Arizona Governor Hobbs Vetoes Bill Limiting Chinese Land Near Military Bases

Arizona Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1109, legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp that would have prohibited entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party from purchasing or holding land in Arizona, particularly near military bases and other strategic sites. Hobbs argued the bill was ineffective at counter-espionage, lacked clear implementation criteria, and risked arbitrary enforcement. However, Shamp and other Republicans criticized the veto as politically motivated and dangerous, asserting that the bill was a necessary security measure to protect critical infrastructure and prevent Chinese surveillance and potential attacks on U.S. military installations such as Luke Air Force Base. The bill aimed to counter China's influence operations and protect the state’s military, commercial, and agricultural assets from foreign espionage and sabotage. Shamp accused Hobbs of violating her oath by endangering Arizonans' safety and called the veto an obstruction against public safety legislation. The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about Chinese land acquisitions near sensitive U.S. sites and the sharp partisan divide over how to address these national security threats in Arizona.