GOP Bills Resurface as Hobbs Takes Veto Action

As the prefiling period for new legislation began on Monday, Republicans in Arizona revived bills previously vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs. Notably, Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, has reintroduced two controversial measures concerning transgender rights in public schools, which faced significant opposition from Democrats last year.

Kavanagh indicated to the Arizona Capitol Times that his last attempt to pass these bills involved compromise versions aimed at gaining support from Hobbs. However, he believes the recent election results demonstrated a public rejection of what he sees as “woke” ideology. “I’m hoping that the governor and some of the Democrats have now learned their lesson from this election,” Kavanagh stated.

One of the revived proposals, SB1002, would prohibit school staff from using a pronoun different from a student’s birth sex or a name not listed in official school records unless written permission from a parent is provided. However, staff can still use commonly associated nicknames.

The previous iteration of this bill had stricter requirements, such as mandating parental notification if a student was referred to by a preferred name or pronoun without a parent’s consent. The current bill aims to further limit the use of preferred pronouns even if parental permission is granted, allowing staff to refuse based on religious or moral grounds.

Additionally, SB1003 seeks to require schools to accommodate those unwilling or unable to use facilities designated for their sex. Kavanagh noted that last year’s version was more lenient, addressing solely shower facilities. He expressed hope that Democrats would align with his proposals, citing Hobbs’ collaboration with President-elect Donald Trump on immigration matters.

Despite this optimism, a spokesperson for Hobbs reaffirmed her consistent opposition to Kavanagh’s proposals, likely foreshadowing another veto. “As I have said time and time again, I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans,” Hobbs stated in her veto letter regarding a similar bill last year.

In addition to the education-related bills, Republicans are also reintroducing a once-vetoed measure aimed at expediting election night result reporting. Senate Bill 1001 would mandate individuals submitting mailed ballots after the Friday before Election Day to provide identification upon drop-off.

Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, who sponsors the bill, argues this would streamline the process of verifying numerous signatures associated with late-arriving ballots. In a Nov. 8 news release, he criticized the current delays as a disservice to voters and called upon Hobbs to approve the legislation in 2025.

Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, has championed this initiative, which aims to mirror Florida’s swift election result reporting. Petersen has engaged with Florida’s Secretary of State Cord Byrd to explore methods for improving the process, including establishing a clear cutoff for early ballot drop-offs.

However, Democrats contend that the proposed measures would complicate the voting process by restricting the ability of individuals to submit ballots on behalf of family members. Hobbs previously vetoed a similar election bill, raising concerns over the logistical and financial implications for election officials.

As of Dec. 3, the only prefiled bill to have avoided a veto in its earlier version is HB2001, introduced by Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix. This measure would allow the State Board of Behavioral Health Examiners to grant temporary licenses to qualifying college graduates who have completed necessary behavioral therapy coursework. Gress aims to facilitate quicker entry into the behavioral health profession for new graduates.

Despite its potential benefits, Gress’ bill faced significant resistance last year, ultimately failing in the Senate with a 14-16 vote.