RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – 605 bills made it to Governor Joe Lombardo’s desk by the end of the 83rd Nevada Legislature.
The Governor signed 518 bills into law while vetoing a record-high 87 bills, which includes Senate Bill 217.
The bill focuses on reproductive health care, particularly by requiring large group health insurers to cover infertility treatments and fertility preservation for those facing medical conditions that may cause infertility.
The Governor’s veto message states:
“There is no greater joy than becoming a parent. Strong, loving families form the foundation of a resilient Nevada. While I support efforts to make in vitro fertilization (”IVF”) more accessible, SB 217 as currently written is not feasible because it imposes a new, unfunded mandate requiring coverage for IVF, including through Medicaid. Without dedicated and sustainable funding this mandate is fiscally impossible considering the current posture of the state’s budget, specifically in terms of Medicaid resources. I encourage relevant state agencies to collaborate with stakeholders during the interim to identify alternative, financially sustainable, and equitable ways to expand access to IVF so that all Nevadans have the opportunity to build families. Because SB 217 would place an unmanageable strain on state Medicaid resources, I cannot sign it. For these reasons, I veto this bill and return it to you without my signature or approval.”
Those who oppose the bill worry it would raise insurance costs for everyone and the mandate would interfere with religious beliefs. People from Sparks submitted letters to legislators saying,
“Dear Senators, Please oppose SB217. Although it is natural to empathize with those having problems with conception, this bill would mandate both public and private insurance ( and Medicaid) to pay for infertility treatments. Such a mandate would undoubtedly cause the cost of insurance to rise for everyone. There are also regulations regarding insurance for IVF treatments, which would raise the cost. These mandates may interfere with the sincerely held beliefs of some insurers, and we, especially disagree with Section 10, which reduces human embryos to property and gives doctors legal immunity protection for possible bad actions. We urge you to vote No on SB217.
Sincerely, George & Darla Lee Sparks, NV”
Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro sponsored the bill and she released a statement:
“Instead of standing up for thousands of Nevadans who just want a chance to start a family, Lombardo bowed to pressure from far-right anti-abortion activists who want to outlaw IVF nationwide,” said Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro. “Even Donald Trump has backed efforts to expand IVF, but Lombardo is picking out-of-state extremists over protecting Nevada doctors and patients. By vetoing this bipartisan bill, Lombardo has turned his back on ordinary Nevada families who need a little help to overcome the hardships of infertility in order to experience the joy of parenthood.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists showed support through a letter to Senators, calling for the bill to pass. “The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists stands firmly behind the importance of access to reproductive endocrinology (infertility assistance) and believes access to insurance to support infertility treatment is a reproductive justice issue. The ACOG Committee Statement is provided below. ACOG thanks Majority Leader Cannizzaro for bringing this important legislation forward.”
President Trump signed a February Executive Order to expand IVF access and lower costs, but Governor Lombardo says the bill would place an “unimaginable strain on the state’s Medicaid resources.”
Copyright 2025 KOLO. All rights reserved.
