Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) unveiled on Tuesday another batch of legislative actions, signing eight bills and vetoing five. Among the bills to not make it was Senate Bill (SB) 1027, sponsored by State Senator Anthony Kern (R-Glendale), which would have increased punishments for fentanyl manufacturers who cause injuries to children.
“We have been fighting the opioid epidemic not just in Arizona, but nationwide for decades,” said Kern. “The least we can do is try to protect our children and future generations from exposure to a deadly drug often laced into opioids. This bill had the support of many Democrats, yet Governor Hobbs continues to show her priorities are out of line.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Governor Injudiciously Vetoes Bipartisan Bill Aimed at Protecting Children from Fentanyl @anthonykernAZ pic.twitter.com/HRAX2Byb1P
— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) April 11, 2023
SB 1027 – Opioid Punishments
Had Kern’s bill become law, it would have established that anyone knowing manufactures carfentanil or fentanyl, which causes an injury to a minor under 12, is guilty of a dangerous crime against children (DCAC). Anyone over 18 convicted for this DCAC would have been sentenced to life imprisonment without eligibility for suspension, probation, or pardon until at least 35 years have been served. If the convicted person had the drugs for sale and was not the manufacturer, the maximum sentence would be 15 years and increase by five years for repeat offenses.
Hobbs said she vetoed the bill because it could conflict with the recently extended Good Samaritan Law. Under the law, someone seeking good-faith medical help for someone experiencing a drug overdose cannot be charged with possessing or using the drugs. The law would have expired in July had it not been for State Representative Quang Nguyen’s (R-Prescott) bill extending it until 2028. However, Hobbs said Kern’s bill would undermine this law and said she would only sign a “narrower bill that focuses on the manufacture of fentanyl.”
Nonetheless, Kern did not accept Hobbs’s reasoning, calling it a stretch.
“Not only is it a misleading stretch to reach this conclusion, Hobbs is more concerned with protecting fentanyl manufacturers and providers than implementing real measures that protect our children and communities from these dangerous drugs,” Kern said. “We as legislators have done our job. We created a bill with bipartisan support to tackle a very real and serious issue. Why is Hobbs not doing hers, and instead continuing to play political games?”
SB 1109 – Firearm Mufflers
State Senator Wendy Rogers (R-Prescott) introduced a bill to change the list of prohibited weapons on the books. Under Arizona law, a device designed to muffle the report of a firearm is banned. Testimony in the Senate Judiciary Committee explained that the bill’s goal is to help protect people on firing ranges and competition from loud noises.
Nonetheless, Hobbs said allowing for silences would make Arizona “less safe,” so she vetoed the bill.
SB 1005 – Parent Legal Fees
The next bill to go was SB 1005, sponsored by Senator John Kavanaugh (R-Fountain Hills). As reported by The Arizona Sun Times, Kavanaugh recently promoted this bill to ensure that if a parent decides to sue a school district for violating their parental rights, they may not get stuck with financially burdensome attorney’s fees. However, he said they could be fined if the lawsuit was deemed frivolous or unjustified.
However, this is not how Hobbs saw the bill. Instead, she wrote this legislation would encourage lawsuits against schools. She argued that the legislature should not increase hostility towards Arizona’s schools and teachers and said to find other ways of helping parents.
Hobbs has now vetoed over 40 bills.
HB 2197 – Electronic Will
It should be noted that the day was not all bad for Republican lawmakers. State Representative Justin Wilmeth (R-Phoenix) got his bill, House Bill 2197, passed into law. This now allows witnesses of an electronic will signing to be electronically present rather than physically, as was previously required under the law.
Happy to see this bill earn the Governor’s signature – it’s my third signed bill of this legislative session. And while this bill might seem small, it’s a big change that will truly help Arizona families in making their long-term family decisions. pic.twitter.com/DrnHviNjPm
— AZ State Rep. Justin Wilmeth (@JustinWilmethAZ) April 11, 2023
– – –
Neil Jones is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Neil on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Arizona Capitol” by Wars. CC BY-SA 3.0.
