Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs explains veto of bill to prohibit teaching of antisemitism
Jun 11, 2025, 9:26 AM | Updated: 11:21 am
PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said that while antisemitism is a real problem, the bill she vetoed about prohibiting it from being taught in K-12 public schools is not the solution.
“Unfortunately, what this bill did is weaponize the issue of antisemitism against our public school educators and hold public school educators personally liable for something they say in the classroom,” Hobbs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos after vetoing House Bill 2867 on Tuesday.
In her veto letter, Hobbs noted that the bill targeted public school teachers but not private school educators.
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“I don’t want to say that antisemitism is not a problem. It is. Sure. But there’s no evidence that that’s being taught,” Hobbs said during Tuesday’s interview. “And if it is, students and parents have an avenue to address that already.”
Antisemitism bill had some Democratic support
The measure cleared the Legislature last week on a 33-20 vote by the House, including a few Democrats who crossed party lines to support it.
After the bill was sent to Hobbs’ desk, the executive director of the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center urged the governor to veto it.
“While this bill claims to protect Jewish students, it risks weakening one of our most powerful tools for fighting antisemitism: Holocaust education itself,” Lori Shepherd wrote in a letter to Hobbs.
Republicans criticize Hobbs for vetoing antisemitism bill
However, Republicans who backed the bill expressed disappointment with the outcome.
“This is a terrible error in judgment on the part of the governor,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said in a press release. “This bipartisan legislation was vital for ensuring that public schools cannot infect students with antisemitic propaganda and her veto is a slap at the Jewish community and those who fight every day against racism.”
While Hobbs said she is unaware of any instances of antisemitism being taught in Arizona schools, Horne brought up a 2023 incident at a Scottsdale high school.
“At Desert Mountain High School, the sponsor of UNICEF and the sponsor of Amnesty International, both teachers, brought to the school a totally one-sided pro Hamas anti-Israel presentation which caused some impressionable students to develop antisemitic feelings, which made Jewish students uncomfortable,” Horne said.
