Governor’s Conservative Agenda Meets Last-Minute Resistance
Imagine working all day to finish an important project, only to have your coworker waste the last fifteen minutes arguing about office rules. That’s what happened Monday night in Nevada’s state capitol as the Legislature wrapped up its 2025 session.
Governor Joe Lombardo’s top priorities died as the clock struck midnight, with four of his five major bills failing to advance before the constitutional deadline. Now the big question is: Will the Republican governor call lawmakers back for a special session?
What Bills Died at Midnight?
The casualties included some of Lombardo’s most important conservative initiatives. His crime bill, which would have given law enforcement stronger tools to keep communities safe, never got a final vote. The health care bill that would have removed red tape for doctors also failed to cross the finish line.
A massive $1.4 billion film tax credit proposal backed by Sony and Warner Bros. also died. This bill would have given Hollywood studios huge tax breaks to film in Nevada.
For conservatives who believe in limited government, some of these failures might actually be good news. The film tax credit was essentially corporate welfare – taking money from hardworking taxpayers and giving it to wealthy movie studios.
Why Did This Happen?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Senator Ira Hansen and other Republicans used parliamentary tactics in the final 15 minutes to protest last-minute resolutions from Democrats. These resolutions would have changed the makeup of an important state commission that reviews government regulations.
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Hansen saw Democrats trying to grab more power at the last second. So he fought back using the rules.
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro complained that:
“Taking a lot of time to do antics on the floor makes it tough to get business done.”
But was Hansen really causing problems, or was he doing his job?
The Real Story Behind the Blame Game
Democrats are pointing fingers at Hansen for blocking important legislation. But let’s be honest about what really happened here. If these bills were truly priorities for the Democrat-controlled Legislature, why did they wait until the final moments to vote on them?
Lombardo’s bills represented a different way of thinking. Instead of growing government programs, he wanted to cut red tape and let businesses thrive. His housing bill, for example, worked with private developers instead of having the government build houses.
The truth is, Democrats had months to pass these bills if they really wanted them. They control both chambers of the Legislature. The fact that they left everything until the last minute suggests they weren’t that committed to Lombardo’s conservative agenda.
What This Means for Conservatives
This legislative session shows both the promise and the challenge facing conservatives in Nevada.
Last session, Lombardo vetoed a record 75 bills, more than any Nevada governor in history. He stopped bills that would have expanded government control over housing, increased spending on social programs, and raised regulations on businesses.
But this session shows that even without supermajorities, Democrats can still block conservative priorities by controlling the legislative process.
What Happens Next?
The ball is now in Lombardo’s court. He can call a special session to try passing his priority bills again. But that costs taxpayers money and there’s no guarantee of success.
Senate Minority Leader Robin Titus, a Republican, already said:
“I do not want the governor to call a special session.”
This suggests even some Republicans think it’s time to move on.
Lombardo also has other options. He has 10 days to sign or veto the scores of bills now on his desk. This gives him another chance to stop liberal policies he disagrees with.
The Nevada Legislature’s midnight failure shows both the challenges and opportunities facing conservatives today. While Lombardo’s bills didn’t pass, at least Democrats didn’t get their last-minute power grab either. Sometimes in politics, stopping bad things from happening is just as important as making good things happen.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
