Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoes HB2040 bill requiring adoption information in contraception and STI education discussions at schools and colleges statewide

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed HB2040 on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Phoenix, blocking a bill that would have required schools and colleges to include adoption information in contraception and STI education. Hobbs said the bill placed “onerous burdens on public education institutions” and emphasized the need to focus on solutions that increase placements of children into safe homes, officials confirmed.

HB2040, sponsored by Republican Rep. Rachel Keshel, would have required public schools and colleges across Arizona to include adoption information during discussions of contraception and sexually transmitted infections. The bill specifically targeted instances when contraceptives were provided or STI testing was conducted, primarily at the college and university levels, according to legislative records. Keshel introduced the bill as a response to Proposition 139, which was approved by Arizona voters in 2024 and established a constitutional right to terminate pregnancy prior to fetal viability, generally considered between 22 and 24 weeks of gestation.

Governor Hobbs vetoed the bill late Tuesday in Phoenix, preventing it from becoming law.

In her veto message, Hobbs criticized HB2040 for imposing “onerous burdens on public education institutions” and for mandating adoption discussions in what she described as “inappropriate settings.” She emphasized the importance of focusing on solutions that increase placements of children into safe and loving homes, rather than requiring adoption information in sex education curricula. Hobbs also highlighted her support for increased financial assistance to foster care families and children as part of her broader approach to improving adoption rates, officials confirmed.

The governor’s veto aligns with her reproductive rights priorities, which include expanding access to family planning, medically accurate sex education, and evidence-based prevention programs. Hobbs has used her veto power in the past to block legislation she views as restrictive to reproductive care. According to records from the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, she vetoed House Bill 2439 in May 2025 and has opposed other anti-abortion bills during her tenure. Hobbs also certified Proposition 139 following its passage, reinforcing her pro-choice stance, sources said.

Opposition to HB2040 was voiced by Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Gutierrez of Tucson. Gutierrez expressed skepticism about the bill’s requirements, noting that changes to sex education laws now require parental opt-in permission for student participation, which has led many schools to forgo sex education programs due to administrative challenges. She and other Democrats raised concerns about the additional burdens the bill would place on public education institutions, according to statements reported by Capitol observers.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Keshel, described HB2040 as a measure to promote “more choices for women” consistent with the voter-approved Proposition 139. However, available reports indicate she did not cite specific adoption statistics to support the bill’s mandate. The legislation sought to link adoption information directly to contraception and STI education, which marked a new requirement for schools and colleges statewide, legislative documents show.

In recent legislative sessions, Governor Hobbs signed bills such as SB1097 and SB1166, which address other aspects of health and education policy, but she chose not to sign HB2040. Her administration continues to advocate for comprehensive contraception access, including efforts to make over-the-counter contraception available to all Arizonans, as outlined in the Arizona Right To Contraception Act and related initiatives.

With the veto of HB2040, Arizona’s public education institutions will not be required to provide adoption information in the context of contraception and STI discussions. No immediate reports indicated plans for a legislative override of the veto. The governor’s decision underscores ongoing tensions in Arizona’s reproductive health policymaking following the 2024 vote on Proposition 139 and reflects her administration’s focus on supporting reproductive rights and family planning services statewide.