Imagine waking up to find out the government wants to tell you what you can charge for your own property. That’s exactly what’s happening in Nevada right now.
Assembly Bill 280, which Democrats just pushed through the Assembly on a 27-15 vote, would create new rules for landlords and even cap rent increases for some tenants. Now it’s headed to the Senate, and freedom-loving Nevadans are sounding the alarm.
What’s in the Bill?
Let’s break it down simple. This bill would do a few big things:
- Cap rent increases at 5% for seniors and folks on Social Security from July 2025 through December 2026.
- Make landlords refund application fees if they rent to someone else without processing your application.
- Ban charging application fees for kids in a family that’s applying to rent.
- Force landlords to clearly list all fees in one place in the lease.
Sounds nice at first glance, right? But there’s more to this story when you look closer.
Why This Matters to Conservatives
This bill is a perfect example of government overreach. The government is trying to tell property owners what they can charge for their own property. That’s not how free markets work!
When John Ellison, a Republican State Senator, spoke about the bill, he stood up for the little guy. “I’m worried about the old people that have rentals that are losing everything they’ve got. And they’re not the bad guys,” he said.
He’s right. This isn’t just about big apartment complexes. It’s about regular folks who saved up, bought a second property, and rent it out to help with retirement. These aren’t rich corporations – they’re your neighbors trying to make ends meet.
The Hidden Problem of Price Controls
History shows us that rent control doesn’t work. When government sets price caps, it creates shortages. Landlords might:
- Stop investing in maintenance
- Convert rentals to condos to sell
- Just get out of the rental business altogether
John Sande from the Nevada State Apartment Association pointed this out during discussions. He warned that while such measures might seem helpful in the short term, they carry “a lot of implications that are bad for housing in the long run.”
What’s Really Going On Here?
The bill’s backers point to corporate landlords charging crazy fees – things like “air filter fees,” “smoke detector battery change fees,” and even “TV remote control fees.” One company called Invitation Homes got sued by the Federal Trade Commission and paid a $48 million settlement last year for these kinds of practices.
But here’s the thing: we already have laws against fraud and deceptive business practices. We don’t need new laws that punish everyone, including honest landlords.
The Constitutional Question
The right to own and control private property is fundamental to our American way of life. When government starts deciding what you can charge for your own property, we’re heading down a dangerous path.
Governor Joe Lombardo, a Republican, is likely to veto this bill if it reaches his desk. But the fact that it’s gotten this far should worry us all.
What Comes Next?
This bill is scheduled to be active from July 2025 through December 2026, but you and I know how government programs work – temporary programs rarely stay temporary.
If you care about property rights and limited government, keep an eye on AB280 as it moves through the Senate. Call your representatives. Tell them you support addressing actual fraud by corporate landlords, but not at the expense of small property owners and the free market.
The best solution isn’t more government control – it’s enforcing existing laws against fraud while keeping markets free.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
