2 days ago
Lombardo at 76 vetoes, a record; family leave, medical debt bills among victims
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo has outdone himself, vetoing more bills — 76 so far — than the 75 pieces of legislation he rejected two years ago.
It's a single-session record, and he has until midnight Friday to issue more vetoes.
The fate of a 77th bill — Senate Bill 305, which would have elevated lacrosse to a sanctioned high school sport — appeared to be in limbo. Lombardo's veto was communicated to the Nevada secretary of state, but the bill was removed from the Legislature's list of vetoes.
The Democrat-controlled Nevada Legislature tried again this year to pass a few bills Lombardo vetoed two years ago — gun control, rent control provisions and some legislation on health care — but mostly, Lombardo's vetoes this year were or new proposals.
With relatively little power in the Legislature, Nevada Republicans are relying on Lombardo to stand firm against Democrats.
By midday on Wednesday, notices had been published on 65 vetoes (including nine Senate bills) since the Legislature adjourned. Later Wednesday afternoon, another batch of vetoes were posted, this time 12 Assembly bills.
One of those bills would have expanded paid family leave for both state employees and workers in private business.
FAMILY LEAVE: Assembly Bill 388 (AB388) had passed in the Assembly, 26-16, and narrowly in the Senate, 11-9, with one senator excused absent. The bill would have applied to companies with 50 or more employees. Lombardo said mandating family leave for workers would 'severely disrupt the economic stability of businesses across Nevada.'
'Nevada has long prided itself on maintaining a business-friendly environment — one that supports growth, innovation, and job creation,' the governor's veto message said. 'Now is not the time to introduce broad, burdensome mandates that would significantly disrupt this balance, particularly for Nevada's small and mid-sized businesses.'
Democratic Assem. Selena La Rue Hatch, who sponsored the bill, said as it moved to the governor's desk on June 2: 'No one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a newborn, an ailing parent, or their own health.'
A Progressive group commented, 'This veto sends a clear message: working families are not the priority. Governor Lombardo had a chance to stand with Nevada's families—and he instead chose to stand with business interests,' a statement from Battle Born Progress leader Shelbie Swartz said.
Other bills that Lombardo rejected Wednesday include:
CENSORSHIP: AB416 would have prevented school districts from making their own decisions on limiting access to books and other materials. The bill would have allowed access to materials that had not been deemed obscene by the courts. That's just too slow, according to Lombardo's veto message. 'Because AB 416 disconnects parents and schools from decisions best made at the local level and is constitutionally dubious, I cannot support it,' he said.
MEDICAL DEBT: AB204 would have outlawed predatory practices related to collecting medical debts. Advocates said it could reduce the financial harm caused by unexpected or unaffordable medical bills, calling medical debt one of the state's most common and damaging forms of consumer debt. While acknowledging the need for reforms, Lombardo rejected the bill. He said it could undermine fairness by discouraging responsible payment, and could increase health care costs in the long run.
'This veto sends the wrong message to the thousands of Nevada families struggling to pay for basic healthcare,' according to Adam Zarrin, director of government affairs at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 'At a time when people are rationing medications, delaying care, and going into debt just to stay healthy, the Governor chose to stand with the status quo instead of with patients.'
DRESS CODE: AB320 added leniency to courtroom dress codes, an attempt to recognize that community members might have different ideas what 'professional' attire means — and not everyone can afford a suit. It would have taken away the court's ability to penalize people solely for the way they dressed in court. Lombardo said in his veto message that the intent was understandable, but the bill had practical and legal problems. The bill lacks clear enforcement standards and improperly intrudes on courts' authority, he said.
HEALTH CARE OVERCHARGES: AB282 required medical care providers to respond to patients who reported they were overcharged. When the overcharge was confirmed, providers would be required to issue refunds or face a fine if they missed a deadline. Lombardo said medical billing is complex, and the bill oversimplified how things actually work, putting an unfair share of responsibility for overpayments on providers.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS: AB226 would have required a 'community benefits' agreement for companies receiving tax abatements from the state. Recent agreements including the A's stadium deal, Allegiant Stadium and other big projects have carried conditions that have been lumped under community benefits. Lombardo said it sends the wrong message as Nevada tries to bring in new businesses.
Also vetoed by Lombardo on Wednesday: AB213, AB328, AB414, AB441, AB588 and AB600.
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