Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Antisemitism Instruction

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed House Bill 2867, which would have banned teaching or promoting antisemitism in public K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, and held educators personally liable for violations, including costly lawsuits. Hobbs criticized the bill as an attack on teachers rather than a genuine effort to combat antisemitism, expressing concern that it would create legal risks and chill academic freedom, while unfairly targeting public educators and exempting private school staff. The legislation, narrowly passed by the Arizona House with some bipartisan support, aimed to prohibit antisemitic content that could create hostile environments, including calls for genocide or compelling students to defend antisemitic viewpoints. Supporters, including the bill’s Republican sponsor, argued it was necessary to prevent egregious antisemitic content in schools, but Democrats failed to remove the lawsuit provisions or broaden the bill to address all unlawful discrimination. Hobbs emphasized that students and parents can report antisemitism through the state Board of Education and highlighted opposition from prominent Jewish organizations that feared the bill could provoke frivolous lawsuits based on misunderstandings or out-of-context incidents. The veto has sparked a broader debate on balancing efforts to combat hate with the protection of educators' rights and academic freedom.