Arizona Gov. Hobbs Vetoes Antisemitism Bill Targeting Public School Teachers

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the bipartisan Antisemitism in Schools Act (HB 2867), a bill intended to prohibit teaching antisemitism in public K-12 schools, colleges, and universities and to hold educators personally liable for promoting antisemitic views. Hobbs argued that the bill unfairly targeted public school teachers with costly lawsuits while excluding private school educators, and that existing mechanisms already allow students and parents to report antisemitism. Supporters of the bill, including some Republicans and State Superintendent Tom Horne, criticized the veto, calling it a setback in combating rising antisemitism and emphasizing the need to protect students from antisemitic propaganda. The bill would have penalized educators for encouraging harassment or discrimination, including calls for genocide, but critics feared it might chill open discussions about Israel and Jewish culture in classrooms. Organizations like the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center and the Anti-Defamation League supported the veto, expressing concerns that the bill might weaken Holocaust education and the broader educational approach to fighting antisemitism. The debate reflects a broader tension between ensuring protection from hate and preserving academic freedom in Arizona's educational system.