Governor Stands Firm Against Return of COVID-Era Mandates
Governor Joe Lombardo (R) has drawn a line in the sand against government overreach. He’s promising to veto Senate Bill 360, which would force hotels to clean rooms daily and conduct regular inspections of occupied rooms.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Governor wrote:
“In reviewing SB360, I have concluded that this proposal is no different than the law that was repealed last session on a bipartisan basis.
Furthermore, I do not see any good public policy reason to reinstate COVID-era room cleaning requirements in Nevada,”
His message to lawmakers couldn’t be clearer:
“and therefore, given the limited time in this session, I encourage the legislature to disregard this bill because I will not sign it.”
My full statement on SB 360. pic.twitter.com/gzsoYrTREL
— Governor Joe Lombardo (@JosephMLombardo) March 20, 2025
The bill, introduced by Senator Lori Rogich (R) on Monday, would require the State Board of Health to adopt regulations mandating daily room cleaning at resort hotels and hotels with more than 200 rooms in larger counties.
It would also require visual inspections of occupied rooms every second day.
Why This Matters To You
If you believe in limited government and free markets, this bill should worry you. Here’s why:
First, it’s a clear case of government overreach. Hotels already have strong reasons to keep rooms clean – customer satisfaction and their own reputation.
Second, it’s an unfunded mandate. The government wants to force these new requirements on hotels without offering any money to help cover the costs.
Those costs will be passed right onto you, the customer.
Following The Money Trail
Where did this bill come from? All signs point to union pressure. The Culinary Union has been pushing for mandatory daily room cleaning since the COVID pandemic when many hotels reduced cleaning frequency to limit contact.
While worker safety matters, this appears to be more about guaranteeing hours for union members than true safety concerns. The bill even includes anti-retaliation language to protect employees who report violations.
What Critics Are Saying
Hotel industry representatives have voiced strong opposition.
Environmental concerns have also been raised regarding the increased water usage from washing linens and the chemical cleaners that would be used with mandatory daily cleaning.
If passed, the bill would take effect October 1, 2025, and would apply to resort hotels and hotels with more than 200 rooms in counties with populations over 100,000 (currently Clark and Washoe counties).
The bill is currently not scheduled for a hearing.
A Well-Intentioned But Impractical Approach
Senator Rogich of Las Vegas brings a unique perspective to this legislation that goes beyond the typical regulatory debate. As a regulatory compliance attorney with expertise in the cannabis industry, she views daily room cleaning as addressing multiple concerns.
“When you have folks in there, this is not occurring. There’s a set of eyes; we see what’s happening,” Rogich said in February, explaining that regular room inspections could help identify unauthorized cannabis consumption in hotel rooms.
While well-intentioned, this approach raises practical questions. How would room attendants distinguish between legal and illegal cannabis products?
Nevada law already permits adults to possess cannabis, though consumption is limited to private residences and licensed lounges. Asking hotel staff to become de facto cannabis inspectors would place an unreasonable burden on workers with no training in identifying illicit products.
At the same time, the bill touches on the ongoing discussions between the Culinary Workers Union and Nevada’s resort industry. The union has advocated for reinstating daily room cleaning requirements since they were repealed in a bipartisan 2023 bill.
Nevada Resort Association President Virginia Valentine has maintained the industry’s position:
“We strongly opposed it in 2023 and our position has not changed.”
This bill is a reminder that government mandates often have complex origins and can come from unexpected corners.
With the Governor’s clear opposition, it appears this attempt to reinstate COVID-era regulations will fail, a victory for those who believe businesses should determine their own operational practices without government interference.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
