Gov. Hobbs vetoes 3 bills, including 2 on groundwater usage

By Greg Hahne
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 12:53pm
Updated: Thursday, May 2, 2024 - 7:44am

Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed three bills Tuesday, bringing her total number of vetoes this legislative session to 55.

That included a bill that would have stripped the attorney general of the power to sue corporate farm owners for their groundwater usage.

Attorney General Kris Mayes has said such a law would undermine her ability to protect property owners who may not have the resources to bring challenges to court.

However, Hobbs did not address those claims in a veto letter. She called for a holistic approach to groundwater reform, rather than piecemeal legislation.

She used similar reasoning to veto a bill that would grant owners of some wells registered with the state Department of Water Resources a right to withdraw 35-gallons a minute.

Hobbs said she is looking to partner with the Legislature to craft a package of proposals addressing water challenges.

Every bill Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed so far in 2024

Politics Water