Sen. John Kavanagh saw two pieces of his legislation that would affect schools go down to defeat with vetoes from Gov. Katie Hobbs.

One of the bills would tell teachers they cannot use pronouns for students or a first name that does do not reflect their "biological sex'' absent parental permission.

The other stated students cannot use bathrooms and locker rooms that do not match their biological sex.

They are repeats of what has become perennial legislation by the Fountain Hills Republican.

Kavanagh said the first bill respects the rights of parents to decide issues for their children.

The second would have prevented students - mainly girls - from having to share locker rooms with biological males.

The governor did not address either contention.

Instead, she said in identical veto messages that the bills "will not increase opportunity, security or freedom for Arizonans'' and encouraged lawmakers to focus on legislation to lower costs, protect the border, create jobs and "secure our water future.''

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.