Hobbs Shatters State Veto Record with Bold Budget Bills

Governor Katie Hobbs has officially surpassed her previous veto record, marking a significant legislative moment on June 25. Throughout this session, she has vetoed a total of 169 bills, primarily driven by budget decisions and recurring legislation from House Republicans.

Hobbs initially vetoed 28 budget bills, which escalated her count from 140 to an impressive 168. Following an additional veto, she reached the new milestone, eclipsing her earlier record of 143 vetoes in one session.

The governor attributed these vetoes to her disagreements with House Republicans, asserting that their proposed budget packages deviated from a bipartisan agreement established with the Senate. “It’s now time for House Republican leadership to set the political games aside and work with their colleagues in a productive fashion,” Hobbs stated in a veto letter.

Republican Rep. David Livingston, who sponsored the budget bills, claimed a separate kind of veto record via social media. “I set the State of Arizona record for most bills vetoed in a single day!” he proclaimed, highlighting the 28 budget vetoes issued by Hobbs.

Despite her record-breaking tally, it is essential to note that not all vetoes pertained to distinct pieces of legislation. A review from the Arizona Capitol Times indicated that at least 18 of the vetoed bills had already been rejected in previous sessions, many of which involved controversial issues such as elections, firearms, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Hobbs previously articulated concerns that Republicans aimed to frame her as “obstructionist” by reintroducing bills she has previously vetoed. Her spokesperson, Christian Slater, defended her actions, stating, “The governor didn’t get elected to veto bills… But she won’t hesitate to stand up to extreme and partisan legislation that attacks everyday Arizonans.”

Republican Sen. John Kavanagh has been a notorious advocate for legislation targeting LGBTQ+ students, reintroducing the same bills year after year during Hobbs’ administration. Other vetoed bills from 2023 were later reintroduced in 2024 but faced rejection from voters.

One notable bill, spearheaded by Sen. Wendy Rogers to ban red light cameras, awaits Hobbs’ review, with anticipations of another veto on the horizon. As of now, Rep. Gail Griffin leads in the count of individual bills vetoed by the governor at 17, many relating to groundwater legislation.

As of the latest updates, Hobbs has signed 225 bills this session, surpassing last year’s count of 205 and falling short of the 259 signed in 2024. Republican Sen. J.D. Mesnard currently holds the record for the most signed bills with 15, while Democratic Rep. Alma Hernandez leads her caucus with four.

Legislation continues to flow to Hobbs’ desk, with the Senate’s budget proposal among the pending matters. As of the afternoon of June 26, 14 additional bills await her decision.