06/13/2025
June 13, 2025
RPEN Legislative Alert
Governor Joe Lombardo deals a blow to Retired Public Employees
With one day left for him to sign or veto over one thousand bills passed by lawmakers during the 83rd Legislative Session that ended June 2, Governor Joe Lombardo decided to include Assembly Bill 188 among the 86 total vetoes he made as of June 12. That exceeds his 82nd (and first) Legislative Session when he vetoed 75 bills in June 2023.
RPEN and many other public employee groups supported AB 188, sponsored by Assemblymember Max Carter-AD 12 in Clark County. Originally, the bill looked to restore retiree health care benefits for state employees hired after January 1, 2012, who lost that benefit in 2011 due to budget cuts at that time. A hefty fiscal note from the Public Employees’ Benefits Program (PEBP) caused lawmakers to remove that provision of AB 188. While we were disappointed by that, we were pleased when Senator Rochelle Nguyen-SD 3 in Clark County, successfully amended AB 188 to include a $1.00 increase in the Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) for Medicare retirees in PEBP’s Medicare Exchange. RPEN and other public employee groups have fought through several legislative sessions to increase the HRA by at least $2.00 per month, per years’ of service…from the original $13.00 per month per years of service, up to a maximum 20 years of service or $260/month. AB 188 would have kept it at $13.00 for FY 25-26, but raise it to $14.00 for FY 26-27. Now, unfortunately, it will remain at $13.00 until the 84th Legislative Session (when we could get another chance to raise it) but that won’t begin until February 1, 2027.
Other positive changes are also not happening now with the Governor’s veto. Senator Nguyen’s amendment also included raising the HRA cap from $8 thousand to $15,600 in FY 25-26 with another increase in FY 26-27…and there was also another inclusion involving penalties for leaving the Medicare Exchange. Many retirees in the Exchange since its’ existence have mistakenly left during Medicare’s Open Enrollment, when they are inundated with what appears to be “better” and more “cost effective” plans that takes them OUT of the Medicare Exchange. When that happens, they stand to lose their HRA and Life Insurance. AB 188 would have allowed more than one exit without penalties for state retirees.
The Governor's veto message for AB 188 can be viewed by clicking the link below.
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/83rd2025/Reports/VetoMessages/AB188_83rd_VetoMessage.pdf
Governor Lombardo is up for re-election in 2026, and his veto pen could impact his bid.
The Governor did sign a few other bills RPEN supported, including AB 368, which strengthened previous legislation dealing with electronic devices (including cameras) in locations where certain services (elder care and child-care) are provided. In addition, the Governor also signed two bills involving the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), AB 232 and SB 418. These two bills are addressed by the PERS Money Matters column in our upcoming RPEN Review newsletter that members should receive in the coming week.
Lastly, Governor Lombardo also signed AB 375, naming the “picon punch” Nevada’s state alcoholic beverage. This potent drink is very popular in Nevada communities with large Basque immigrant populations.
If you are a member of RPEN, we thank you. If you are reading this message and would like information about how to join RPEN, please visit our website at www.rpen.org and click on "Join"
Terri Laird, RPEN Executive Director
Home rpen-homepageRPENRepresenting PublicEmployees of Nevada Sparks, Churchill and Washoe Chapter leaders at RPEN Day at the Nevada State Legislature on March 15, 2023, where all 17 Chapters were represented! Welcome to RPEN Welcome to the Retired Public Employees of Nevada (RPEN) website. RPEN is a...
