Gov. Lombardo vetoes bill to protect IVF in Nevada

A bill that would have protected in vitro fertilization, as well as expanded access to fertility treatments, was recently vetoed by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

SB 217, sponsored by state Sen. Nicole Cannizzaro (D-Las Vegas), would have made it mandatory that most Nevada health insurers and Medicaid plans cover infertility diagnoses and treatment in the same way as other benefits.

The bill passed the Nevada Assembly along party-line votes, with all Democrats voting in favor, and all Republicans voting against. The Assembly has 27 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

In the Nevada Senate, where there are 13 Democrats and 8 Republicans, two Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting to pass the bill.

Lombardo, a Republican, vetoed the bipartisan bill on June 12, citing an “unmanageable strain on state Medicaid resources” in his veto letter.

Several reproductive rights organizations have criticized Lombardo’s veto, including Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte, Reproductive Freedom for All Nevada, and the National Organization for Women.

“Gov. Lombardo’s veto of this bipartisan measure to protect IVF shows where his true allegiances lie,” said Lauren Babb of Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte. “He will not protect reproductive health care, even as the threat to that care grows daily.”

Threats to that care come most imminently in the form of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which would cut taxes for billionaires as well as Medicaid health insurance funding for low-income Americans.

“Gov. Lombardo had the opportunity to make Nevada the first state in the country to provide Medicaid coverage for comprehensive fertility care, including IVF treatment,” said Denise Lopez of Reproductive Freedom for All of Nevada.

“Instead he chose to cater to his MAGA extremist allies, and Nevadans will pay the price,” Lopez said.

In his veto letter, Lombardo said he supports efforts to make IVF more accessible. He did not make it clear exactly what legislation he would sign that would protect and expand access to IVF and other fertility treatments.