Here is a roundup of all the anti-LGBTQ+ bills Gov. Hobbs vetoed

Arizona. Gov. Katie Hobbs is not afraid to wield her veto power, to the point of being labeled the “veto queen,” by both Republicans and Democrats.

In April, Hobbs surpassed the record of her Democratic predecessor, Gov. Janet Napolitano, with more than 60 vetoes. As of last week, though, that number has risen to 106 vetoes within her first year.

Among bills she’s vetoed have been laws that would criminalize homelessness, expand food sales of street vendors, and criminalizing filming pornographic content on government-owned property. Many of the laws sent to her, she said, are either over-broad or created out of a moral panic rather than data-informed policymaking.

But among the cadre of vetoes includes a small number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws that have, so far, been passed through the capitol with the help of almost-exclusively Republican votes.

Hobbs has vetoed three anti-LGBTQ bills—SB1005, SB1001, and as of last week, SB1040. Another ten anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in the 2023 legislative session, and still could make their way to her desk. (Read our “Eyes on the State” below for context.)

The latest veto, SB1040, was an anti-trans school bathroom bill that would have banned students and school staff from using the school bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. If SB1040 had been signed into law, it would have allowed people to sue schools if they shared a school bathroom or similar school facility with a transgender person.

Human Rights Campaign Arizona State Director Bridget Sharpe applauded Hobbs for vetoing the anti-trans school bathroom bill: “Schools should be safe and welcoming places for all students. We sincerely thank Gov. Hobbs for rejecting SB 1040 – a shameful bill designed to alienate and stigmatize trans school personnel and kids simply trying to navigate childhood and their adolescence. This discriminatory bill never should have reached the governor’s desk, and we thank Gov. Hobbs for vetoing it,” wrote Sharpe.

In her SB1040 veto letter, Hobbs wrote: “SB1040 is yet another discriminatory act against LGBTQ+ youth passed by the majority at the state legislature. As I stated in my veto letter for SB1001, I will veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children.”

Here are the LGBTQ+-related bills Hobbs has vetoed so far:

SB1005: Parental rights bill

Vetoed on April 11, 2023

Parents are allowed to sue teachers or schools if they believe their parental rights have been violated. Under this bill, judges are prohibited from requiring parents to pay any attorneys fees or damages if they lose a lawsuit against a school or a teacher who they believe violated their parental rights. The Human Rights Campaign said SB1005 “left schools open to the threat of litigation for providing supportive and affirmative spaces for LGBTQ+ students.”

Hobbs Veto letter: “This bill does not protect parents’ rights but merely encourages litigation—no matter how frivolous—without consequence. Across the country and here in Arizona, schools and teachers have been maligned by bad actors who spread baseless theories, seeking to create conflict with teachers, school boards, and administrators. Parents, acting in good-faith concern for their children, are often caught in the middle of these conflicts.”

SB1001 - Pronoun bill

Vetoed on May 19, 2023

Teachers and other school staff would have been barred from respecting the pronouns of trans or non-binary students without signed parental permission.

Hobbs veto letter: “As politicans across the country continue to pass harmful legislation directed at transgender youth, I have a clear message to the people of Arizona: I will veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children.”

SB1040 - Anti-trans bathroom bill

Vetoed on June 8, 2023

Bans transgender students and school staff from using school bathrooms that match their gender identity. The bill would have also allowed people to sue schools if they shared a restroom or other similar school facility with a transgender person.

Hobbs veto letter: SB1040 is yet another discriminatory act against LGBTQ+ youth passed by the majority at the state legislature. As I stated in my veto letter for SB1001, I will veto every bill that aims to attack and harm children.”

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More context on the vetoes, and what to expect next.

Last week, Gov. Hobbs announced her veto of SB 1040, a bill that would have restricted bathroom access for transgender students. Her veto marks a full decade of failure for anti-trans bathroom bills in Arizona.In her veto letter, Governor Hobbs reiterated her promise to veto any legislation targeting LGBTQ+ children.

On Monday, June 12, the legislature will return from nearly a month’s recess to complete some unfinished business, including zoning reform and housing supply legislation.

With a high probability that the legislature will adjourn sine die as soon as the end of the week, we should expect a few remaining anti-LGBTQ+ bills to be sent to the Governor soon, including four bills introduced as drag bans: SB 1026, SB 1028, SB 1030, and SB 1698.