(The Center Square) – Gov. Joe Lombardo this year vetoed 33 bills that were passed by the Nevada Assembly and Senate.
That’s short of the state record Lombardo set in 2023 when the Republican governor vetoed 75 bills. And Lombardo decided to focus on the positive in a statement about Nevada’s 83rd legislative session, which ended early Tuesday.
“As the session concludes, I’m proud to report that we’ve made significant progress in our two most critical endeavors this session: combatting the rising cost of housing and improving outcomes in our K-12 education system,” Lombardo said. “In the coming days and weeks, I look forward to sharing more about the legislative victories we achieved together, and how they will benefit Nevadans across our great state.”
Lombardo this year signed 229 bills into law.
Here’s a look at 10 major bills that never made it off Lombardo’s desk. While Democrats hold majorities in both houses, they don’t have enough seats to override Lombardo’s vetoes.
Housing bills
Lombardo shot down multiple bills related to housing. Assembly Bill 223 would have allowed renters to withhold payment if the landlord did not maintain “habitable” living conditions. Lombardo said AB 223 would destabilize Nevada’s rental market and that the qualifications for habitability were not clear.
AB 280, another housing bill, would have created an 18-month trial period where rents for senior citizens could not be increased by more than 5%. Lombardo warned there could be a number of accidental impacts of this bill, including less desire to build rental properties and the possibility of landlords excessively raising prices before renting a property out.
Gun rights
Senate Bill 89 would have made gun ownership for convicted hate crime offenders illegal for 10 years. Lombardo vetoed the bill because he believed it would be taking away a constitutional right of the offenders.
The heavily covered gun age restriction bill AB 245 was also shot down. The bill would have restricted access to semiautomatic shotguns and semiautomatic rifles for people under 21 years old. Lombardo wrote he opposed the bill because the semiautomatic shotgun is the most common weapon to hunt waterfowls.
Voting rights
AB 306 would have established minimum quotas for voting ballot boxes in Nevada counties based on population. Lombardo’s response to this bill was short but highlighted, “Nevada is already among the easiest states in the nation to cast a vote.” He added the state could still use additional election reforms.
Sex education
AB 205 proposed to change Nevada sex education classes from opt-in to opt-out. Parents in the Silver State today have to choose to enroll their children in sex ed. This bill would have made taking these classes standard, giving parents an option to opt-out. Lombardo vetoed the bill, saying it took power away from parents.
Indigenous People’s Day
AB 144 would have changed the national holiday Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day in Nevada. Gov. Lombardo opposed this change, simply stating that the holidays should not overlap.
Transgender rights
SB 171 would have protected medical professionals who helped gender-affirming, or gender-reassignment surgery for transgender people, from being prosecuted or having their medical licenses revoked. Lombardo vetoed this bill, stating he worried it may not hold up in a court over its use of certain language, including “medically necessary,” in reference to the surgery.
SB 141 would have introduced rules around treatment of transgender and gender non-conforming detained people in jail. The bill would have addressed a number of related issues, mainly related to discrimination against such inmates. Lombardo vetoed the bill, saying nothing against the proposed changes themselves, but that it would potentially conflict with federal law.
Environment
AB 244 proposed to create fines aimed at chain restaurants for use of polystyrene containers or styrofoam containers. Lombardo vetoed this bill for a number of reasons, including the functional use to keep food hot or cold better than other containers.
Coming up
Some bills await Lombardo’s review. Among them are bills making primaries open to nonpartisan voters and increasing pay for charter school teachers.
