evidence to prove they are more dangerous than any other group.
"We should not micromanage local businesses who have stepped up to help address our state's housing challenges,'' the governor said, saying lawmakers should engage in "more productive efforts to create more transitional and affordable housing options.''
Law enforcement cuts bill
In other gubernatorial action, the governor refused to bar cities from making cuts in how much money they put into law enforcement.
The measure would have outlawed year-over-year cuts in what cities spent on police services. And to ensure compliance, it would have required the state treasurer to cut that community's state aid by an equal amount.
Rep. David Marshall has championed the measure now for two years. The Snowflake Republican said he wants to short-circuit "defund the police'' movements that have occurred elsewhere.
'Gulf of America' bill
Hobbs also rejected a bid by Rep. Teresa Martinez to force high schools to teach students about the "Gulf of America.''
The Casa Grande Republican acknowledged her proposal followed the directive from the president to unilaterally rename what has been for centuries called the Gulf of Mexico and is still called that in much of the rest of the world. She said it would promote patriotism and "start teaching pro-America to our students.''
Signed bills
But the governor did find favor with a number of other bills sent to her.
Most notably, she signed legislation sought by utilities that would allow them to sell low-interest bonds to cover certain debts, a move that companies said would save money for consumers.
That signature comes despite the fact that most legislative Democrats voted against the plan, saying it lacked protections for ratepayers. They also said it would make it easier for utilities to keep open older, more polluting power plants,
Hobbs provided no explanation for her decision.
Other bills signed by the governor include:
- Requiring those who distribute materials on a website, of which more than a third is pornography, to use "reasonable methods'' to verify that users are at least 18;
- Mandating that those who have internet applications designed for children 11 and younger make sure the site does not display inappropriate or mature advertising;
- Overruling local ordinances that prohibit construction and noise before certain hours in the summer, a move that backers say will allow for work to be done during cooler hours;
- Making it illegal use use a computer-generated recording of another person a crime if the intent is defraud someone else. There are exceptions for parody, artistic expression or circumstances where a viewer or listener would know the recording has been digitally altered.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the number of vetoes Hobbs issued through Monday night.
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