In a significant decision affecting Arizona’s education system, Governor Katie Hobbs has opted to maintain funding for state universities and community colleges that include courses on diversity and social justice topics. The governor’s veto came as a response to a legislative proposal that sought to withdraw state funding from institutions offering such courses.
Senator David Farnsworth, the architect of the proposal, aimed to eliminate funding for any school offering courses related to subjects like institutional racism, gender identity, and social justice. Farnsworth, a Mesa Republican, drafted the bill after encountering related content in a cultural diversity course at Rio Salado Community College, where he is pursuing a degree in elementary education.
Governor Hobbs, in her veto message, chose not to address Farnsworth’s specific grievances directly. Instead, she emphasized the broader implications of the proposed bill, stating, “Our state universities and community colleges play a vital role in developing Arizona’s workforce, improving our economy, and strengthening our qualify of life through transformational research.” She warned that the bill risked destabilizing the educational system and consequently harming the state’s economy.
This veto is part of a larger pattern of gubernatorial rejections, as Hobbs has vetoed 75 bills during the current legislative session alone, already surpassing the total number of vetoes she issued in 2024. Her record of 143 vetoes in 2023 remains the highest for any Arizona governor.
Another vetoed proposal originated from Senator David Gowan, suggesting personal fines for officials who violate existing firearm regulation preemptions. Hobbs dismissed this measure as redundant, citing existing legal avenues to challenge city ordinances. Michael Infanzon, representing the Arizona Citizens Defense League, contends that such fines would deter local governments from enacting unauthorized restrictions.
Governor Hobbs also rejected a proposal from Representative Teresa Martinez that mandated state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Hobbs argued that decisions regarding immigration policy should be made locally, stating, “Arizonans, not Washington, D.C. politicians, must decide what’s best for Arizona.” The governor has taken a stance against measures that impose additional burdens on local law enforcement, such as requiring county jails to share detainee information with ICE.
In addition, Hobbs vetoed legislation that sought to enhance unemployment benefit requirements and delay payments through additional checks. She argued that this would create unnecessary delays and burdens. Other vetoed bills included proposals to make voter registration information publicly available online and to classify the “cast vote record” as a public document, both of which Hobbs believed posed privacy risks.
The governor also vetoed two bills related to groundwater regulation, expressing a desire to collaborate on a comprehensive solution to Arizona’s water policy issues. “I am disappointed that neither of these bills would move toward solving the water policy challenges that Arizona residents and communities are facing today,” she stated, urging lawmakers to focus on meaningful reforms.
Additional vetoes involved proposals to invest in virtual currency, prohibit state agencies from using diversity programs in employment practices, and eliminate the ability for transgender individuals to amend their birth certificates. Hobbs urged the legislature to address issues that have a tangible impact on residents’ everyday lives.
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