PHOENIX — Free Speech Coalition has released a statement regarding Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signing the state's age verification bill into law.
The FSC statement follows:
HB2112, Arizona’s controversial age-verification law, was signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs this afternoon, despite formidable opposition from Free Speech Coalition, civil liberties groups and Arizona voters. The law will go into effect ninety days after the legislature adjourns.
Free Speech Coalition led the fight against the bill since it was introduced in January, testifying against it repeatedly in committee, meeting with Republican and Democratic legislators in Arizona, and building a broad-based coalition that included the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Woodhull Foundation, Fight for the Future and dozens of reproductive rights and LGBTQ groups.
FSC was instrumental in securing a veto of a similar bill during Arizona’s last legislative session, HB2586, as well as stopping a mirror bill, SB1341, in committee this session.
Free Speech Coalition Director of Public Policy Mike Stabile was a constant figure in Phoenix this year, securing near-universal Democratic opposition to the bill despite heavy political headwinds in the state. Over the course of several months, Stabile worked to educate legislators, allies and the Governor’s office itself about the dangers of the bill, eventually stripping away nearly all of the bill’s initial bipartisan support.
Following the legislature’s passage of the law, hundreds of Arizonans flooded the Governor’s office with emails and phone calls demanding a veto.
“We are certainly disappointed that the Governor signed HB2112,” says Stabile. “But we will continue to fight for the rights of Arizonans to access the internet without fear of censorship or surveillance. We are well aware that the optics of voting against these bills is difficult for policymakers, especially in conservative states, and were proud to see so many legislators not only vote against the bill, but bravely stand up and defend the rights of their constituents. We built a powerful coalition in Arizona, and will continue to fight against censorship there and elsewhere.”
“Free Speech Coalition has been instrumental in blocking similar bills in Colorado and New Mexico this year, and is actively involved in fighting legislation in more than a dozen other states.”
For more information, visit FSC's Free Speech Action Center.