The Big Debates and Bigger Questions
You probably heard bits and pieces about the legislative session – something about Hollywood, teacher strikes, and a governor who vetoed a lot of bills. But what actually happened during those months in Carson City? And what does it mean for your family?
The Nevada Policy Research Institute just released their annual Legislative Scorecard, and it reveals a session full of big swings and close calls. Some proposals would have changed Nevada forever. Others quietly died in committee. A few actually became law.
This wasn’t just politics as usual. Real money and real freedoms were on the line.
Governor Lombardo’s Veto Pen Goes to Work
Here’s something that should make every conservative smile. Governor Joe Lombardo set a new record with 87 vetoes. That’s right, 87 bills that made it through the Democrat-controlled legislature only to die on his desk.
Some of these vetoes saved Nevadans from real disasters. Take AB 44, which would have let the government control prices on everything from gas to groceries. Or AB 388, which tried to force every business with more than 50 employees to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave. These weren’t just bad ideas, they were economic wrecking balls aimed at Nevada families and businesses.
The Hollywood Hustle That Failed
Remember when Hollywood came knocking, promising jobs and glamour if Nevada would just hand over $1.4 billion in tax credits? That’s billion with a “B.” The film industry wanted the largest state subsidy in Nevada history, all while studies from California, Georgia, and New York show these programs lose money hand over fist.
Two competing bills tried to make this happen. AB 238 would have given Sony and Warner Bros nearly $100 million per year in tax breaks. The catch? Taxpayers would have gotten back maybe 20 cents for every dollar spent. That’s not investment – that’s charity for millionaire movie executives.
The good news? Both bills died. Lawmakers finally realized that subsidizing Hollywood isn’t the path to prosperity.
Education: Baby Steps Forward
Nevada’s schools still rank near the bottom nationally, but this session saw some progress. The big win was AB 533, which created statewide open enrollment. This means your kid isn’t trapped in a failing school just because of your zip code.
Parents also got a small victory with charter school teachers finally getting the same raise opportunities as district teachers. It only took years of fighting to achieve basic fairness.
But the session also brought disappointments. Bills that would have expanded school choice options never even got hearings. Meanwhile, SB 161 essentially gave teacher unions the right to strike, even though they had previously agreed to binding arbitration instead.
The Housing Mess Gets Messier
With California refugees still flooding into Nevada and housing costs soaring, lawmakers tried different approaches. Some actually made sense. AB 241 streamlined permits for converting commercial buildings to housing. AB 396 made it easier to build accessory dwelling units in your backyard.
But other proposals would have made things worse. AB 280 tried to impose rent control on senior citizens – a policy that sounds caring but actually reduces housing supply and hurts the people it claims to help. Thankfully, Lombardo vetoed it.
Interstate Compacts: A Rare Success Story
One area where lawmakers actually got it right was reducing occupational licensing barriers. Nevada requires licenses for 74% of lower-income jobs, compared to a national average of just 53%. That’s government-created unemployment.
Three interstate compacts became law, allowing counselors, speech therapists, and physical therapists licensed in other states to work in Nevada. These changes will help address worker shortages, especially in rural areas where some counties have zero licensed counselors.
The Tax Fight That Never Happened
Despite a $335 million budget deficit in the governor’s initial proposal, lawmakers avoided major tax increases. The Economic Forum’s revenue projections provided just enough breathing room to maintain existing programs without soaking taxpayers.
The closest thing to a tax hike was AB 530, which lets Clark County commissioners raise gas taxes without voter approval. But this bill is likely unconstitutional since Nevada’s constitution requires two-thirds of the legislature – not county commissioners – to approve tax increases.
What This Means for You
The scorecard reveals a legislature split along predictable lines, but with some surprises. Robin Titus earned the “Taxpayers’ Best Friend” award with a 97.53% conservative score, while some Republicans scored surprisingly low.
The real story isn’t just about individual lawmakers. It’s about a system where special interests push expensive schemes while ordinary Nevadans struggle with high costs and limited choices.
Looking Ahead
With 87 vetoes shaping this session’s outcome, the message is clear: elections have consequences. A Republican governor can stop bad legislation, but he can’t create good policy alone.
The 2027 session is already taking shape. Will lawmakers learn from this session’s mistakes? Will they focus on policies that actually help Nevada families? Or will they double down on bigger government and higher spending?
For conservative Nevadans, the scorecard provides a roadmap. It shows which lawmakers stood with taxpayers and which ones need to explain their votes come election time.
The fight for Nevada’s future continues. The question is whether enough voters will pay attention to make it matter.
The Bottom Line
This legislative session wasn’t a complete disaster, but it wasn’t a conservative victory either. Some good bills passed, some bad bills died, and Nevada muddles along much as before.
The real test will come in 2026, when voters decide whether they want leaders who respect their wallets and their freedoms, or politicians who promise the moon with someone else’s money.
Until then, keep watching. Keep asking questions. And keep holding your representatives accountable.
Because in Carson City, the only thing worse than bad policy is when nobody’s paying attention.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
