Governor Lombardo’s Record Vetoes and What They Mean for Business, Real Estate, and Education

Governor Joe Lombardo has officially set a new state record for bill vetoes in a single Nevada legislative session, rejecting a total of 87 bills as the 2025 cycle came to a close. This surpasses his own previous record of 75 vetoes from 2023. The final wave of vetoes included more than three dozen bills in the last stretch of the session, sending a clear message about the Governor’s policy direction on issues ranging from healthcare pricing and housing to education reform and broadband deployment. 

For businesses, real estate developers, educators, and policy analysts, these vetoes offer insight into the state’s current regulatory posture and foreshadow the frameworks that will shape Nevada’s economy and public institutions in the years to come. Rather than allowing the legislative flood of reform-oriented bills to pass unchecked, Lombardo appears to have drawn firm lines around free market priorities, limited government expansion, and executive budget authority. 

Governor Joe Lombardo has officially set a new state record for bill vetoes.

Impacts on Business and Real Estate 

Several bills with direct implications for the business and real estate community were blocked. Assembly Bill 44, which aimed to impose price caps on prescription drugs, was vetoed on constitutional and fiscal grounds. Lombardo argued that enforcing federal Medicare price limits in the private market could raise costs for Medicaid and expose the state to financial risk. This decision preserves flexibility for business stakeholders in healthcare and benefits management. 

In real estate, Senate Bill 99 would have enabled new fee structures on residential development around Lake Tahoe to fund affordable housing. While housing affordability is a pressing concern, the Governor vetoed the bill over fears that it would further inflate building costs and discourage residential growth, an outcome many developers had warned against. Similarly, Assembly Bill 280 sought to cap rent increases for seniors and require detailed transparency from landlords but was rejected for threatening to complicate lease structures and reduce market responsiveness. 

Lex Tecnica Insight: For developers and commercial landlords, these vetoes preserve flexibility in pricing and contractual structuring. However, the legislative interest in tenant protections and development accountability signals that future cycles may bring more structured efforts. Clients should consider proactive reviews of lease language and pricing strategies to stay ahead of regulatory sentiment. 

Education and Workforce Direction 

Education reform was also on the table during this session, including Senate Bill 157, which proposed that Nevada’s community colleges be governed by their own independent boards rather than the existing statewide system. While reform advocates highlighted the need for agility and alignment with workforce trends, Lombardo vetoed the bill, arguing that it risked fragmenting the state’s educational approach at a time when integration is key to scaling job readiness in the tech and skilled trades sectors. 

Another controversial education bill, Assembly Bill 205, would have shifted sex education programs to an “opt-out” model, ensuring broader access. While not directly tied to workforce outcomes, the bill’s rejection signals the administration’s continued focus on parental control and local discretion in curriculum delivery. 

Lex Tecnica Insight: Education stakeholders and private-sector training partners should be aware that the administration favors centralized oversight and restrained curricular reform. This trend creates opportunity for state-aligned workforce programs but may delay innovative or hybrid delivery models. Clients engaged in tech workforce pipelines or education ventures should structure contracts and compliance strategies accordingly. 

Technology Infrastructure and Broadband Access 

In the technology sector, Senate Bill 93 targeted broadband equity by requiring providers to meet prevailing wage and labor standards when deploying infrastructure funded by state grants. The Governor vetoed the measure, stating that these constraints could stall broadband expansion, especially in Nevada’s rural communities. For stakeholders engaged in public-private partnerships and infrastructure buildout, the veto means lower barriers and fewer delays in reaching underserved areas. 

Lex Tecnica Insight: The rejection of labor-attached grant conditions signals the Governor’s prioritization of rapid infrastructure growth over union standardization. Tech and broadband companies should position themselves for agile deployment in upcoming state and local grant cycles while watching for potential rulemaking that might revive these labor provisions via regulatory channels. 

Executive Power and Budget Flexibility 

One of the more politically charged vetoes involved Assembly Bill 585, which would have restricted the number and timing of bill draft requests by lawmakers and the governor. Lombardo defended his veto on the grounds that policy responsiveness requires flexibility, particularly in budgetary and emergency response contexts. The decision reaffirms his commitment to executive agility in fiscal governance, a position with long-term implications for regulatory planning and appropriations. 

Lex Tecnica Insight: This veto signals continued executive assertiveness in Nevada’s fiscal process. Entities with interests in infrastructure, education, and public-private grants should prepare for a budgeting environment where priorities can shift swiftly and where executive influence may outweigh legislative consensus. 

Do you have questions about how these vetoes affect your operations? Call us today!

Looking Ahead 

While some of the bills that survived the session took effect immediately or on July 1, most of the remaining statutes will go into effect on October 1. For clients and partners navigating regulatory environments from real estate companies and education providers to broadband vendors and budget analysts; the next few months are crucial. Understanding which bills passed, and which were left behind, will shape contract terms, compliance obligations, and strategic investments moving forward. 

Lex Tecnica Insight: The Governor’s record-setting veto total underscores a climate of deregulation, decentralization resistance, and pro-growth economic signaling. Organizations operating at the intersection of policy and commerce need to engage in regulatory readiness now; not after October 1st. 

If you have questions about how these vetoes affect your operations, or if you’re planning projects that intersect with Nevada’s business, real estate, education, or infrastructure frameworks, contact Lex Tecnica today. Our team is available to guide you through statutory timelines, regulatory implications, and strategic adjustments to protect your interests and seize emerging opportunities.