Lombardo rejects street vendor bill, lacrosse as veto total reaches 65

Yahoo

12-06-2025

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nine more bills vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo on Wednesday raised the total to 65, just 10 short of a record he established following the legislative session in 2023.
Lombardo rejected bills related to the street vendor regulations, deletion of police recordings of traffic stops, state sanctioning of lacrosse as an interscholastic sport and changes in the state law on automatic voter registration through the DMV.
A number of the bills appeared to be examples of expanded government regulation, and Lombardo has emphasized reducing state government interference.
STREET VENDORS: Lombardo vetoed Senate Bill 295 (SB295), Democratic Sen. Fabian Doñate's effort to refine a street vendor law approved two years ago. The bill would have made health officials in Clark County set a standard for food carts and communicate regulations to the public via a website. Vendor restrictions that went into place in 2023 ended up severely limiting any participation by small-business entrepreneurs that the legislation tried to allow. Fewer than 10 licensed operators are on the streets in Clark County. Lombardo rejected the bill, saying it was too big of a health risk and gave street vendors advantages over other food establishments. He said the same standards should apply.
'This risk is further compounded by the bill's allowance for storing food carts in private homes,' Lombardo's veto message said. 'Unlike regulated commercial kitchens, private residences are not subject to routine sanitation or pest control measures.'
HIGH SCHOOL LACROSSE: SB305 would have allowed lacrosse to become a sanctioned sport for Nevada high schools, but also would have made changes in how decisions are made about club sports at that level. A veto message was not immediately available explaining Lombardo's reasons.
TRAFFIC STOP RECORDINGS: SB85 sought to prevent the deletion of recordings of police traffic stops that the state intended to use in a study. But Lombardo said the Department of Public Safety hasn't received the analysis from a third-party entity authorized to collect and review the data. 'Requiring a report that has yet to materialize undermines confidence in the effectiveness and accountability of the process,' Lombardo said in his veto message. 'Before enshrining this mandate into permanent law, we should first ensure that the system in place is actually producing its intended results.
VOTER REGISTRATION: SB422 contained changes to voter registration deadlines and steps regarding ID verification. But Lombardo vetoed it, citing several concerns over election integrity and voter security. 'By permitting voters to cast provisional ballots based on a written affirmation and submit proof of residency after Election Day, the bill weakens safeguards that ensure only eligible individuals participate in elections.' In addition, he said REAL ID is not a good standard because federal law permits some non-citizens and lawful status to get one.
Other bills rejected on Wednesday included:
SB128, which would have barred insurance companies from using AI to automatically generate rejections to claims. Lombardo called it unnecessary micromanaging. He also attacked the bill's requirements that doctors suggest stem cell therapy.
SB352, which prohibited Medicaid and private insurers from discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. Lombardo called the bill a duplication of existing federal protections.
SB378, which would have required 'free-standing emergency departments' to bill services at urgent care standards. Lombardo said the bill intended to improve access and affordability, but would likely have the opposite effect, putting facilities out of business.
SB414 sought to require financial disclosures surrounding the 'inaugural committee,' but Lombardo attacked the bill as politically motivated.
SB447, which would have created another way to challenge the award of a government contract. Lombardo said it would create 'a routine litigation tactic' that would lead to delays, higher costs and court injunctions.
Two days remain for the governor to issue additional vetoes.
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