Gov. Katie Hobbs said a Surprise legislator’s proposal dealing with religious reasons for refusing to get vaccinated is “unnecessary” and this week vetoed the bill.

Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, won legislative approval for SB 1250, which  would have spelled out that individuals are entitled to claim they have a religious reason to refuse an employer's requirement that they get inoculated.

Vaccines against COVID or flu would be included as well as any vaccine granted "emergency use authorization'' by the Food and Drug Administration.

Shamp, a nurse, said the measure was personal with her.

She said she lost her job because she refused to get vaccinated. And she said that is what spurred her to run for office.

Hobbs, in her veto letter, said religious protections against having to take vaccines already exist in federal law.

But what SB 1250 would have done is effectively require an employer to accept a worker's claim by limiting the ability to inquire further to determine its veracity.

Hobbs also said she objected to the fact that employers would be subject to $5,000 fines in any case where the Attorney General's Office concluded the company was not in compliance with the law.

The governor said that "could be devastating for Arizona's many small businesses.

"Let's work to find bipartisan solutions that promote the educated and healthy workforce that is essential for Arizona's economy,'' the governor wrote.