Lazarus legislation
The bills coming back from the dead … Define “hostile” … And one letter can make all the difference.
At the state Capitol, a bill is never truly dead — even after it gets hit with the governor’s blood-red veto stamp.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs has broken all previous records for gubernatorial vetoes, pulling the plug on 216 bills that Republican lawmakers have sent her in the past two years.
That doesn’t deter Republicans from trying again, however.
This year, Republican lawmakers are sponsoring dozens of measures that the governor has already vetoed. And while these bills have little chance of making it into law, lawmakers have myriad reasons for wanting to try again.
Sometimes, it’s just to make a point. Sometimes, they’ll tweak a bill’s wording to increase its likelihood of passing. Sometimes, they’re just trying to capitalize on a political moment.
Republican Sen. John Kavanagh, for example, resurrected two previously vetoed bills this session — one to determine which locker rooms transgender students can use, and one defining which pronouns students can be called.
But he’s hoping Hobbs has had a change of heart since the last election.
Despite Hobbs’ sternly worded vetoes of both measures, Kavanagh said “the dire state of the Democratic Party” should make Hobbs reconsider her decision. He also wants to put new Democratic lawmakers on the record for what he called “the issue of student privacy and parental rights.”
“I'm hoping that the woke have awakened to the reality of what people actually want, as opposed to what their base wants,” Kavanagh said.
Other lawmakers are picking up where their colleagues left off. They’re reissuing bills originally filed by fellow Republicans to make porn viewers verify their age and require people who get state-issued food stamps to go through employment training, for example.
Almost all those bills are heading for another veto stamp. But some measures, like the Arizona Starter Homes Act, have enough bipartisan support to get Hobbs’ approval this time around, though there are a lot of concessions yet to be made.
Kavanagh’s shower bill
Last year’s bill: SB1182 – Republican Sen. John Kavanagh
Forces transgender students to use locker rooms designated to their genders assigned at birth and requires schools to provide “reasonable accommodations” for those unwilling to use the facility of their birth gender. But students have to submit a written request to do so.
Why was it vetoed?: It’s discriminatory, Hobbs said.
“As I have said time and time again, I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans.”
This year’s bill: SB1003 – Kavanagh
What’s changed?: This year’s bill includes not only locker rooms, but bathrooms as well.
The Starter Homes Act
Last year’s bill: HB2570 – Republican Rep. Leo Biasiucci
Prevents cities from requiring minimum lot sizes for new developments. The measure would also prohibit municipalities from regulating the kinds of design features homes have and the building materials used to make them.
Why was it vetoed?: Hobbs said the housing legislation would “put Arizonans at the center of a housing reform experiment with unclear outcomes” and that 40 mayors and city councils opposed the legislation.
“The bill has unexplored, unintended consequences that are of great concern ... (the Department of Defense) expressed very serious concerns that the increased density near military installations would put military operations and homeowners at risk, putting dense development within Accident Potential Zones.”
This year’s bill: HB2371 – Biasiucci
What’s changed?: This year’s version of what’s been dubbed “The Arizona Starter Homes Act” no longer has the provision calling for higher-density zoning near military bases.
More than 20 cities and towns have already opposed the bill. And the League of Cities and Towns indicated it will run dueling legislation.
Keeping “pedestrians” off of medians
Last year’s bill: HB2658 – Republican Rep. Joseph Chaplik
Prevents people from panhandling on traffic medians and entrance ramps. Those who do so (in other words, homeless people) would first be issued a warning, then a civil traffic violation, and on the third offense, a class 1 misdemeanor that comes with up to 6 months in prison and $2,500 in fines. That would put panhandling in the same category as petty theft and swatting.
Why was it vetoed?: The governor shot this one down because it could violate people’s free speech rights to solicit donations.
“Recognizing the importance of constitutionally protected rights, it is critical that we approach these matters with precision to avoid infringing on Arizonans’ freedoms.”
This year’s bill: HB2684 – Chaplik
What’s changed?: The bills are carbon copies of each other. Last year, lawmakers amended the bill to specify people can’t solicit in an intersection, instead of Chaplik’s wording of an “unsafe location.” The bill has fewer co-sponsors this year.
ID checks for porn
Last year’s bill: HB2586 – Republican Rep. Timothy Dunn
Requires commercial porn providers to verify a viewer is 18 or older.
Why was it vetoed?: Hobbs argued the measure violates free speech.
“The legislation goes against settled case law. Children’s online safety is a pressing issue for parents and the state. While we look for a solution, it should be bipartisan and work within the bounds of the First Amendment, which this bill does not.”
This year’s bill: HB2112 – Republican Rep. Nick Kupper
What’s changed?: This year’s bill provides more methods for someone to verify their age, like by using a webcam with age estimation technology, Kupper told us.
The original version of the 2025 bill said porn websites have to post a notice that “pornography is potentially biologically addictive” and “proven to harm brain development.” That part was removed in a committee amendment.
Disconnecting the kids
Last year’s bill: HB2793 – Republican Rep. Beverly Pingerelli
Forces school districts to adopt policies restricting students’ access to their phones.
Why was it vetoed?: The governor said schools are already addressing in-school phone use.
“This legislation establishes an unnecessary mandate for an issue schools are already addressing.”
This year’s bill: HB2484 – Pingerelli
What’s changed?: Nothing. The Arizona School Boards Association supported the bill last year to make all school districts limit cellphone use.
Earn your food stamps
Last year’s bill: HB2502 – Republican Rep. Leo Biasiucci
Requires able-bodied people under 60 who receive SNAP benefits to take employment training classes.
Why was it vetoed?: Hobbs said she’s worried the bill would affect the “economic well-being” of people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and diminish the quality of existing employment programs.
“Instead of diverting our limited resources to lesser-quality supports, as is contemplated in this bill, I encourage you to join my Administration in expanding SNAP CAN’s capacity and help all Arizonans reach their full potential.”
This year’s bill: HB2121 – Republican Rep. Julie Willoughby
What’s changed?: Nada. Opponents called the measure an unfunded mandate and said about 75% of SNAP recipients are children, older adults or people with disabilities who are unable to take a required training.
Following Arkansas’ lead: State Sen. Mark Finchem wants to block foreign entities that are “hostile to the United States” from buying land in Arizona without the approval of the Legislature, Capitol scribe Howie Fischer reports. Finchem’s bill, which just passed a committee, was modeled after an Arkansas bill and specifically calls out the Chinese Communist Party. But the language of the bill is broad and the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Arizona is getting worried.
Gender wars: A physics teacher in Marana got tangled up in the culture wars when he talked to his students about a genetic condition in which a person has male chromosomes, but doesn’t develop male physical characteristics, the Arizona Mirror’s Caitlin Sievers reports. A student showed a video of the teacher’s presentation to their mother. She contacted right-wing provocateur James O’Keefe, who showed it to his 3 million Twitter followers. A few days later, the teacher was put on leave and is now waiting to see whether he still has a job.
Pushing pause: President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reached an agreement that will postpone tariffs on Mexican goods for one month, the Washington Post reports. Trump threatened to levy a 25% tariff, but Sheinbaum agreed to send 10,000 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to combat illegal border crossings and fentanyl smuggling. Sheinbaum also said Trump agreed to work to stem the flow of firearms from the U.S. into Mexico, a major cause of widespread violence south of the border.
The world is her oyster: Despite not running for reelection, independent U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign donors still footed the bill for $26,000 in overseas travel expenses, the Republic’s Ronald J. Hansen reports. Much of that went to a five-star hotel in Saudi Arabia in November. Sinema’s campaign committee had more than $4 million in cash at the end of last year and an ethics group has filed a formal complaint against her over her spending habits.
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Elections never really end: A Democratic super PAC is targeting Arizona Rep. Eli Crane, along with 13 other Republicans, with a $50 million campaign hoping to sway working-class voters ahead of next year’s midterm elections, the New York Times reports. Democrats are trying to win back working-class voters who drifted away from the party in the 2024 elections.
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We know it’s bad luck to laugh at typos.
But this new county the state Legislature is talking about is … unique.
It’s almost as bad as the time we wrote a whole story about how important it is for people to be able to access pubic records.
One letter can really change a word!
This Is why GOP bills get vetoed. They are seemingly always about "porn", where to pee, or depriving people of something. Hey Kavanaugh...don't you have something better to do? Like splitting up Maricopa County? Another DOA bill/idea. Midterms will be here in the blink of an eye. Grand opportunity to begin the laborious process of voting out the useless GOP Legislature.
I hate to sound like a broken record (thank god vinyl is back and people know what I’m talking about) but back to the housing shortage and short term rentals. I am fully aware people like to use them but legislators could amend the law for how many days a year an owner could rent out their space, who and how many a corporation can own or let cities and counties decide. Also if they want SNAP recipients to go to training please fund their child care. THINK IT THROUGH!