Overview
- Gov. Katie Hobbs on March 7 vetoed SB1439, which would have created a specialty plate honoring Charlie Kirk, calling the proposal political and inappropriate for a state function.
- The bill set a $25 plate fee with $17 annually directed to a qualifying nonprofit described as a conservative grassroots network founded in 2012, a description that matches Turning Point USA though it was not named.
- In her veto letter, Hobbs condemned Kirk’s assassination as tragic and said government programs like specialty plates should remain neutral.
- Republican sponsor Sen. Jake Hoffman denounced the veto as partisan, and TPUSA figures criticized the decision, including a post from COO Tyler Bowyer reading “Deport Katie Hobbs.”
- Other Kirk memorial measures remain active, including a statues bill (SB1686) that passed the Senate 16–14 and a Loop 202 renaming that cleared the Senate and awaits House action, with no stated decision from Hobbs yet.