As Nevada’s 2025 legislative session nears its close, Governor Joe Lombardo
has again leaned heavily on his veto pen, rejecting 49 bills as of June 9, with the
final deadline for action approaching on June 13. While he has not yet surpassed
his 2023 record of 75 vetoes, the volume and focus of the 2025 vetoes provide
insight into the administration’s current policy posture; particularly in areas critical
to Nevada’s legal, business, and real estate landscape.
Vetoes Impacting Business and Real Estate
Assembly Bill 44: Price-Fixing Enforcement
This bill aimed to expand the attorney general’s power to prosecute price-fixing
under Nevada’s deceptive trade laws. Governor Lombardo vetoed it, arguing the
bill’s vague language could chill legitimate business practices and create
enforcement uncertainty.
Lex Tecnica Insight: The veto preserves predictability for Nevada businesses,
especially in real estate and supply chain markets, where pricing flexibility is
often essential to adapt to material and labor volatility.
Assembly Bill 398: HOA Authority and Fee Regulation
This bill would have capped fees that HOAs could charge and imposed new
procedural requirements. The Governor rejected it, stating it would hinder HOAs’
ability to maintain communities and respond to rising operating costs.
Lex Tecnica Insight: This veto retains operational discretion for HOAs and
developers—significant for real estate clients managing common-interest
communities and multi-unit developments.
Assembly Bill 310: Eviction Reform
The proposed legislation would have shifted Nevada’s summary eviction process
to a judicial model requiring landlords to initiate action. Governor Lombardo
vetoed the bill, arguing it could overwhelm courts and create burdens for small
landlords.
Lex Tecnica Insight: The veto upholds Nevada’s current landlord-tenant balance,
favoring property owners and preserving cost-effective remedies in property
management.
Technology and Workforce Readiness
Senate Bill 157: Community College Governance Reform
This bill sought to decentralize Nevada’s community college system, giving them
independent governance in hopes of improving workforce alignment and
technical training. Governor Lombardo vetoed it, stating it would create
duplicative bureaucracy and distract from unified education reform efforts.
Lex Tecnica Insight: Though intended to streamline workforce education, the
veto reflects the administration’s focus on centralized reform, impacting
stakeholders involved in tech workforce pipelines and public-private education
partnerships.
Budget and Fiscal Oversight
Assembly Bill 525: Budget Implementation Constraints
The bill would have restricted the governor’s authority to implement certain
budget provisions and reallocate emergency funds without legislative approval.
Governor Lombardo vetoed it, citing the need for executive flexibility in times of
fiscal uncertainty.
Lex Tecnica Insight: The veto preserves executive discretion in budgetary
response—key for businesses watching infrastructure, education, and tax policy
developments tied to state appropriations.
Looking Ahead
While 49 bills have already been vetoed, the governor’s office has until June 13
to finalize decisions on all passed legislation. Whether he surpasses his previous
record remains to be seen; but his veto strategy clearly reinforces his
commitment to limited regulation, local property rights, centralized education
reform, and budgetary control.
Lex Tecnica will continue monitoring post-session developments for how these
vetoes, and potential legislative overrides, may shape Nevada’s business, real
estate, education, and economic landscapes.
