Hobbs’s disturbing record of vetoes signals a blatant disregard for Arizona parents and children
GILBERT, AZ—Katie Hobbs’s disturbing record of protecting predators and pornographers through misguided vetoes is now coming under much-needed scrutiny after the incumbent was given a pass for years. Hobbs is being held accountable for vetoes on bipartisan bills, passed by both chambers of the State Legislature, throughout her tenure that would have kept women and children safer in Arizona.
In a video released on Wednesday evening, Andy Biggs took Hobbs to task over her cowardly decision to avoid the debate stage and refusal to defend her alarming protection of predators through multiple vetoes.
The bills vetoed include:
SB 1583 (2023)– This bill would have required the names of all sex offenders to be published on a website managed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Hobbs’s veto gave cover to sexual predators and reduced the transparency needed to keep children safe.
SB 1253 (2023)– This bill would have required sex offenders to give notice to their child’s school of their status as a sex offender. Hobbs’s veto endangered children at schools whose parents may not have been aware of a sex offender’s presence in their community.
SB 1155 (2024)– This bipartisan bill would have “would have prohibited a person on lifetime probation for a sexual offense from petitioning the court to terminate that probation before 20 years have passed for class 2 and 3 felonies and 10 years for classes 3-6.” Hobbs’s veto increased the likelihood that sexual predators would be able to get off probation and re-terrorize their victims.
HB 2133 (2026)– This bipartisan bill would “have required websites hosting sexual material, including artificial intelligence-generated sexual depictions, to verify that each person depicted in the material is of legal age and consented to it.” Hobbs’s veto prioritized politicians and pornographers over innocent children who could be exploited on the internet.
Victim rights advocate Kayleigh Kozak, the namesake of “Kayleigh’s Law” which was introduced by then-State Senator Sine Kerr to protect the rights of sexual abuse victims, shared the following comment on X:
“I spearheaded SB1253 and SB1583 in 2023, both which were vetoed. I actually tweeted I was DISGUSTED that Hobbs vetoed SB1253, prioritizing protecting pedophiles over innocent children in school.
The next day I received a phone call notifying me that I was disinvited to the Crime Victims Rights Week event as the keynote speaker. The reason- they weren’t comfortable having me share the stage with the Governor.
She wouldn’t even share the stage with a victim, because I spoke out in opposition of her.
However, the day of the actual event, Sine Kerr DID stand with me at a press conference, where we lifted survivor voices and exposed the reality of what happened.”
The Biggs for Arizona campaign also released a new digital video sharing Kayleigh’s story and the work Lt. Governor nominee Sine Kerr did at the State Capitol to get results and give hope to Kayleigh and other victims of sexual abuse.
Watch the new video below:
