Governor Joe Lombardo delivered his 2025 State of the State address with a clear vision for Nevada’s future.
From strengthening education to cracking down on crime, his proposals reflected a commitment to limited government and personal freedom.
Above all, Lombardo emphasized his pledge to keep taxes low:
“Most important, this is a budget that’s centered and balanced on the promise of not raising taxes on hard-working Nevada families.”
Putting Families First in Education
Education reform was at the heart of Lombardo’s speech.
While he acknowledged last session’s historic $2 billion investment in Nevada schools, he made it clear that funding alone isn’t enough to fix the system.
“We can no longer accept lack of funding as an excuse for chronic underperformance,” Lombardo said.
His Nevada Accountability in Education Act focuses on giving families more choices. The governor proposed expanding open enrollment policies so parents can send their children to schools that best meet their needs.
“Every parent deserves the freedom to find the best educational setting for their child—no exceptions,” he said.
The governor also stressed the importance of holding schools accountable.
“We are advancing policies that demand stricter accountability, equity, and excellence across every level of our education system,” Lombardo explained.
His plan includes bonuses for top-performing teachers and resources for struggling schools, especially in early literacy.
“No child should be trapped in a failing school because of their ZIP code or held down because of how much their parents or grandparents earn,” Lombardo declared, urging lawmakers to back his reforms.
Taking Back Nevada’s Streets
As a former sheriff, Lombardo didn’t hold back on the issue of crime.
He introduced the Nevada Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act, a proposal to restore law and order by targeting repeat offenders and drug traffickers.
“Let’s make it harder for these career criminals to victimize Nevadans,” Lombardo said.
His plan includes lowering the felony theft threshold, implementing tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and reducing drug trafficking thresholds to crack down on illegal drugs.
He also wants stricter rules for DUI cases and stronger protections for vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly.
“Imagine a world where California is tougher on criminals than Nevada. That’s the reality we face today,” he said, underscoring the urgency of his proposals.
Election Reforms for Fairer, Faster Results
Lombardo also highlighted election reform as a top priority, garnering his loudest and most sustained applause, pointing to last year’s overwhelming voter approval of Voter ID.
“Nevada voters agreed with me, and Voter ID received more total votes than any candidate or any question on the 2024 ballot,” he said.
The governor is pushing for an end to post-Election Day ballot counting, calling for all votes to be received and counted by the close of polls.
“It’s time we make sure the votes are in and counted by Election Day,” he said.
Lombardo expressed optimism that these changes could pass with bipartisan support. “It’s just good common sense,” he added.
However, the governor warned that “if the Legislature chooses not to pass” his reforms, he’ll “take it to the voters and ask them to decide,” just like he did with voter ID. So it’s not an empty threat.
A Budget Without New Taxes
Lombardo’s $12.7 billion budget promises to fund critical priorities without raising taxes.
It includes permanent pay raises for teachers and extends those raises to charter school teachers. He also touted a record-high $1.3 billion in the Rainy-Day Fund.
“We made smart fiscal decisions, and we instituted prudent policies to protect ourselves,” he said.
Despite inflation and rising costs, Lombardo emphasized his administration’s commitment to discipline.
“I declined to include millions of dollars in state agency requests for more funding in this budget,” he said. “Now is exactly the wrong time to strap more burden on the backs of hard-working Nevada families.”
A Call to Action
Lombardo closed his speech by urging lawmakers to work together, reminding them of their shared duty to serve Nevadans.
“Let’s strike a solemn pledge to the people we represent to do something remarkable that is worthy of being remembered in the areas of housing, healthcare, education, public safety, and economic diversification,” he said.
For conservatives, Lombardo’s address was a rallying cry for limited government, personal responsibility, and freedom.
Whether the legislature will follow his lead remains to be seen, but Lombardo’s agenda makes one thing clear: he’s fighting for the people of Nevada.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
