Governor Lombardo Champions Parental Rights as School District Budgets Collapse

In a decisive move for educational freedom, Governor Joe Lombardo has officially opted Nevada into the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program. This initiative, part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” represents a significant victory for personal responsibility and parental authority, allowing Nevada families to escape failing systems and choose the educational environment that best suits their children. By prioritizing students over systems, the administration is challenging the long-standing monopoly of the education bureaucracy.

This shift toward school choice comes at a critical time, as several Nevada school districts are now sounding the alarm over “dire” budget shortfalls. Despite receiving a record-breaking 26% funding increase just three years ago, districts like Clark and Washoe are already mulling staff cuts and school closures. While some administrative voices claim these deficits are the result of “flat funding,” a closer look at the numbers suggests a crisis of accountability. The temporary windfall of federal pandemic-era grants has dried up, revealing a lack of fiscal restraint in districts that prioritized recurring salary hikes and expanded administrative programs over long-term stability.

On the legislative front, the 2026 election cycle is already seeing tactical maneuvering. Republican businessman Rafael Arroyo has pivoted his campaign to challenge Democratic Senator Julie Pazina, while former Assemblywoman Annie Black has entered the race for Senate District 20. These moves reflect a broader effort to restore a sense of law and order and fiscal sanity to the state legislature. Furthermore, a new residency requirement under AB491 (2025) is now in effect, requiring all candidates to establish residence in their districts by February 11. This law serves as a vital tool for accountability, ensuring that those who seek to govern are actually invested in the communities they represent.

While opponents of these reforms claim they “erode progress,” the reality remains that Nevada’s working families are demanding results over rhetoric. As the 2026 midterms approach, the focus remains squarely on whether Nevada will continue its path toward limited government and individual liberty or return to the high-spending, system-first policies of the past.

Source: The Nevada Independent, NV.gov Press Bureau, Nevada Secretary of State Office