Governor Lombardo's Vetoes Signal Policy Priorities in Business, Real Estate, and Education

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.

Governor Joe Lombardo has again leaned heavily on his veto pen, rejecting 49 bills

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.

Budget Implementation Constraints

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.