Arizona Governor Vetoes Six GOP Bills Including Library Freedom Act and Social Credit Ban
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Veto Queen Returns: Gov. Katie Hobbs Rejects Measures Targeting School Libraries, Financial Services and More
PHOENIX — Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on Tuesday vetoed six bills, including one that would have barred public school libraries from using public funds to join professional associations and another that would have banned banks from using social credit scores in lending decisions.
The Library Freedom Act, House Bill 2008, specifically targeted the American Library Association, which has faced criticism from conservative lawmakers over its book selection guidance and tracking of banned books across the country. Alabama, Wyoming, Missouri, Texas and Florida have all cut ties with the group, according to Politico.
"Knowledge is power, not a weapon, and at a time when literacy rates are on the decline nationwide, I will not support legislation that deprives our children of the resources they need to reach their full potential," Hobbs wrote in her veto letter.
The bill passed the Arizona Senate along party lines on April 1 after being introduced by Republican lawmakers.
Third Strike Against Social Credit Score Ban
Hobbs vetoed five other bills, including what she called a "poorly constructed" social credit score prohibition for a third time. The measure would have barred Arizona banks from using social credit scores when evaluating lending applications.
"This bill is unnecessary and marks my third veto for this poorly constructed and unnecessary policy change," she wrote.
Introduced by Rep. Steve Montenegro, House Bill 2903 would have added a new section to Arizona banking statutes despite no existing state mandate that lenders use such scoring systems.
Social credit score bans have gained traction in Republican-led state legislatures in recent years amid fears that environmental, social and governance metrics could be used to deny financial services based on political views, religious beliefs or gun ownership. States like Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming all passed similar legislation, according to a research firm that tracks ESG issues.
A Wide Range of Rejected Measures
The governor also vetoed four other bills on Tuesday:
- HB 2040 would have required public educational institutions to provide adoption information alongside discussions of sexually transmitted diseases and contraception
- HB 2075 would have required school districts to publish employment contracts
- HB 2289 would have changed notice requirements for school district bond elections
- SB 1787 addressed zoning appeals
The vetoes extend a pattern for Governor Hobbs, who has accumulated 390 rejected bills over her three years in office. Two years ago, she broke the all-time vetoes record by swatting down 216 bills, topping the career mark previously held by Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. Last legislative session, Hobbs vetoed 174 bills, setting a single-session record.
Partisan Politics at the Capitol
The vetoes come as Arizona's legislature continues to face record bill introductions. Both chambers of the Arizona Legislature are controlled by Republicans, providing more veto fodder for the Democrat governor as she faces re-election in November.
"The Veto Queen is back," reported Phoenix New Times, noting that Hobbs continues to reject measures that reflect Republican priorities while defending policies she views as essential for Arizona families.
The governor's office issued a legislative action update on April 7, listing all six vetoes with links to individual veto letters for public review. The update showed the breadth of legislation Hobbs rejected, ranging from education policy to financial services to administrative procedures.
What Comes Next
The vetoed bills will require reintroduction to take effect, and Hobbs has indicated she will continue to carefully review legislation as it moves through the legislative process. Her office maintains that her vetoes protect Arizona residents from policies that could harm their economic security, educational opportunities and access to essential services.