The 83rd session of the Nevada Legislature gaveled to a close on June 2, 2025, and in its wake, NFIB and its coalition partners had succeeded in stopping some very bad proposals for small business, while helping pull some good ones across the finish line onto Gov. Joe Lombardo’s desk and into law.

First, the big victories

NFIB and its coalition partners successfully persuaded Governor Lombardo to veto three bills that would have added tremendous costs, more regulations, and made small businesses richer targets for lawsuit abuse. They were:

— AB 388 would have required any job creator with over 50 employees to provide three months of paid sick leave for that employee or to care for a family member. And that price tag would have been borne completely by the employer. Fortunately, Governor Lombardo vetoed the bill.

— AB 434 would have subjected small business owners to lawsuits from any employee who claimed that they were “forced” to attend a meeting at which political or religious matters were discussed. Governor Lombardo vetoed this bill as well.

— SB 172 would have imposed impossible to comply with regulations on Nevada’s small family farmers and allowed farm workers to unionize. This bill failed to make it out of the Assembly.

Others bad bills defeated

— AB 414 would have imposed onerous indoor air quality regulations on only private employers with 10,000 square-feet warehouses. The Governor vetoed this bill.

— AB 44, sponsored by Attorney General Aaron Ford, would have added confusion to Nevada’s price fixing and manipulation statute and imposed harsh penalties for something that is already illegal. Governor Lombardo vetoed this bill.

Passing, but not without neutering

— SB 260, as originally drafted, would have imposed onerous one-size-fits-all outdoor air quality restrictions on almost every business in the state. NFIB worked with our employer trade partners to negotiate this bill to a requirement that OSHA work with stakeholders to ensure that every industry can assist in crafting regulations that every employer can comply with. This bill was signed into law.

Now, for some good news

NFIB’s lobbying efforts succeeded in helping pass the following legislation signed into law:

— AJR 8, a constitutional amendment that would create a business court in Nevada, ensuring that complicated business issues have dedicated and expert jurists. It will have to pass the 2027 Legislature and then be placed on the 2028 general election ballot.

— AB 375 will allow restaurants to offer to-go and delivery options for mixed drinks and cocktails, placing our members on equal footing with large grocery and packaged liquor stores.

— SB 358 will require all state and local government entities to accept electronic forms of payment for all transactions.

— AB 407 will require manufacturers of electronic mobility equipment (wheelchairs, etc.) to provide all necessary diagnostic information and tools to small, local repair shops.

— SB 373 will require all of the local governments in Clark County to create a multi-jurisdictional business license so that our members can utilize a one-stop-shop process and make it easier to conduct business throughout the county.

The Final Analysis

In achieving what it did, NFIB used the best weapon no other association in Nevada has—its small-business-owning members. Whether on good bills or on bad ones, their engagement was instrumental on proposals affecting their abilities to own, operate, and grow their businesses.

No elected official ever wants to get crosswise with small business owners from back in their district. They know The Power of the Small Business Voice has a lot of resonance with voters and local communities. We thank our members who responded to the Action Alerts sent to them. You made a difference.

Unlike in previous years, there was no immediate Special Session called to wrap-up unfinished business and no plans for one in the future. While federal actions might cause budgetary changes in the future, the Legislature and Governor Lombardo fulfilled their constitutional duty of creating and passing a balanced state budget for the next two years.

And they did it all without passing a massive Hollywood film tax credit!

While there was all manner of awful anti-business bills that were introduced at the beginning of session, NFIB’s work, in cooperation with allies and partners, ensured that almost all bills that would have negative impacts on Nevada small businesses were either mitigated, killed, or vetoed by Governor Lombardo.

The governor’s presence was critical in ensuring that the legislators, committee chairs and legislative leadership either worked with us to mitigate concerns or bills were vetoed if we couldn’t come to agreement.

Governor Lombardo vetoed an astounding 75 pieces of legislation during his first session. He beat his own, and a historical record by vetoing 87 bills this year.

Now, barring any other big economic development projects or pandemics or Medicaid cuts, the Legislature won’t reconvene until 2027.

In the meantime, NFIB will work on expanding our grassroots activism efforts, legislative outreach, and continuing our strong relationship with the Lombardo Administration, all of which is only possible through NFIB’s engaged membership that stretches across every community and every industry in Nevada.

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