Nevada Democrats poised to revive bills vetoed by Governor Lombardo

Democratic state legislators in Nevada are preparing to reintroduce more than two dozen bills that Governor Joe Lombardo has vetoed in both 2023 and 2025. The move would activate a backlog of legislation if Democrats maintain their majorities in the state legislature and Attorney General Aaron Ford wins the governorship in the upcoming election.

Lombardo exercised his veto power 87 times in 2025, a state record. He rejected measures ranging from prescription drug price caps to rent control for seniors. The governor argued these laws imposed costly mandates or created legal uncertainty for state providers. His office noted that approximately 87% of schools already offer free meals to all students, a point he used to justify vetoing a bill that would have allocated $43 million to continue universal school breakfast and lunch programs.

The legislative session is scheduled to begin on February 1 in Carson City. Ford has stated he would sign several of the vetoed bills within his first 30 days in office. These include caps on prescription drug prices, free school meals for all students, and limits on corporate housing purchases. A specific bill regarding rent limits for older residents is also expected, as Ford has indicated he will sign a targeted limit rather than a general rent control law.

The path to passing these bills faces structural hurdles. The Nevada Constitution requires two-thirds approval in both chambers for legislation that generates revenue. Democrats currently hold 13 of 21 Senate seats and 27 of 42 Assembly seats, which is one vote short of the two-thirds threshold in each body. Internal disagreements exist among Democratic members. For example, Assemblymember Tracy Brown-May and Senator Roberta Lange voted against paid family leave, while Senator Dina Neal joined Republicans in opposing open primaries.

Several specific bills are likely candidates for revival. The prescription drug cap, initially passed as Assembly Bill 259 in 2025, would limit prices to Medicare levels established by the Federal Inflation Reduction Act. The corporate housing bill, now Senate Bill 391, would restrict corporate investors to 100 homes per year. A previous version of that bill failed by one vote after Senator Ira Hansen voted against it. The governor’s office had previously urged Republican senators to oppose the measure.

Other vetoed areas include healthcare, labor, and elections. In healthcare, Lombardo vetoed bills covering in vitro fertilization and nurse-to-patient ratios in Clark and Washoe counties. In labor, he rejected a requirement for employers with 50 or more workers to provide 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Election-related bills include a measure to require county clerks to keep mail-in ballot boxes available between the end of early voting and Election Day, and a law allowing nonpartisan voters to vote in major party primaries.

Lombardo frames his vetoes as a deliberate check on the legislative process. In a statement from June 13, 2025, he said his role is to stop legislation that goes too far or increases the size of government. He has pledged not to impose new taxes and highlighted $2 billion in new funds secured during his tenure, including $183 million for housing. Opponents outside the legislature, such as hospitals and business groups, remain active in opposing various proposals.