The Nevada Independent is tracking all of Gov. Joe Lombardo’s vetoes stemming from the 2025 legislative session, on the heels of a 2023 session when he blocked a record-breaking 75 bills. 

The governor must either sign, veto or allow a bill to become law without his signature within five days (excluding Sundays) of receiving a bill during the 120-day legislative session. If there are fewer than five days remaining in the session, the governor has 10 days to act on pending bills (also excluding Sundays).

Below is a full list and information on Lombardo’s stated rationale. This story will be regularly updated in the coming days with additional details.

Vetoes listed for June 4 were noted on the Legislature's website, but veto messages were not immediately available.

JUNE 4 

AB205: Opt-out sex education

A bill by Assm. Heather Goulding (D-Reno) would have made sex education instruction available to Nevada students unless their parents opt them out. 

Existing law makes sex ed classes opt-in. Critics say too many students miss out on the courses because their parents do not turn in paperwork, rather than because they have a proactive objection to it. 

In the Clark County School District, on average, only 1 percent of high school students opt out and 8 percent are unresponsive, according to a fact sheet attached to the bill. 

It’s at least the sixth sex education bill that has failed in the past 12 years, including a 2017 bill vetoed by former Gov. Brian Sandoval.

The bill passed out of both chambers along party lines, with Republicans opposed.

In his veto message, Lombardo wrote that an opt-in approach allows parents to prepare for discussions about “deeply personal topics” and be fully aware of what their children will encounter. He added that it also gives parents time to consult with family, friends and their faith community about the best course of action.

“Parents should remain the primary decision makers in their children's education,” he wrote. “Since AB 205 would undermine parents' ability to make informed choices about their children's education, I cannot support it.”

AB280: More rental transparency, cap on seniors’ rent

Assm. Sandra Jauregui’s (D-Las Vegas) AB280 would have required landlords to break down the rationale for fees while also capping annual rent increases for senior citizens at no more than 5 percent for an approximately yearlong pilot program.

The bill passed along party lines in both chambers. Lombardo vetoed a similar proposal in 2023.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message that the bill's “broad requirements and restrictions” would impose a burden on property owners and complicate the rental process. He added that the information in rental agreements mandated by the bill could also overwhelm tenants and landlords, leading to confusion about the terms of a rental agreement.

He added that the rent caps within the bill could undermine housing affordability over time and discourage property owners from investing in rental units, especially as costs continue to rise.

“Although AB 280 targets a specific population group, its implementation could trigger ripple effects that disrupt the rental market as a whole,” Lombardo wrote. “By prohibiting landlords from increasing rent by more than 5% for certain tenants, the bill may inadvertently encourage preemptive rent hikes before the cap takes effect — making housing less attainable in the short term.”

AB223: Allowing tenants to withhold rent if landlord doesn’t repair home

Sponsored by Assm. Venicia Considine (D-Las Vegas), the measure would give renters more recourse when a home is in disrepair.

Under the proposal, tenants would have been able to reduce or withhold rent if their home did not comply with habitability laws. The bill also empowered tenants to file a complaint in court regarding unhealthy living conditions that the landlord had not fixed, and the tenant could use that complaint as a defense against eviction.

The bill passed on party lines in both legislative chambers.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message that the bill would have created fundamental unfairness in the relationship between a tenant and landlord. He added that it “needlessly” disrupts Nevada law that already adequately protects tenants and ensures that renters have safe, quality housing.

Additionally, Lombardo said that the legislation lacked “sufficient specificity regarding the cause of the habitability concern.” Specifically, he wrote that if a tenant’s negligence caused the defective condition, the landlord would be required to remedy the situation unless there was convincing evidence that the tenant had caused the issue.

“Nevadans need safe, affordable housing and a change to existing law as far-reaching and insensitive to scheduling realities as this bill would only serve to destabilize Nevada's rental market,” he wrote.

AB244: Styrofoam container ban

The proposal from Assm. Venicia Considine (D-Las Vegas) would phase in a ban on restaurants’ use of Styrofoam containers.

Starting in October, establishments with at least 10 locations in Nevada would have been prohibited from using Styrofoam containers. It would have applied to all restaurants beginning Jan.1, 2029.

It received some bipartisan support in both chambers, passing 36-6 in the Assembly and 16-4 in the Senate.

In his veto message, Lombardo said that the bill contains inconsistencies regarding the businesses it would apply to and could lead to price increases tied to more expensive biodegradable containers, ultimately resulting in higher overall costs for consumers. He added that there are also enforcement requirements that could lead to higher costs for local governments, and it could limit consumer choice.

“Is it truly wise to redirect law enforcement officers or public health officials away from their essential duties to enforce a polystyrene ban?” Lombardo wrote. “Alternatively, the fiscal notes could reflect a belief that the bill would apply to only a limited number of establishments, and thus the enforcement burden may be inherently low — but this would suggest that the bill itself is an unnecessary regulation that restricts consumer choice without meaningful impact.”

AB245: Ban on people under 21 from owning semiautomatic guns or rifles

For the second straight session, Lombardo vetoed a bill that would ban people under 21 from owning semiautomatic guns or rifles.

Under the bill proposed by Assm. Sandra Jauregui (D-Las Vegas), violations of the provisions would be a gross misdemeanor.

The bill passed along a party-line vote in the Assembly with Republicans opposed. Republicans also voted against the measure in the Senate, and Sen. Skip Daly (R-Sparks) was absent and excused.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message that the bill is “strikingly similar” to another measure he vetoed in 2023. He said that in some ways, the 2025 measure goes further because it also makes selling or bartering a firearm to a person under the age of 21 a category B felony. 

He added that the bill's language is overly broad and would also prohibit young people from using semiautomatic shotguns, which are commonly used in waterfowl hunting and offer a safer and easier shooting experience.

“Finally, the United States Supreme Court precedent on which my previous veto messag was based has not been disturbed,” Lombardo said. “As stated two years ago, ‘were this bill to become law, it is unlikely it would pass constitutional muster.’”

AB445: Immunity for librarians providing access to materials in “good faith”

Sponsored by Assm. Daniele Monroe-Moreno (D-North Las Vegas), this measure would have made it so all school and public library staff members are immune from civil liability for helping patrons or providing access to library materials. 

It’s part of a reaction to culture wars that flared at libraries. The bill passed in both chambers with support from some Republican lawmakers; 32-9 in the Assembly and 14-7 in the Senate. 

In his veto message, Lombardo wrote that the bill was “untenable” because it used vague and overly broad language. For example, he said it fails to define the term “good faith,” which would create an “unworkable legal standard.”

He added that it undermines existing oversight mechanisms and could weaken the authority of school boards and parents. 

“Given that AB 445 establishes an unclear legal standard that would lead to unpredictable outcomes and undermines critical safeguards that help families trust the materials made available in libraries, I cannot support this bill,” he wrote.

AB140: Changes expiration date for driver authorization cards

The proposal from Assm. Cecelia González (D-Las Vegas) would have changed the expiration date for driver authorization cards to the same schedule as driver’s licenses, which need to be renewed every eight years.

Existing law states that the authorization cards — which are for people who don’t meet proof of identity requirements to receive a driver’s license — expire every four years. The bill passed along party lines in the Senate, and with one GOP assemblymember in support alongside all Democrats.

Lombardo said in his veto message that driver authorization cards raise potential public safety concerns and said that “the evolving landscape of federal authority in this space makes it imprudent to sign AB 140.”

AB144: Changing date of Indigenous Peoples Day

The bill from Assm. Shea Backus (D-Las Vegas) would have moved the date of Indigenous Peoples Day in Nevada from Aug. 9 to the second Monday in October, which is also Columbus Day.

It passed along party lines in the Assembly, and one Republican senator joined Democrats in support.

“It is better for Indigenous Peoples Day to fall on a day where there are no other holidays so it can continue to receive Nevadans' undivided recognition,” Lombardo said in his veto message.

AB155: Expanding collective bargaining in schools

Brought by Assm. Selena La Rue Hatch (D-Reno), the bill would have expanded the scope of mandatory subjects that teachers unions can bargain over to include student-teacher ratios and the number of students per number of specialized support staff. 

Nevada ranks first in the nation for the highest ratio of enrolled students per teacher, 25:1, according to a 2024 report by the National Education Association. The bill was supported by the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA), a statewide union representing teachers and support staff. 

The bill passed in the Assembly in April in a 26-16 vote with D’Silva, a Clark County high school teacher and member of the Clark County Education Association (CCEA), a frequent rival of NSEA, joining Republicans in voting against the bill. It passed in the Senate in late May in a 16-4 vote, with four Republicans voting against it. 

Lombardo raised concerns in his veto message about the feasibility of smaller student-teacher ratios in his message, saying it also raised legal implications.

“Would school districts be required, under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement, to build new schools, create new transportation routes, and hire more teachers?” he wrote. 

AB201: Automatic sealing for eviction court cases

Sponsored by Assm. Erica Roth (D-Reno), this bill would have expanded the circumstances under which an eviction case that took place via Nevada’s unique and rapid summary eviction process would be automatically sealed.

The bill passed out of the Assembly and Senate along party-line votes with all Republicans in opposition.

In his veto message, Lombardo said that the bill would “eviscerate judicial discretion” and would likely lead to less affordable housing “because it deprives the lessor of information necessary to make informed business decisions.”

AB237: Allows a county to create an office for the registrar of voters

This bill would have allowed any county to create a registrar of voters office, a right that existing law only affords to Clark and Washoe counties.

It was brought on behalf of the Joint Interim Standing Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections.

It passed along party lines in both chambers.

Lombardo said in his veto message that the bill was “unnecessary” and wouldn’t make financial sense in rural counties.

“Creating a separate office in counties to duplicate tasks currently managed by county clerks would necessarily divide resources,” he said.

AB278: Muslim American Heritage Month

The bill from Assm. Brittney Miller (D-Las Vegas) would have designated July as Muslim American Heritage Month.

It passed mostly along party lines, with Assm. Gregory Koenig (R-Fallon) joining all Democrats in support.

Lombardo said in his veto message that “there is no need to codify additional months into law,” but he encouraged the bill sponsor to request that the governor make a proclamation for Muslim American Heritage Month in advance of next July.

AB342: Women Veterans History Month

This committee bill would have designated March as “Women Veterans History Month.”

It was brought on behalf of the Legislative Committee on Senior Citizens, Veterans and Adults with Special Needs. It had some bipartisan support — 14 Republican lawmakers across both chambers voted in support alongside all Democrats.

Lombardo said in his veto message that “there is no need to codify additional months into law,” but he encouraged the bill sponsor to request that the governor make a proclamation for Women Veterans History Month ahead of next March through existing processes.

AB82: "Diwali Day," "Eid al-Fitr Day," "Vaisakhi Day," and "Vesak Day"

Assm. Reuben D’Silva’s (D-Las Vegas) bill would have required the governor to proclaim days honoring certain Hindu, Islamic, Sikh and Buddhist holidays.

It passed with six Republican assemblymembers and two GOP senators joining all Democratic lawmakers in support.

Lombardo said in his veto message that “there is no need to codify additional days into law,” but he encouraged the bill sponsor to request that the governor make a proclamation ahead of these holidays through existing processes.

AB83: Larry Itliong Day

The proposal from Assm. Erica Mosca (D-Las Vegas) would have designated Oct. 25 as Larry Itliong Day. Itliong founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.

It passed both chambers with three Republicans (one in the Assembly and two in the Senate) joining all Democrats in support.

Lombardo said in his veto message that “there is no need to codify additional days into law,” but he encouraged the bill sponsor to request that the governor make a proclamation before Oct. 25 through existing processes.

AB98: Dolores Huerta Day

Assm. Cinitha Moore’s (D-Las Vegas) bill would have required the governor to proclaim April 10 as Dolores Huerta Day. Huerta is a labor leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers union.

The bill passed along party lines in the Assembly, and four Republican senators supported the bill alongside all Democrats.

Lombardo said in his veto message there was no need to codify additional days into law and encouraged the bill sponsor to request a proclamation from his office. 

AB480: Changes to housing discrimination laws

The bill from Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) would have changed housing discrimination laws to align with certain federal standards.

The standards allow housing discrimination to be established if there is a discriminatory effect, even if discrimination is not intended.

It passed along party lines in the Senate, and three Republican assemblymembers supported the bill alongside all Democrats.

Lombardo called the bill “shortsighted” in his veto message and said that it could raise conflicts with federal authorities if the law were to change.

AB490: New jurisdiction over election lawsuits

This committee bill would have expanded legal jurisdiction given to the Carson City District Court to any other district court with at least three judges and electronic access to filings.

The proposal would have affected jurisdiction over cases involving elections or state laws, which typically start in Carson City, whose court has only two judges and infamously does not have electronic access to filings.

In his veto message, Lombardo said Carson City judges have demonstrated knowledge when hearing these cases and that the bill “inherently diminishes the value of learned expertise.”

“Moreover, the proposition that a court's ability to continue reviewing certain matters should be conditioned upon its implementation of an electronic filing and storage system raises separation of powers concerns,” he said.

JUNE 3

SB89: Ban on firearm ownership after hate crime conviction

Brought by Sen. Julie Pazina (D-Las Vegas), SB89 would have prohibited someone convicted of a hate crime in the past 10 years from purchasing a firearm. It passed both houses along party lines. A similar proposal was vetoed last session.  

“This bill, like last session's bill, is critically flawed in that it would potentially deprive individuals of their Second Amendment right to bear arms for a crime with no nexus to firearms whatsoever,” Lombardo said in his veto letter. Lombardo further contended that the penalty for a hate crime wasn’t enough and they should “be tried as felonies.”

SB93: Awarding broadband development grants

The proposal from Sen. Skip Daly (D-Sparks) would have required state agencies to prioritize certain applicants when awarding federal grants for broadband development, including ones that will use a well-trained workforce and offer high-quality jobs, especially to underrepresented groups.

It passed both chambers along party lines.

In his veto message, Lombardo said the bill could create “unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, stifling competition, and delaying progress.” 

“Because SB 93 would significantly delay broadband deployment in Nevada's rural communities and unnecessarily inflate the time and costs required to initiate projects statewide, I cannot support it,” Lombardo wrote.

SB99: New fees on certain developments

The bill would have allowed certain local governments within areas governed by a regional planning agency — such as Lake Tahoe — to impose new linkage fees on large residential developments. The fees would be used to support deed-restricted affordable housing.

It was brought on behalf of a legislative committee overseeing the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Marlette Lake Water System.

It passed along near-party lines with one Republican — Sen. Lori Rogich (R-Las Vegas) — joining all Democrats in support.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message that the linkage fees would increase costs for attainable housing and reduce growth.

“SB 99 may be relegated to one area, but even that is one area too many,” Lombardo wrote. “Because SB 99 would hinder new construction at a time when Nevada families urgently need more housing, I cannot support it.”

SB102: Criminalizing fake elector schemes

Daly brought back his proposal to criminalize fake elector schemes after Lombardo vetoed the proposal in 2023 on the grounds that the penalty was too strict.

Daly’s latest effort brought down the potential prison sentence to one to four years. His 2023 bill carried a prison sentence of four to 10 years. It passed both chambers along party lines.

Lombardo’s veto message said that the bill raised serious constitutional and policy concerns, presenting “serious first amendment risks.”

“The language prohibiting the creation of a ‘false slate of presidential electors’ is overly broad and could criminalize legitimate political expression or protest,” he wrote.  

SB141: Treatment of transgender prisoners

Sen. Melanie Scheible (D-Las Vegas) proposed the measure, which would have adopted regulations for the supervision, custody, care, security, housing and medical and mental health treatment of transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary offenders.

The bill passed out of the Senate on a party-line 13-8 vote with Republicans opposed. It passed the Assembly with unanimous support.

In his veto message, Lombardo wrote that regulations are more appropriate than statutory codification because regulations can be revised more easily to account for changes in standards, especially if shifts occur at the federal level.

“Federal authority in this space is potentially evolving and, if altered, could conflict with the provisions of this bill leading to decreased state and local access to vital federal funding,” Lombardo wrote. “If a conflict does arise between federal authority and SB 141, then local governments would be required to return in two years to change this law so that Nevada law conforms with federal law.”

SB142: Increasing the amount of wages protected from garnishment 

SB142, brought by Sen. Fabian Doñate (D-Las Vegas), would have increased the amount of wages protected from a type of debt collection known as garnishment. 

Garnishment happens when a court orders employers to send part of a person’s wages to creditors to help pay off child support, alimony or unpaid bills. Doñate’s proposal would have increased the amount of wages protected from creditors from $400 to $850 per week.

All Republicans opposed the measure, which passed out of both chambers along party lines. 

Lombardo called the measure “unsupportable” in his veto message, saying that it could unintentionally encourage debt evasion. He also had several legal concerns, including that it could lead to increased litigation. 

“Businesses and individuals alike rely on the civil justice system to resolve disputes and recover debts,” he said. “Undermining that system may lead to an increase in self-help remedies, bypassing the courts altogether-a troubling outcome for anyone committed to the rule of law.” 

SB155: Allowing non-U.S. citizens to work as peace officers

Currently, only U.S. citizens are allowed to act as law enforcement officers in Nevada but SB155, brought by Sen. Edgar Flores (D-Las Vegas), would allow non-U.S citizens to become peace officers if they had been employed as one in another state and meet some other requirements. 

The measure, which passed along party lines, met pushback from Lombardo, who said in his veto message that although expanding eligibility can help foster trust, the role of a police officer should be kept to U.S citizens. 

“There are pathways to citizenship available to those legally in the United States,” he said. “If someone wishes to serve as a peace officer, he or she should become a naturalized citizen before doing so.”

SB167: Household cleaning products tested on animals 

SB167, brought by Scheible, would ban the import and sale of household cleaning products that have been tested on animals. The ban would not apply to products that underwent animal testing before Jan. 1, 2030. 

The bill passed on a 34-8 vote in the Assembly with 11 Republicans and all Democrats in support, and on a 17-4 vote in the Senate with four Republicans and all Democrats in support.

“SB 167 has the commendable goal of promoting more humane treatment of animals,” Lombardo wrote in his veto message.” However, as written, SB 167 would be impractical for courts to consider and could result in both short- and long-term economic burdens for Nevada families.”

SB171: Shield law for providing gender-affirming care

For the second time, Lombardo has vetoed a bill proposed by Sen. James Ohrenschall (D-Las Vegas) that sought to protect health care providers licensed in Nevada who offer gender-affirming care to patients, including via telemedicine. 

Specifically, Ohrenschall’s bill would have prevented another state from sanctioning or prosecuting a provider in Nevada who offers legal, ethical and medically necessary gender-affirming care to patients. 

The measure passed out of the Senate and Assembly along party-line votes with Republicans opposed.

Opposition to Ohrenschall’s bill focused on gender-affirming care and fears that minors would be making irreversible changes to their bodies — though the bill dealt with providers and would not change existing law around those receiving gender-affirming care.

Ohrenschall said he carefully studied Lombardo’s 2023 veto and removed overly broad language, making it more closely mirror the reproductive rights shield law Lombardo signed in 2023 that Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas) proposed.

But it wasn’t enough.

Lombardo called the bill “well-intentioned” in his veto message but said it had “critical ambiguity” that could cause legal problems and raised questions about what he called “subjective interpretation.”

“SB 171 would lead to complicated legal battles and uncertainty about what laws providers must follow,” Lombardo wrote. “If enacted, a doctor could perform services in this state but still face prosecution elsewhere. It is unwise to create potentially illusory legal protections.”

SB198: Penalties for unpaid wages

Daly’s bill would have increased penalties for employers who don’t pay the entitled wages of workers who resign, quit or are placed on nonworking status. Employers would have to pay 1.5 times the amount of a worker’s hourly wage for each day they go unpaid for as many as 30 days. 

The measure, backed by all legislative Democrats, did not receive support from a single Republican member. 

Lombardo said that SB198 could impose significant burdens for businesses, especially smaller ones. He raised particular concerns about the revised definition of "compensation"­ which would  include bonuses and 401(k) contributions.

“Waiting-time penalties like those imposed under SB 198 have proven disastrous in California,” Lombardo said in his veto. “Even minor, unintentional delays in payment have exposed employers to substantial legal liability.”

SB297: Designating October as “Menopause Awareness Month”

Brought by Sen. Rochelle Nguyen (D-Las Vegas), the measure would have designated October as “Menopause Awareness Month” in Nevada and required the governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing it. It passed 19-2 in the Senate and on a 29-13 vote in the Assembly, with two Republicans joining all Democrats in support.

“Currently, there is no need to codify additional months into law,” Lombardo said in his veto message. He suggested the bill sponsor request a proclamation from his office before October. 

SB301: Expanding collective bargaining for certain peace officers

SB301, sponsored by Sens. Marilyn Dondero Loop (D-Las Vegas) and Cannizzaro, would have allowed category I, II or III state peace officers who are unclassified to unionize.

Currently, these peace officers are only allowed to unionize if they are classified state employees, who are typically in non-leadership positions.

It passed among mostly party lines, with two Senate Republicans joining all legislative Democrats in support in the Senate and on a party-line 27-15 vote in the Assembly.

Lombardo’s veto message noted that he vetoed a similar measure in 2023, saying at the time that allowing unclassified police to unionize “could lead to other distinctions between classified and unclassified staff being challenged.” He said his position has not changed.

SB327: Changing requirements for contractors to obtain bonds

The bill from Sen. Michelee Cruz-Crawford (D-Las Vegas) would have removed the requirement that bonds to contractors be provided by someone with a long-term debt obligation rating of “A” or better.

Instead, the bonds must be given by a holding company that is included in the U.S. Department of Treasury’s publication of certified bond companies.

It passed unanimously in the Senate and along party lines in the Assembly.

Lombardo panned the bill in his veto message as offering “little to no improvement over current law while reducing competition and increasing costs.” He wrote that the bill would force contractors to use a more limited set of bonding companies that meet the requirement.

SB410: Insurance coverage under local government union agreements

SB410, a committee bill, would have clarified that insurance coverage for unionized local government employees explicitly includes coverage for workers’ dependents.

It passed the Assembly on a 35-7 vote with 10 Republicans joining all Democratic lawmakers in support, and the Senate by a 15-6 vote with two Republicans and all Democrats in support.

Lombardo called the bill “well-intentioned” but said in his veto message that it was overly favorable to labor to mandate, rather than just allow, inclusion of dependent coverage as a part of collective bargaining negotiations.

“Legislating additional mandatory subjects of bargaining inappropriately places a proverbial thumb on the scale in favor of labor because, if enacted, this bill would effectively remove a step in the current bargaining process in a manner that would directly favor one side of the labor-management dynamic,” the message read.

MAY 22

AB306: Bill to boost ballot drop box availability during pre-election dead zone

Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager (D-Las Vegas) announced Thursday afternoon that Lombardo had vetoed his proposal to expand the availability of mail ballot drop boxes during the period after early voting and before Election Day — historically a weekend dead zone when most buildings that house drop boxes are closed. 

The measure passed the Senate 12-8 and Assembly 28-14, with Assm. Lisa Cole (R-Las Vegas) as the sole Republican in support. 

“AB306 was a bipartisan measure aimed at ensuring voters, especially working families, seniors, and those with disabilities, have secure and accessible ways to return their ballots,” Yeager said in a statement. 

Lombardo said in his veto message that AB306 is “well-intentioned” but that it “falls short of its stated goals while failing to guarantee appropriate oversight of the proposed ballot boxes or the ballots cast.”