Hobbs Campaign Attack On Biggs’ Sex-Offender Vote Omits His Objection To Licensing Exceptions

An attack promoted by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ reelection campaign against Republican challenger Andy Biggs omits his stated reason for opposing a 2012 licensing bill: concerns about licensing eligibility for people with prior sex offenses who were not required to register as sex offenders.

Hobbs campaign spokesman Michael Beyer highlighted Biggs’ vote against the legislation while accusing him of siding with sexual predators. Hobbs herself wrote “Andy Biggs has spent his career selling out Arizona families for billionaires, special interests, and even convicted sex offenders,” in a July post to X.

Andy Biggs has spent his career selling out Arizona families for billionaires, special interests, and even convicted sex offenders.

The more Arizonans learn about Biggs, the more they'll realize he's one big problem they can't afford. pic.twitter.com/GeTsDRIScL

— Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) July 22, 2026

However, Capitol Media Services reporter Howard Fischer reported in the Arizona Daily Star that Biggs publicly explained his objection during the April 10, 2012, Senate debate, pointing specifically to the amended licensing provisions.

The legislation, House Bill 2430, added prohibitions on registered sex offenders obtaining specified private-investigator and security-guard licenses or registrations. Its final version also addressed the licensing board’s authority to grant good-cause exceptions for certain criminal offenses.

According to Howard Fischer’s report, Beyer circulated an American Journal News article highlighting Biggs’ opposition without including the explanation he gave at the time. Beyer also amplified the article’s characterization of an alleged pattern of votes protecting sexual predators.

Fischer, writing through his Capitol Media Services account on X, said Hobbs’ campaign staff and allies were attacking Biggs over the vote while overlooking its legislative context. “But it appears they never looked up a last-minute amendment—and Biggs’ public explanation AT THAT TIME of his vote,” he wrote.

@katiehobbs campaign staff, allies lash out at @andybiggs4az for 2012 vote against keeping sex offenders from becoming security guards. But it appears they never looked up a last-minute amendment – and Biggs' public explanation AT THAT TIME of his vote. https://t.co/lD6JdxgHDQ pic.twitter.com/RlRmWtk1nt

— Capitol Media Services 📢 Telling it like it is (@azcapmedia) October 12, 2026

Biggs acknowledged during the 2012 debate that the bill would prohibit registered sex offenders from obtaining licenses, Fischer reported. His objection concerned people with prior offenses who were not required to register.

“Someone who has committed a sex offense previously, but 10 years has gone by, and they haven’t been caught or they haven’t been required to register, with this type of offense could also become a security guard at that point,” Biggs said, according to the floor remarks quoted by Fischer.

“I don’t know about you,” Biggs continued. “But that gives me pause. So I’m a ‘no.’”

The measure, sponsored by then-Rep. David Gowan, initially passed the House 56–0. The Senate approved the amended bill 27–3 on April 10, 2012, and the House subsequently approved it 50–0. It was signed into law April 17, according to the legislative history. Fischer identified then-Senate President Steve Pierce and Sen. Ron Gould as the other senators voting against it.

Fischer reported that Sen. Rich Crandall introduced the amendment that prompted Biggs’ objection.

The Senate-engrossed text shows that the bill expressly allowed the Private Investigator and Security Guard Hearing Board to grant a good-cause exception for a misdemeanor after completion of all sentencing terms. It also retained a path for qualifying felony offenses after at least 10 years had passed following completion of sentencing.

Those exceptions required a hearing and were subject to restrictions involving offenses listed elsewhere in state law. The legislation also directed the board to consider an applicant’s criminal record, the nature of the offense, mitigating circumstances and evidence of rehabilitation before granting an exception.

Asked about Biggs’ vote, Beyer maintained the campaign’s criticism, according to Capitol Media Services.

“Time and again, Biggs has had the opportunity to protect vulnerable Arizonans, and time and again, he’s chosen to stand on the side of their abusers,” Beyer told the outlet.

Fischer reported that Beyer’s response also invoked Biggs’ handling of separate legislation concerning the Colorado City Marshal’s Office and his congressional voting record on releasing Jeffrey Epstein files.

The Colorado City dispute concerns a 2013 proposal sought by then-Attorney General Tom Horne to dissolve the community’s police department amid allegations that it protected members of Warren Jeffs’ Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

According to the Star report, Biggs, then Senate president, assigned the House-passed measure to two committees. Its Republican sponsors said at the time that the assignments were intended to kill the legislation. Biggs cited concerns that the proposal was overly broad and could affect other police departments.

During a gubernatorial debate earlier this month, Biggs defended the committee assignments as appropriate, Fischer reported. Hobbs did not participate in that debate.