Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is facing criticism after vetoing legislation that would have blocked the Chinese government and its affiliates from acquiring land near key military and infrastructure sites in the state.
The vetoed measure, Senate Bill 1109, passed the legislature but was rejected by Hobbs on Tuesday, prompting backlash from Republican lawmakers and national security advocates.
State Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp condemned the veto, calling it a “politically motivated” move that puts Arizonans at risk.
“This is utterly insane,” Shamp said.
“Governor Hobbs is an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats.”
SB 1109 sought to prohibit the People’s Republic of China from acquiring a 30% or greater ownership stake in any Arizona property.
The legislation was introduced in response to growing concerns over Chinese interests purchasing land near sensitive U.S. military installations, including Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, and facilities owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).
Governor Hobbs defended her decision by arguing that the bill would not have accomplished its intended security goals.
“This bill is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,” Hobbs stated in her veto letter.
She also criticized the legislation for lacking “clear implementation criteria,” which she said could result in “arbitrary enforcement.”
Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor Action, a policy group focused on state-level security legislation, strongly disagreed with Hobbs’ assessment.
“Governor Hobbs’s veto of SB 1109 hangs an ‘Open for the CCP’ sign on Arizona’s front door,” Lucci said.
“Allowing Communist China to buy up land near our critical assets is a national security risk, plain and simple, and Governor Hobbs is substantively and completely wrong.”
Lucci also pointed to global examples of strategic vulnerability, referencing Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian military infrastructure.
“Proximity produces peril in asymmetric warfare,” he said, reinforcing the concern that even limited foreign land ownership near critical infrastructure could pose significant risk.
The bill underwent a bipartisan amendment process prior to its passage in the legislature.
Originally, it broadly prohibited entities and individuals deemed national security risks from purchasing land in Arizona.
Lawmakers later narrowed the language to target Chinese government-linked companies and their subsidiaries, in an effort to avoid concerns of discrimination.
Despite Hobbs’ objections, the Arizona legislature retains the ability to override the veto.
It is currently unclear whether Republican lawmakers will attempt such a move or if they have sufficient support to do so.
Arizona is not alone in confronting the issue of foreign land purchases near strategic U.S. sites. According to the nonprofit Committee of 100, which monitors China-related policies, at least 27 states are considering a total of 84 bills this year to limit foreign ownership of land.
So far, 22 states have passed similar laws, 17 of which were enacted in 2024.
At the federal level, Congress is also reviewing legislation designed to restrict foreign entities, particularly those affiliated with the Chinese government, from owning land near military or critical infrastructure.
As of March, seven separate bills on the matter were being considered in both chambers.
The veto of SB 1109 has now placed Arizona at the center of the national debate on how to counter foreign influence through land acquisitions.
Lawmakers and national security advocates continue to call for stricter measures to limit such purchases, arguing that real estate ownership near sensitive sites could be exploited for espionage or sabotage.
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