Silver State Times

Joe Lombardo, Governor of Nevada, announced the Housing Access and Attainability Act, which aims to invest $1 billion into housing and reduce regulatory barriers for development across the state, with a focus on rural areas. The announcement was made on X on April 5.

"This week, I testified before the Nevada Legislature on my bipartisan Housing Access and Attainability Act," said Lombardo. "My bill generates $1 billion in new housing and cuts through the red tape that has hindered developers from building across our state, particularly in rural Nevada."

According to a February 2025 report by the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, Nevada is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis. The report indicates that nearly half of Nevada's renters allocate an excessive portion of their income to housing expenses. It also highlights that extremely low-income households in Nevada have fewer affordable housing options compared to any other state. Furthermore, it notes that housing costs have significantly outpaced income growth, with home prices increasing at least 2.5 times faster than incomes in every Nevada county with double-digit income growth since 2018.

As reported by Le Monde in October 2024, the state's housing crisis is characterized by a substantial rise in rental costs. Rents have increased by 40% since 2016, while wages have not kept pace. This disparity has rendered homeownership increasingly unattainable for many residents, exacerbating the state's growing housing affordability issue.

Lombardo serves as the 31st Governor of Nevada after being elected in 2022 following two terms as Sheriff of Clark County. Prior to his political career, he spent over three decades in law enforcement with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, advancing from officer to sheriff. He is also a U.S. Army veteran and holds degrees from both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the University of Nevada, Reno.