Lombardo rejects voter ID, expanded ballot drop box bill in record-setting vetoes

Gov. Joe Lombardo rejected a bill that would have implemented voter ID requirements as well as expanded access to drop boxes as part of his record-setting vetoes.

The Republican governor beat his previously set record of most bills vetoed in a single session, reaching 87 bills rejected. He has denied bills from the Democratic-controlled body on expanded paid leave, restrictions on immigration enforcement in schools and rent control for seniors, among others.

Last session, the governor broke a record of the most bills vetoed in a single session with 75 vetoes. He has until Friday to approve or disapprove of bills passed in the Nevada Legislature’s 120-day session. Lawmakers adjourned on June 2.

Here are some of the bills Lombardo vetoed. The Review-Journal will update the story with more notable vetoes, and their respective veto messages, as they become available.

Voter ID, drop box expansions

Lombardo vetoed Speaker Steve Yeager’s Assembly Bill 499, which would have expanded access to ballot drop boxes and implemented voter ID requirements. The bill was the result of a compromise between Yeager and the governor, who has long supported voter ID. Yeager sought to match the language in the ballot question to implement voter ID, which passed in 2024 but needs to be approved by voters in 2026.

In his veto message, the governor said that he wholeheartedly supports voter ID, but he said the bill is not entirely consistent with the language in the ballot question. He said it fails to resolve inconsistencies in how voter ID is reviewed, does little to improve signature verification and leaves too much ambiguity for future interpretation. He also expressed concerns about increased access to ballot drop boxes.

He specifically took issue with the proposed mail ballot ID verification and argued it would apply voter ID requirements unequally between in-person and mail ballot voters, saying that mail ballots would continue to be accepted solely on the basis of a signature match. Their identifying information written on the return envelope is only checked if the signature needs verification, while in-person voters must show ID every time.

“This inconsistency undermines the principle of uniform voter verification,” he wrote. “Voter ID is essential for ensuring election integrity, and it should be applied consistently across all voting methods.

Nonpartisan primary participation

AB 597, also from Yeager, would have allowed a registered nonpartisan voter to participate in a primary election of their choosing, rather than having to register with a party to participate.

Lombardo cited voters’ rejection of a 2024 ballot question as the reason behind his veto. Ballot Question 3 would have provided both an open primary system and a ranked-choice voting system, which voters rejected.

“It is inappropriate to override their clear and recent decision by attempting to enact such a significant change to our election process only months later,” he said.

IVF protections

Senate Bill 217, sponsored by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, would have established a statutory right to IVF treatment under Nevada law. It also would have increased protections for providers of fertility treatments and expanded coverage requirements for diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

The legislation passed the Assembly on a party-line vote and passed the Senate 15-5, with Republican state Sens. Lori Rogich and John Steinbeck joining Democrats in support.

In his veto message, the governor said he supports efforts to make IVF more accessible, but he said the legislation is not feasible because of the mandate requiring coverage for IVF.

“Without dedicated and sustainable funding this mandate is fiscally impossible considering the current posture of the state’s budget, specifically in terms of Medicaid resources,” he wrote in his message.

He encouraged agencies to collaborate with interested parties to find alternative and financially sustainable ways to expand access to IVF.

The lacrosse bill

Senate Bill 305, sponsored by state Sen. Fabian Doñate, D-Las Vegas, would have required the state’s school sports governing body to sanction lacrosse as a school sport.

In his message, the governor tied the veto to a last-minute amendment that would have also created an interim committee to oversee and investigate the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association “to ensure complaince with” federal Title IX regulations. It also would have given that committee the ability to “advise the attorney general” if they found a rule or regulation that they determine “encroaches on the sovereignty” of the state’s regulation over school sports and events.

Lombardo said the political nature of the amendment, brought up toward the end of session, brought the veto.

Despite the veto, the NIAA said on Wednesday it will sanction boys and girls lacrosse beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.

Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission

Lombardo vetoed Assembly Bill 328, which would have created the Juneteenth Educational and Economic Commission in Nevada’s Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs. The commission would have been responsible for creating materials educating the public on the history and meaning of Juneteenth.

In his veto message, Lombardo said honoring Juneteenth is a worthy goal, but “we must approach new spending and mandates with care, especially during a period of economic uncertainty and increasing budgetary pressures.”

Codifying ‘assemblymember’

An attempt to further establish the use of gender-neutral titles in the Nevada Assembly was vetoed. Assembly Bill 588, would have revised several statutes to remove the terms “assemblyman” and “assemblywoman,” swapping in favor of “assemblymember.”

It followed a political debate over gender that played out during the session and passed on party-lines in both houses, with Democrats in favor. When the 120-day legislative session began in February, Assembly leaders adopted a new legislative rule incorporating gender-neutral titles. Lombardo’s message points to the rule change as sufficient.

“That action clearly demonstrates the Assembly’s authority to determine how its members are addressed through internal procedures, without requiring statutory codification,” Lombardo wrote in his veto message.

Prohibiting book bans

Lombardo called AB 416 — which would have prohibited school boards or other leadership from banning or removing material that they may find “objectionable” — “fundamentally flawed” in his veto message on Thursday. Community members seeking to have materials removed would need to petition a court to do so, according to the bill sponsored by Assemblymember Brittney Miller, D-Las Vegas.

“Decisions about what library materials are appropriate for students should be made locally — by educators and families who understand the unique needs of their communities — not by judges through a rigid, one-size-fits-all legal process,” he wrote.

Paid leave changes

At least two bills relating to changes and expansions to paid family and medical leave were vetoed. AB 112 would have allowed workers covered by a collective bargaining agreement to take care of family members. The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Duy Nguyen, D-Las Vegas, removed an exemption for workers under a union contract in an attempt to make the use more widely available.

Lombardo said he thought the legislation “inappropriately places a proverbial thumb on the scale in favor of labor” by effectively cutting a step out of the bargaining process.

“Because mandating this additional benefit would undermine the collective bargaining process and disrupt the balance of labor-management relations across the state, I cannot support it,” he wrote.

Another bill that sought to expand paid family and medical leave in the state — AB 388 — also received a veto. The bill proposed increasing the leave from eight weeks to 12 and made both public and private sector workers eligible after 90 days of employment.

Lombardo argued the bill would “severely disrupt the economic stability of businesses across Nevada” in his veto message.

Restricting ICE access in schools

Assembly Bill 217 would have prohibited school districts and their employees from giving permission to federal immigration officials to access school facilities.

Sponsored by Assemblymember Cecelia González, the legislation passed the Assembly 31-11 and the Senate 14-6.

In his veto message, Lombardo called the legislation well-intentioned but said it was overbroad and risks creating legal confusion between state and federal authority. He said the bill disregards legal nuances that could “impede legitimate enforcement actions and place school personnel in legally precarious situations,” and didn’t include any limitations tied to school hours.

“It creates legal uncertainty, undermines cooperation with federal authorities, and unfairly penalizes school employees caught in the crossfire,” he wrote. “I cannot support it.”

Special Counsel for the Prevention of Gun Violence

SB 156, sponsored by state Sen. Edgar Flores, would have required the attorney general to appoint a special counsel for the Prevention of Gun Violence, authorizing the counsel to administer a grant program for gun violence prevention initiatives, to collaborate with professors and researchers in developing data relating to gun violence, and to put together educational campaigns relating to firearm safety and suicide prevention.

The bill passed the Assembly 25-14 and the Senate 11-8.

Lombardo’s veto message was not available Tuesday.

Ford’s price fixing bill

AB 44, put forward by Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford, would have prohibited price manipulation of an essential good or service.

The bill passed the Assembly 24-18 and the Senate 13-8. Democratic Assemblymembers Joe Dalia, Venise Karris and Duy Nguyen joined Republicans in voting against the bill.

Lombardo said in his veto message the bill “represents a striking case of government overreach that disregards fundamental economic principles.”

By granting the Attorney General broad authority to investigate and prosecute pricing decisions, the bill fails to recognize that prices reflect complex supply chain dynamics and market forces-not merely alleged predatory intent,” he wrote.

Immunity for sex workers

AB 209, sponsored by Democratic Assemblymember David Orentlicher, would have provided sex workers with immunity from criminal liability for engaging in sex work. It also would have declared that it is public policy to encourage victims of serious violent crimes to report crimes without fear of criminal prosecution for engaging in sex work.

The bill passed both houses down party lines.

In his veto message, Lombardo said that encouraging sex workers to report violent crimes is a commendable goal, but the bill requires further refinement to achieve that goal. He said the bill “institutionalizes distrust” in law enforcement.

“The bill codifies a lack of trust in law enforcement by assuming that sex workers fear prosecution more than they trust officers to prioritize their safety and the investigation of violent crimes,” Lombardo said.

He also said the legislation could have unintended consequences for public safety and risks weakening tools for combating exploitation.

Habitability of apartments

AB 223, sponsored by Assemblymember Venicia Considine and other Democrats, would have authorized a tenant to file a complaint for relief if their landlord fails to maintain a rental unit in habitable condition, such as if the unit lacks proper measures to control rodents and insects, or if it lacks doors and windows in good repair.

The bill passed down party lines in both houses.

Lombardo said the bill disrupts a “well-established balance” in Nevada law that provides adequate tenant protections while ensuring landlords maintain safe and quality housing. He criticized a provision of the bill that would require landlords to remedy issues within 48 hours after receiving notice, calling it an “onerous requirement.” He also said that a tenant’s own negligence may cause their apartment to become uninhabitable.

Rent control for seniors

AB 280 would have set rent control parameters for seniors, starting at age 62, and people on Social Security. It also required rental agreements to include an appendix with explanations of each fee that may be charged during the rental term, and it makes it illegal for a landlord to charge a fee that is not in the appendix.

Lombardo argued the bill was imprecise and broad in his veto message. He also made a case for its effects on the rental market — a stance he has long held.

“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,” he wrote. “In the long run, potentially as soon as this biennium, the cap could discourage investment in rental properties, especially as owners struggle with rising costs while being unable to adjust rents to match.”

A similar bill failed to get the governor’s support in 2023.

Sex ed changes

The governor rejected a bill that would have changed sex education in Nevada schools from an opt-in system to an opt-out. Assembly Bill 205 would have made it so parents would be required to submit the written refusal form no later than four weeks after the start of the school year or four weeks before the course or unit will start.

Lombardo wrote in his veto message he believed “parents should remain the primary decision makers in their children’s education,” and the opt-out policy would undermine that.

Firearms restrictions

AB 245 would have prohibited someone under 21 from owning a semiautomatic shotgun or semiautomatic centerfire rifle. It would have made a violation a gross misdemeanor. It would have also created harsher penalties for a person who “aids or knowingly permits” someone under 21 to have one of those firearms, and made exceptions for certain soldiers, law enforcement officers, hunting and other circumstances.

Lombardo vetoed similar legislation in 2023. He said then the bill wouldn’t pass “constitutional muster” after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down California’s ban of the sale of semiautomatic rifles to people under 21 in the case Jones v. Bonta.

His brief 2025 veto message echoes that point.

“In some ways, this bill goes even further than last session’s bill by also making it a Category B felony to sell or barter a firearm to a person under the age of 21,” Lombardo wrote.

Holiday/observance designations

Multiple bills were on the table to designate certain days or months for different purposes, and so far Lombardo has vetoed all of them.

AB 144 would have designated the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, the same day Columbus Day is celebrated.

Lombardo said in his veto message regarding Indigenous Peoples Day that it is currently celebrated Aug. 9 every year, and it should stay that way.

”For the annual proclamation commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day, my office may well include the additional content proposed in this bill in future years,” his veto message said. “That said, 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.”

He also vetoed AB 83, which would have designated Oct. 25 as “Larry Itliong Day,” AB 98 would have created a day of observance for Dolores Huerta, a labor leader, and SB 297, which would have designated the month of October as “Menopause Awareness Month.”

In those bills’ veto messages, Lombardo said that there is no need to codify additional months into law, and there is already a process to request that the governor make a proclamation.

Civil, criminal immunity for librarians

AB 445 would have provided school and public librarians civil and criminal immunity for providing access to library materials in good faith. The Assembly passed the bill 32-9, and the Senate approved it 14-7, with Sen. Lori Rogich as the lone Republican in favor.

Lombardo said in his veto message that the bill is vague and fails to define what “good faith” is. He also said it undermines existing oversight policies that schools already have.

“By granting immunity to library staff, the bill could weaken the authority of elected school boards and parents in making decisions about what is suitable for students to access,” he said.

Ban of Styrofoam containers for chain restaurants

AB 244, sponsored by Assemblymember Venicia Considine, D-Las Vegas, would have prohibited restaurants with 10 or more locations from using disposable polystyrene, or Styrofoam, containers. It would have included a $100 per day fine for restaurants that violate the law.

The bill passed the Assembly in a 36-to-6 vote and the Senate in a 16-4 vote.

Lombardo said in his veto message that the bill would raise prices for Nevadans and said alternatives to polystyrene products are more expensive. He also said polystyrene is more durable and insulating than paper products, and he described a scenario in which a rancher’s beverage in a Styrofoam cup stays cooler longer than in a paper one.

Shield law for trans community

SB 171 would have enacted a shield law to protect the trans community by protecting patients who seek care from out of state and providers who perform the care, similar to a bill Lombardo signed last session that protects out-of-state abortion seekers.

Sponsored by Sen. James Ohrenschall, D-Las Vegas, the bill passed both chambers in party-line votes, with Democrats in support.

In his veto message, the governor said the bill was well-intentioned, but that it contains ambiguous language that creates a potential for legal challenges. He also said it would put health care licensing boards in an awkward position of navigating potentially conflicting mandates in federal and state law.

Ban of animal tested products

SB 167 would have prohibited the importation and sale of household cleaning products tested on animals. The bill includes exemptions for products in which non-animal testing methods are unavailable, and for products that were tested on animals before January 2023.

The bill passed the Senate 17-4, with GOP Sens. Carrie Buck, Ira Hansen, Jeff Stone and Robin Titus in opposition. It passed the Assembly 34-8, with Republicans Danielle Gallant, Ken Gray, Melissa Hardy, Brian Hibbetts, Heidi Kasama and PK O’Neill joining their Democratic colleagues in approval.

Lombardo said the bill would introduce legal uncertainty and increase prices for Nevadans.

Hate crime gun bill

SB 89, sponsored by Sen. Julie Pazina, D-Henderson, would have prevented individuals convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes from possessing firearms for up to 10 years. The bill was another attempt from legislative Democrats to push forward a similar bill vetoed in the last session. The bill had passed both chambers on party lines.

“As explained just over two years ago, it is an undoubtedly important objective to decrease gun violence among those convicted of hate crimes,” he said in his veto message. “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.”

Noncitizen police officers

SB155 would have allowed non-U.S. citizens to be police officers if they are legally authorized to work in the country, have previously been employed as a police officer in another state and satisfy other relevant limits or requirements. The bill, sponsored by Las Vegas Democrat Edgar Flores, also would have prevented agencies from requiring U.S. citizenship if they meet those provisions.

The bill passed on party lines, with Democrats in both chambers in favor.

It passed the Senate 19-2, with Republicans Lori Rogich of Las Vegas and Carrie Buck of Henderson opposed. In the Assembly, two Republicans joined Democrats in approving the measure: Danielle Gallant of Las Vegas and Gregory Koenig of Fallon.

Lombardo said in his veto message that he does not support non-citizens becoming peace officers.

“All peace officers in the State of Nevada should be United States citizens,” he said in his veto message. “There are pathways to citizenship available to those legally in the United States. If someone wishes to serve as a peace officer, he or she should become a naturalized citizen before doing so.”

Care for trans prisoners

SB 141, sponsored by Sen. Melanie Scheible, D-Las Vegas, would have required detention facilities to develop a policy concerning the care, supervision, custody, security, housing and medical and mental health treatment of offenders who are transgender and non-binary.

The bill passed unanimously in the Assembly and on party lines in the Senate.

Lombardo vetoed the bill, citing possible changes to federal authority that could conflict with the provisions of the bill, “leading to decreased state and local access to vital federal funding.”

“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,” he said in his veto message.

Fake electors

Lombardo also vetoed SB 102, which would have prohibited a person from submitting fake electoral certificates. Sen. Skip Daly, D-Sparks, pushed forward the bill this session and last session, which Lombardo vetoed both times.

He said in his veto message that it presents risks to the First Amendment and undermines due process protections by granting the secretary of state broad investigative authority.

“Ensuring election integrity must not come at the expense of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution,” Lombardo said in his veto message.

Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com and McKenna Ross at mross@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah and @mckenna_ross_ on X.