LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has outdone himself, vetoing extra payments — 87 thus far — than the 75 items of laws he rejected two years in the past.
It is a single-session report, and he has till midnight Friday to concern extra vetoes. Lombardo is already at 162 vetoes overlaying the previous two legislative classes. That is the very best complete throughout a single governor’s time in workplace. Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval vetoed 97 payments over a mixed 4 legislative classes in his two phrases as governor
Early Thursday night, the Legislature’s web site up to date with 10 further vetoes.
The Governor’s Workplace confirmed that one invoice has been vetoed however shouldn’t be listed. Senate Invoice 305, which might have elevated lacrosse to a sanctioned highschool sport, was vetoed on Wednesday. The Nevada Interscholastic Actions Affiliation (NIAA) introduced Wednesday that it was shifting forward with sanctioning lacrosse.
The Democrat-controlled Nevada Legislature tried once more this yr to cross a number of payments Lombardo vetoed two years in the past — gun management, hire management provisions and a few laws on well being care — however largely, Lombardo’s vetoes this yr had been or new proposals.
With comparatively little energy within the Legislature, Nevada Republicans are counting on Lombardo to face agency in opposition to Democrats.
By noon on Wednesday, notices had been printed on 65 vetoes (together with 9 Senate payments) because the Legislature adjourned. Later Wednesday afternoon, one other batch of vetoes had been posted, this time 12 Meeting payments.
A kind of payments would have expanded paid household depart for each state workers and staff in personal enterprise.
FAMILY LEAVE: Meeting Invoice 388 (AB388) had handed within the Meeting, 26-16, and narrowly within the Senate, 11-9, with one senator excused absent. The invoice would have utilized to corporations with 50 or extra workers. Lombardo mentioned mandating household depart for staff would “severely disrupt the economic stability of businesses across Nevada.”
“Nevada has long prided itself on maintaining a business-friendly environment — one that supports growth, innovation, and job creation,” the governor’s veto message mentioned. “Now is not the time to introduce broad, burdensome mandates that would significantly disrupt this balance, particularly for Nevada’s small and mid-sized businesses.”
Democratic Assem. Selena La Rue Hatch, who sponsored the invoice, mentioned because it moved to the governor’s desk on June 2: “No one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn, an ailing parent, or their own health.”
A Progressive group commented, “This veto sends a clear message: working families are not the priority. Governor Lombardo had a chance to stand with Nevada’s families—and he instead chose to stand with business interests,” a press release from Battle Born Progress chief Shelbie Swartz mentioned.
Different payments that Lombardo rejected Wednesday embody:
VOTER ID: In rejecting AB499, Lombardo vetoed a invoice he was wanting to cross this session. The invoice set out necessities to point out an ID when voters solid their ballots. However Lombardo discovered inconsistencies within the language. “I wholeheartedly support Voter ID and am appreciative of the effort to codify it into statute. However, this bill is not entirely consistent with the constitutional amendment that Nevada voters will consider again in 2026. AB499 fails to resolve and may even introduce inconsistencies in how voter identification is reviewed, does little to improve signature verification, and leaves too much ambiguity for future interpretation or regulation,” Lombardo wrote in his veto message.
Lombardo additionally vetoed AB534, one other invoice associated to elections that he mentioned would have centralized an excessive amount of energy below the Nevada Secretary of State’s Workplace.
OPEN PRIMARY ELECTION: AB597 opened alternatives for nonpartisan voters to take part in Nevada’s major elections. Nonpartisan voters outnumber Republicans and Democrats in Nevada. Lombardo cited 2024’s State Poll Query 3, during which voters rejected open primaries (53% to 47%). He mentioned AB597 shouldn’t be the need of the individuals.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: AB259 was a second try and require drug producers to promote sure drugs for which Medicare has negotiated a “maximum fair price.” Nevadans would get these drugs at that value. Lombardo vetoed an identical invoice in 2023, and repeated his assertion that it might trigger extra hurt than good, and finally trigger drug prices to go greater.
CENSORSHIP: AB416 would have prevented college districts from making their very own choices on limiting entry to books and different supplies. The invoice would have allowed entry to supplies that had not been deemed obscene by the courts. That is simply too gradual, in response to Lombardo’s veto message. “Because AB 416 disconnects parents and schools from decisions best made at the local level and is constitutionally dubious, I cannot support it,” he mentioned.
MEDICAL DEBT: AB204 would have outlawed predatory practices associated to accumulating medical money owed. Advocates mentioned it might scale back the monetary hurt attributable to sudden or unaffordable medical payments, calling medical debt one of many state’s commonest and damaging types of shopper debt. Whereas acknowledging the necessity for reforms, Lombardo rejected the invoice. He mentioned it might undermine equity by discouraging accountable cost, and will improve well being care prices in the long term.
“This veto sends the wrong message to the thousands of Nevada families struggling to pay for basic healthcare,” in response to Adam Zarrin, director of presidency affairs at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “At a time when people are rationing medications, delaying care, and going into debt just to stay healthy, the Governor chose to stand with the status quo instead of with patients.”
DRESS CODE: AB320 added leniency to courtroom gown codes, an try to acknowledge that neighborhood members may need totally different concepts what “professional” apparel means — and never everybody can afford a go well with. It might have taken away the court docket’s skill to penalize individuals solely for the best way they wearing court docket. Lombardo mentioned in his veto message that the intent was comprehensible, however the invoice had sensible and authorized issues. The invoice lacks clear enforcement requirements and improperly intrudes on courts’ authority, he mentioned.
IVF TREATMENTS: SB217 would have offered Medicaid protection — in addition to necessities for personal insurance coverage protection — for in vitro fertilization therapies. A veto message from Lombardo shouldn’t be but obtainable.
HEALTH CARE OVERCHARGES: AB282 required medical care suppliers to answer sufferers who reported they had been overcharged. When the overcharge was confirmed, suppliers could be required to concern refunds or face a wonderful in the event that they missed a deadline. Lombardo mentioned medical billing is advanced, and the invoice oversimplified how issues really work, placing an unfair share of duty for overpayments on suppliers.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS: AB226 would have required a “community benefits” settlement for corporations receiving tax abatements from the state. Latest agreements together with the A’s stadium deal, Allegiant Stadium and different large tasks have carried circumstances which were lumped below neighborhood advantages. Lombardo mentioned it sends the mistaken message as Nevada tries to usher in new companies.
Additionally vetoed by Lombardo on Wednesday: AB188, AB213, AB328, AB397, AB414, AB441, AB585, AB588, AB600 and SB303.
