Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs received rebukes from State Representative Beverly Pingerelli (R-Peoria) and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne on Friday after Hobbs used her veto power to block legislation that allowed school districts to limit the use of smartphones in classrooms.
Hobbs vetoed the bill, HB 2793, after it narrowly passed the Arizona State Legislature. The bill sought to require Arizona school districts create policies and procedures that govern and limit students’ use of phones during school.
“There is a growing body of research that clearly links the use of wireless devices like cell phones to increased negative social harms among our youth,” said Pingerelli, who chairs the House Committee on Education and introduced HB 2793 to curtail phone use in schools.
Despite the legislation receiving the support of the Arizona School Boards Association and School Administrators Association, it failed to secure the support of a single Democrat in the Arizona State Legislature before being ultimately vetoed by Hobbs.
After the veto, Pingerelli stated, “Arizona middle and high schools today are flooded with students glued to screens,” and warned the phenomenon is “an epidemic that is impacting everything from teen depression and anxiety, increased childhood obesity, and decreased academic achievement.”
In her veto explanation, the governor argued the bill would create “an unnecessary mandate for an issue schools are already addressing.”
While the governor claimed schools are adequately confronting the issue, Horne (pictured here) said in a statement that Hobbs’ veto represents a lack of understanding.
“Anyone with a minimum of empathy would empathize with teachers who try to teach while students are scrolling on their cell phones. Every instructional method is precious. A teacher should not have to put up with that interference with instruction,” said Horne.
He then connected cell phones bullying, and said Hobbs’ decision demonstrates callousness toward victims.
“It is enough that they get bullied on their cell phones when they’re away from school,” said Horne. He continued, “It should not be happening while they are in school trying to learn, so that the bullying occurs 24 hours a day. To permit that bullying to go on 24 hours a day shows a lack of empathy for the students.”
Due to the bill’s failure to attract a single Democratic vote, the Republican majority of legislators will be insufficient to overturn the governor’s veto.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Rep Bevery Pingerelli” by State Rep Beverly Pingerelli and “Gov Katie Hobbs” is by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
