PHOENIZ, Ariz. – The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) released a statement Tuesday expressing the organization’s disappointment with the fact that Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed into law HB 2112, which imposes age-verification requirements for websites that offer “sexual material that is harmful to minors.”
In the statement, FSC noted the bill was signed into law “despite a formidable opposition from Free Speech Coalition, civil liberties groups and Arizona voters.”
“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 reproductive rights and LGBTQ groups,” FSC added, observing that the organization was “instrumental in securing a veto of a similar bill during Arizona’s last legislative session, HB 2586, as well as stopping a mirror bill, SB 1341, in committee this session.”
FSC said the organization’s 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,” FSC observed, adding that after the bill was approved by the legislature, “hundreds of Arizonans flooded the Governor’s office with emails and phone calls demanding a veto.”
Stabile said FSC is “certainly disappointed that the Governor signed” the bill, but will “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,” Stabile added. “We built a powerful coalition in Arizona, and will continue to fight against censorship there and elsewhere.”
You can read the full text of the new Arizona law here. The law goes into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns its current session.
